Tech Briefs Magazine - August 2024 - MD-6

with higher levels of precision can provide
a benefit to their customer or give them a
competitive advantage in the market.
During customer conversations, the word
" precision " is one signal that precision
motion control may be a viable solution,
but often discussions about precision center
on system accuracy or repeatability.
If customers describe a solution as
Figure 1: Aerotech's new AeroScript programming language has features that are familiar to the modern
workforce. (Image: Aerotech)
" close but not where it needs to be, " they
mean the solution in question isn't accurate
enough. Whether controlling a
motor for position, velocity, torque or
some other process variable, accuracy refers
to how closely the actual value
matches the desired reference value.
When customers say " nobody in the market
makes a system that works every time, "
they are referring to a repeatable process.
Repeatability refers to how well a system
can duplicate results time after time.
The need for precision motion control
can also be gauged by making internal
observations. Some signs that an
organization may be ready for a precision
motion control solution include:
* Part tolerances, in general, are pushing
the state-of-the-art on what is currently
being achieved on the market.
* Higher throughput is necessary while
maintaining the same, or better, part
tolerances.
* Significant time is spent developing
robust part fixturing.
* The mechanical structure of the machine
is viewed as a critical item for
performance.
* Environmental effects such as
temperature
or floor vibrations will adversely
affect part tolerances that are
produced on the machine.
Figure 2: The Automation1 motion control platform offers a wide range of servo motor drives and laser scan
head controllers that enable innovative solutions for a variety of applications. (Image: Aerotech)
Changes in the workforce and the core
technology required to deploy solutions
support increased adoption rates of precision
motion control. For example, more
graduates enter the workforce with the
types of programming skills required to
succeed using more precise controllers.
Figure 1 shows the modern programming
integrated development
6
(IDE) of the Aerotech Automation1
Studio application, which offers a look
and user experience that recent graduates
will likely find familiar.
environment
Identifying When You Are Ready
One indicator that an organization
should consider a precision motion control
solution is if controlling their process
In a basic sense, a precision motion
control system is simply a control system
that operates at higher data rates, using
processes with a higher level of precision,
with the purpose of increasing the bandwidth
of control to systems to make them
more accurate and perform with higher
throughput. Often, precision motion
control systems also have advanced features
that allow developers to work
around some common issues with mechanical
systems. For example, all mechanical
systems are affected by vibrations
and temperature, but not all controllers
are designed to minimize those
environmental factors from affecting the
system's accuracy or repeatability.
It should be noted that there are plenty
of other reasons to consider precision
Motion Design, August 2024

Tech Briefs Magazine - August 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Tech Briefs Magazine - August 2024