Smart servo motion control comes with IIoT functions

Our smart servo axis achieves up to 20 percent faster cycle times., and the solution also shows its advantages in engineering. We have designed our smart servo axis as a powerhouse with high scalability. The combination of i950 inverter, g700 planetary gearbox and m850 synchronous motor covers high-precision positioning tasks as well as dynamic handling and assembly applications, robotics, or conveyor solutions. At the same time, the i950 presents itself as a comprehensive data source for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and service models based on it - the smart inverter makes the use of additional sensors unnecessary.

Both power and brain

The adaptation of different tasks and concepts in industrial automation requires high computing power on the one hand, and on the other hand  it also demands intelligent functions with which the requirements of Industry 4.0 can be efficiently implemented. The Lenze i950 inverter is designed precisely for these requirements. One example is its unusually dynamic control performance. The inverter's optimized kinematics take into account both the drive axis itself and the control path behind it. This means that faults and deviations are corrected much faster than with standard inverters on the market. As a result, the target value is restored in less time, and the deviation from normal operation of the servo axis is only minimal.

During operation, this pays off twice over. Firstly, there is the high precision in positioning, as required for example in print shops. High-quality print products can only be produced with exact ink application. Secondly, there is the higher speeds that can be attained. Viewed over the entire press, this advantage can add up to a 20 percent higher cycle rate. For the user, this means a considerable gain in performance and efficiency, which is not bought at the expense of lower quality but is accompanied by better results.

Information center for IIoT

Future-proof factory automation must take into account the development towards the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) - the intelligent use of data to make machines smarter and more flexible, to make servicing and maintenance more efficient and to enable new OEM sales and service models.

But where does the required data come from? The seemingly simplest answer is additional sensors. But they involve a lot of effort: wiring and control systems become more complex, planning and installation costs rise, as do the costs for materials and maintenance. But we have shown that there is another way. Intelligent use of the data already available from the servo axis makes additional components superfluous. Instead, the drive itself becomes a sensor that lays the foundation for services such as condition monitoring. We can advise our partners on how to detect belt tension, friction and inertia anomalies in existing data and how to generate profitable new service models from this data.

Easy access to the cloud

Data processing for condition monitoring and predictive maintenance can be handled by the powerful i950 at the edge. However, IIoT also means networking beyond the individual machine, for example to monitor different systems together, to maintain different locations centrally or to benchmark. Such more complex tasks are usually handled via cloud services that enable the use of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI). A simple way to transfer data from the powertrain to IIoT is therefore essential.

With the x500 gateway, combined with the X4 Remote platform, machine builders receive a ready to use  cloud solution from Lenze that includes continuous condition monitoring, remote machine maintenance and user-friendly asset management. OEMs and users are free to choose the cloud provider to build their IIoT platform.

Easily networked

Our engineering team have also managed to meet the requirements of mechanical engineering when it comes to wiring. The standardized One-Cable-Technology (OCT) further simplifies the design of the machine. Instead of separate supply and data lines, only one single connection is required. The open motor feedback protocol transmits the motor data digitally. In the case of our MCS and m850 series drives, for example, it also transmits the encoder signal and motor temperature. This is also part of the "drive as sensor" concept, as resolvers and motor temperature sensors can be omitted here. Less wiring reduces material costs and saves space in the control cabinet. In addition, potential sources of error are reduced: connection and wiring related failures become less frequent, and finding the cause is easier because fewer options have to be tested.

Conclusion

Both machine builders and users demand more intelligent and flexible machines. Because efficiency is also supposed to increase at the same time, constant upgrading - more sensors, more interfaces, more computing power - does not necessarily lead to the goal. Our answer is more performance with less complexity, and more data despite less hardware. Better services through more intelligence and consistent orientation towards future-proof technologies such as IIoT also count. The smart servo axis as a strong motion control element in Lenze's automation system portfolio combines several approaches that bring time and cost advantages for the OEM and at the same time support the user's productivity goals. Mechanics, electronics and digitalization thus combine to create an intelligent solution.