Tech Briefs Magazine - August 2023 - MD-11

surements on a machine part and using
linear motors allows them to maintain
the proper submicron levels of precision
needed, while still enabling an increase
in throughput due to reduced downtime.
For CMMs, the most valuable aspect
of direct drive linear motors is their
ability to provide the necessary precision
without any wear components. Unlike
conventional machines based on belts
and pulleys, CMM machines operate at
peak performance for many years.
In another domain, ETEL serves
Tarus, a long-time customer specializing
in the development of clay milling machines
for the automotive industry.
These 5-axis CNC milling machines enable
designers to create vehicle models
by carving large blocks of clay with exceptional
precision, made possible by
ETEL direct drive motors.
GreenPowerUSA (GPUSA), a unique
customer, employs ETEL direct drive
motors in the development of low-cost,
autonomous seismic sources. These
sources generate low-frequency vibrations
transmitted underground. With
appropriate receivers to detect the vibrations,
the composition of intervening
rocks can be determined - an essential
task in oil and gas reservoir
monitoring and underground CO2
storage
applications.
Finally, an exceptional example application
involves the Solar Impulse
2 airplane, which became the first
plane to fly around the globe solely
relying on solar energy. Throughout
its 35,000-km, 500 flight-hour journey,
the airplane required an optimum performance-to-weight
ratio, necessitating
lightweight components. ETEL contributed
its expertise in direct drive technology
to develop a motor with an efficiency
exceeding 95 percent. Although
slightly modified for extreme environmental
conditions, the motor was
based on standard ETEL technology.
Considerations in Motor Design
When selecting a direct drive motor,
it is important to consider whether the
supplier specializes in this area or offers
it as one of many products. Large companies
that sell drives and controllers
often provide motors as well. However,
accepting bundled motors from such
companies may prevent customers from
obtaining the best solution for their
specific applications.
Motion Design, August 2023
ETEL's LMS and LMG linear motors enable CMMs to maintain submicron precision while reducing downtime.
(Image: HEIDENHAIN)
Specialist motor vendors, like ETEL,
invest years in refining their direct drive
motors. For example, ETEL optimizes
the arrangement of coils within the
motor, increasing torque output for the
same physical size by packing the coils
more densely.
Another common issue affecting
many motors is cogging, which causes
slight ripples during rotation instead
of smooth motion. This phenomenon
arises due to the natural magnetic attraction
between the magnets and the
outer rotor. By carefully designing the
motor and optimizing the communications
with its controller, cogging can
be minimized.
Direct drive motors offer reliable,
low-maintenance solutions for various
applications in machine tools and other
industries. They deliver the precision
required in industries like semiconductor
manufacturing while keeping the
TCO low.
article was written by Brian
Zlororzycki, Product Specialist for ETEL
components
This
at
HEIDENHAIN
(Schaumburg, IL). For more information,
visit www.heidenhain.us.
11

http://www.heidenhain.us

Tech Briefs Magazine - August 2023

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