Servo amplifier
When servo amplifier or servo controller is defined as the position for speed and torque of servo motors required power electronic actuators that can provide a controllable in frequency and amplitude-phase AC voltage system. The servo amplifier forms the link between the controller and the servo motor. Its task is to convert the "weak" reference signal from the control system into a powerful signal for the servomotor.
conditions
Due to the significantly increased need for rationalization and automation in modern production machines and systems, the requirements for high-performance servo amplifiers have increased accordingly. As a result, servo drives no longer work as simple auxiliary drives or actuators, but instead use complex and powerful technology functions such as B. angular synchronism, electronic cam , touch probe processing, torque control from important machine functions that were implemented in the past using mechanical solutions.
Due to the rapid advancements in digital technology, the current trend is to integrate more and more functions into a servo amplifier. Today's servo amplifiers are therefore able to control even more complex motion sequences, which is why the dividing line between the servo amplifier and the controller continues to fade.
execution
Servo amplifiers are always designed as single or multi-axis variants. The power section of a servo amplifier is usually based on the principle of the voltage intermediate circuit amplifier. The intermediate circuit is z. B. is usually generated directly via a B6 diode bridge, i.e. without a transformer , from the 3-phase supply network.
Intermediate circuit
To design the intermediate circuit are u. a. Capacitors used. The sum of the capacities of the capacitors used in the intermediate circuit determine the type of intermediate circuit. In technical jargon one speaks of a "thin" intermediate circuit with low capacities and a "thick" intermediate circuit with high capacities. Both versions have advantages and disadvantages.
advantages
Modern and powerful servo amplifiers have several advantages over traditional solutions. For example, they can be programmed or flexibly parameterized or, more recently, also graphically configured and are therefore able to implement even demanding technologies such as angular synchronism and electronic cams independently without a higher-level controller. In addition, it is often also possible to integrate a control card for axis coordination and classic PLC functionality into a servo amplifier. As a result, with the functions integrated in the basic scope, a fine scalability of the functionality in terms of effort and investment is possible.
literature
Ulrich Riefenstahl: Electric Drive Systems. BG Teubner Verlag Wiesbaden 2006, ISBN 3-8351-0029-7