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#314 Know-how on automation: Designing high-speed automation devices

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November10, 2017

In the midst of adverse market conditions, the automation devices must be manufactured at a higher standard in terms of quality, cost, and delivery time. The requirements of making the automation device high-speed not only involve increasing the productivity per hour, but also include machining at a higher density than the existing method in order to upgrade the product quality, such as the appearance. The high-speed equipment is also required for achieving this high-density production within a short period. This volume explains the high-speed equipment design of automation devices.

(1)Issues in designing high-speed equipment

The following points must be kept in mind when developing an automation device that drives at a high speed:
a)Selecting an appropriate actuator that supports high-speed driving and how to use it efficiently
b)Characteristics of the mechanical components that support high-speed driving
This volume describes the details on a)
Selecting an appropriate actuator that supports high-speed driving and how to use it efficiently.

a)Selecting an appropriate actuator that supports high-speed driving and how to use it efficiently

・Adopting a high-power drive actuator is not the only point we must be aware of here. We also need to select a configuration plan where the servo stiffness becomes high so that the control stability can be secured during driving.
*Selecting an appropriate drive actuator (rotary motor + ball screw/belt, etc., linear motor, and so on)
*Selecting an appropriate high-speed drive control method (open/closed loop, acceleration and deceleration control, etc.)
*Motor heat insulation measures (heating control, heat shielding, heat cooling, etc.)

・In this case example, the components consisting of a linear motor and closed loop control are adopted for precision positioning control. An air cooling method is adopted as the heat insulation measures for the linear motor. The aluminum cooling fins having high heat conductivity (Fig.1) are installed at the motor portion.

・Since the motor coil unit generating heat is attached to the bottom of the moving table, the heat from the coil unit may cause the mechanical components to deform. To prevent the heat deformation, a heat shielding plate is inserted between where the motor coil unit and the moving table are connected. (Fig.1)

[Fig.1] Example of motor heat insulation measures

・To improve the actual efficiency of machining per hour, high acceleration and deceleration control must be adopted so that the motor reaches at the maximum speed within a short period. However, without selecting an acceleration and deceleration control program allowing smooth transition, a large moment of inertia (shock) applies when the motion stops, which degrades the durability of the movable parts.

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