A servo motor is a better option for any application, like punch patterns, different dies, where positioning is key. A servo motor also provides feedback, letting the operator know when proper positioning has been achieved.
Advantage of A Servo Motor
- Permanent Magnet
- Smaller size than an induction motor
- Able to maintain full torque at low speeds
- More efficient
- Aggressive acceleration/deceleration times
- Feedback of rotor position by resolver or encoder
- Always requires a drive
- Extreme Precision and Repeatability
- Low inertia
Usages in Roll Forming
A flying punch or shear will catch up to the speed of the material, perform its function and return back to the home position. Flying shears can be controlled by an open-loop system (pneumatic/no motor) or a closed-loop system (servo). A servo controlled flying shear uses the feedback from a line encoder to determine the speed of the roll former. The servo will accelerate to the speed of the roll former, perform its operation while maintaining a synced speed with roll former, and then return to the home position. The servo is able to achieve the acceleration/deceleration speeds necessary for this operation to be successful.
In a rare application, a servo motor would be used for the roll former where you have a standing shear or punch application that requires the machine to stop for the shear or punch.
Usages in Material Handling
Uncoilers and flatteners will generally be driven by induction motors because they are a go/no-go operation — speed and stopping are the main considerations. In material handling operations, the induction motor is used for rudimentary positioning, but doesn’t allow for feedback when achieving maximum speed and stopping.
When tasked with an operation that requires more complicated accelerating and decelerating, the servo motor will perform better because it can catch up to the speed of the material faster than an induction motor, while producing more accurate positioning. Material handling equipment like stackers and nesters require positioning accuracy and therefore, use a servo motor. That is because servo motors are controlled by drives that are capable of creating complex motion profiles, like starting and stopping several times and robot control. They are also easily adaptable for handling multiple products.
The math required to manufacture any equipment in a roll forming line can be complicated. Engineers must accurately account for speed, material weight and product size. Some applications may require two or more servo motors for positioning larger products during material handling applications.
An experienced manufacturer will be able to walk you through the entire process ensuring that your machine meets your requirements effectively. It’s about engineering solutions and finding the optimal design for you.
Believe Industry focuses on custom design and manufacturing because it recognizes that every customer has individual needs that require unique solutions. The extensive experience and passion of the Samco team strive to always provide innovative solutions and value-added services that surpass the customer’s expectations.