Why servo motors are important
Servo is nothing more than an electric motor that is being controlled with the use of servomechanism( a typical closed-loop control system). It is a small device that usually consists of:
- Two-wire DC motor
- Gear train
- Integrated circuit
- Output shaft
The way it works is also quite simple – the purpose is for the shaft to maintain specific angular positions via constant feedback from the encoder. As long as the signal points out the positioning, servo will maintain it. In case the coded signal changes, so is the shaft angular position of the servo motor.
AC and DC motors
There are two types of servo drives that are commonly used around the world. AC is the one used for heavy and bigger industrial machinery and DC is more efficient and better suited for smaller applications, that do not require high current surges. DC servo motors have been made specifically to reach continuous rotation – the very process that gets robots to move and complete various tasks. In terms of costs, AC motors are a bit more expensive.
Servo Applications
So many things will not be possible without servos. At present, the device has many applications such as robotics, CNC machinery and automated manufacturing. To control the direction of motion it is used in radio controlled cars, airplanes, boats and robots. Due to their high speed and good torque they can even be used in powerful heavy duty sailboats. They are basically everywhere!
Have you ever noticed servos around your house? Probably not, but there are hundreds of servo motor applications that prove themselves extremely useful in our daily life. Did you know that it is widely used to move the tray of a DVD or CD player?
Servo motors have a very good level of power despite their size and more importantly have built-in control circuitry that is perfect for position control surfaces such as elevators, for walking a robot and operating grippers.
It is also broadly used in pharmaceuticals and food services, as servo can undergo hasher environments with high possibility of corrosion due to heavy pressures and high temperatures. These are necessary to maintain strict hygiene standards demanded by the industries. High torque servos are also good for a repetitive and precise work – that is why so many of them are used in in-line manufacturing.
The more we explore technology the more possibilities are being opened for servo motors and their extensive capabilities. Where will servo motors take us next?