Using available data
Data that is already available in the servo drive, such as output, current, torque, speed or position can now be used to record the motor-drive combination’s current capacity utilization, for example. This means, for instance, that various machines that pass through the same production process can be compared with each other. Deviations are detected and can then be analyzed in more detail.
The advantage here is that a great benefit can be generated with relatively little input: if no external sensors are used, there are no costs for additional hardware and its wiring. This also avoids the use of sensors in areas exposed to EMC, where the signals are usually strongly disrupted and sometimes very difficult to evaluate. Another benefit is that if the signals are recorded directly by the drive, this take place in “hard real time” with only minimal delays. This also allows the performance of time-critical analyses such as vibration analyses by means of FFT.
Extending the database: incorporating external sensors
If the available data is insufficient for the desired use case, the servo drive or the servo motor can easily be used as a data hub too. This allows the database to be extended with external sensors, e.g. vibration sensors of with data from the transmission. Direct sensors can be connected via digital or analog inputs so that the relevant data can be sent to the drive. The drive thus becomes a data hub with the goal of not only performing the work of a drive, but also of collecting additional, relevant data from various sources, per-processing this and forwarding it to the cloud or a control unit and edge PC.
Self-adaptive drive systems
In addition, decisions can be taken directly in the drive so as to avoid machine failures. One example is encoder monitoring in the field of Smart Protection. The encoder’s amplitude and phase length is constantly monitored on line – appropriate warnings are generated if values fall below or exceed a certain threshold value. These smart drive concepts improve the process and product quality through smart monitoring.
