MOTION Control & ROBOTICS

 

This tutorial was developed to give the reader a basic understanding of how motion control and robotics can be used in applications.  Since there are many books that cover different aspects of what we briefly discuss here, hopefully this tutorial will be a starting point, an executive summary, and our web page can point you in more directions for further understanding.  Please post to our message board (see button in left column) if you have any questions or suggestions. 

  

Introduction

Motion control is using power to control the movement of a mechanical system.  Most motion control is now performed using electric motors, so that will be our primary focus. 

Motors can be AC or DC, rotary or linear.  Motion control can be as simple as applying power to the motor to using complex motion controllers for multi-axis contouring.  Most of the motion control that we see falls into one of several categories

  1. On / off control – quick and easy to implement. 
  2. Steppers – small and inexpensive, good positioning for small loads
  3. Inverters / Variable speed drives – for controlling larger loads
  4. Servos – expensive, very good positioning, fast acceleration
  5. Multi-axis, 2D or 3D control, including CNC and robotics

 

There are typically three uses for motion control:

  1. Positioning
  2. Speed control
  3. Torque control

 

   

   

 

We try to offer a fair and balanced opinion on every page of our website.  We would appreciate more information from other motion control, motor and drive users to express their opinions which we will then incorporate.  If you have questions or comments please post them on our message board (see button in left hand column) so that others can read and benefit.   

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