4 SERVO MOTOR DESIGN

4.1 Introduction

Servo motor is the main prime mover of the robot. This section will cover the
most important of servo motor types which concerns mainly robot, servo motor
behavior in respect to torque, speed, current and voltage, and how to control the
speed, type of application and how to choose the right servo motor with a suitable
gearbox.

4.2 Servo motor main types

Dc servo motors are compact and light. They are two main modules permanent
magnet motor (PM motors) and permanent rare earth magnets.

Picture 4.1 Servo motor

(http://electronic-machine-parts.blogspot.com/)

The principle is similar if we talk about DC or AC motor. A conventional motor

has stator magnets, rotor wound commutator and brushes. The negative side of
these models is the brushes that cause electrical sparks that creates noise and
electric disturbance for other surrounding electrical devices. Then by the arrival
of brushless servo motor which is faster, up to 50,000 rpm. In these modules
magnets are in the rotor, coil in the stator or around it, electronic circuits features
the magnetic fields and the rotor motion is sensed by hall effect sensor. These
models became the most usable system because it gives more reliable operation,
but they are slightly more costly. (Paul 2003, 58-68).

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Performance characteristic of motor drive based on figure 4.2:
According to the figure 4.2 there is a stall torque point, no load speed point, there
is also specific voltage, which drives the motor to no load speed and stall torque.
We notice that if we heavily load the motor then the speed is zero.

 Picture 4.2 Behavior of a servo motor with different speed and torque

We notice from the following figure 4.3:

There is no load current
Kt is the motor constant value

Picture 4.3 Load torque and current

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 Power control of the motor: this is how the system behaves during operation.

Picture 4.4 Load torques and

Picture 4.5 Load torque and efficiency
power output diagram

How to select a motor in a given task:

We need to check if the motor can supply a particular torque and speed from the
manufacturer user manual catalog, if electronic amplifier is able to carry the
required current, if we have enough voltage to carry the load, we need to be sure
that a motor does not heat up during operation time. It is easy to predict how a
motor behaves beforehand because there are several formulas and curves
provided by motor manufacturers, helping us to choose a suitable motor drive.

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4.3 Application types in servo motor

A. Application – continues duty operation

When we drive a certain load in a particular speed or variable speed during a

period of time, we need to take into consideration the load torque, speed and if
electronic circuit is able to supply the required current and voltage.

B. Application -Intermittent operation (Intermittent motion): that has

variable speed and variable periods of time, this drawing describes the
motion.

Picture 4.6 Angular velocity with relative of time

We notice from the curve 4.6 up that we have several different periods of time.
From 0 to A which lasts during t1 is acceleration. From A to B which lasts during
t2 is a uniform speed with 0 acceleration. From B to C which lasts during t3 is
deceleration. From C to D which lasts during t4 is dwell where acceleration and
velocity speed is 0.

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4.4 How to define a suitable servo motor speed
We need first to calculate the speed of load, reduction ratio value by gearbox and
the horse power or KW of the motor drive capacity.

4.5 Servo motor gearbox

Every motor drive has a certain load and the motor speed is quite high for
example 3000 rpm or more. We need to make reduction for the speed through
choosing suitable size for the gear box since the gear box has contributed for the
carried load speed. If the speed is not continued at the same level, but it is
variable during variable time, we need to figure out how to solve this problem.

4.6 Servo motor gearbox

Every motor drive has a certain load and the motor speed is quite high for
example 3000 rpm or more. We need to make reduction for the speed through
choosing suitable size for the gear box since the gear box has contributed for the
carried load speed.

If the speed is not continues in the same level, but it is variable during variable
time, we need to figure out how to solve this problem.

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4.7 Choosing a suitable gearbox

Reduction: most of the cases we face are reductions but there are little cases
of increases. We need to know the maximum speed of load (rpm) of motor drive
from the guide manual which has been provided by a motor drive manufacturer.

(Max speed of load)*2= (max allowable speed of motor*G)

For example maximum allowable speed for a motor is 3000 rpm and
transmission ratio is 0.1.
How to calculate maximum speed of load?
(Max speed of load)*2= (3000*0,1)
Maximum speed of load = 150

Conclusion: If we know the maximum speed of load, we can base our

choosing the motor drive and gear box size or vice versa on it.

G= =
G: is transmission ratio
: Angular acceleration

: Angular speed

: Load.

Figure 8.7 Speed and load torque diagram

Notice: The more speed, the more available torque drops, the more voltage
the more speed.

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4.8 Controlling inertia

We have to find two inertias.

 Im: motor inertia
 IL : load inertia

Torque to be provided by a motor to drive IL is equal to

Tmotor = IL* *G
By knowing that : Angular speed

G= = : Angular acceleration

Then we satisfy the following formula by G

IL* L*G= IL* G* m *G = G2* IL* m
2
Net Toque = Im* m+ G * IL* m

Effective Inertia = Im + G2* IL

Figure 4.8 Angular velocity with respect of time

Figure 4.9 Load torque with respect of time

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In figure 4.9 the sum of torque from 0 to A = to sum of torque A to B +B to C

Figure 4.10 Angular velocity with respect of several period of time

From 0 to A during time t1 according to figure 4.10

The motor angular acceleration = =

Torque T1= (Im* G2* IL) + Tf *

Tf : torque friction
: Efficiency
: angular speed in A
From A to B during time t2
the angular motor acceleration =0 (constant velocity)

Torque T2 = Tf*

From B to C during time t3

the motor angular acceleration = =

Torque T3= (Im* * IL ) - Tf*

It is minus friction because friction aids deceleration.

TRMS =√

Now we can select the suitable motor according to the following drawing.

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 TPEAK = the maximum value of magnitude T1, T2, T3 and T4

Figure 4.11 Diagram for selecting suitable motor drive

(Teijo Lahtinen, Lecture on Lahti University of Applied sciences 2011)

4.9 A Base servo motor example in a robot

In the picture 4.12 an arm operation mechanism for an industrial robot includes a
support, a first arm, a second arm, a link base, a parallel link and a conversion
mechanism. The first arm has a base end pivotally connected to the support for
rotation relative to the support. The second arm has a base end pivotally
connected to a tip end of the first arm for rotation relative to the first arm. The
link base is pivotally connected to the first arm for rotation relative to the first
arm. The parallel link keeps a constant posture of the link base upon the rotation
of the first arm. The conversion mechanism converts the rotation of the link base
relative to the first arm into the rotation of the second arm relative to the link
base. (Free patents online, http://www.freepatentsonline.com/)

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Picture 4.12 This example shows some servo motor linkages through gears and cables
(http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6675069.html)

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4.10 Resolution

The resolution of a stepper motor

Assume that we connect stepper motor on a screw with nut on the screw, then we
run the motor drive forward and backward then nut begin to move with the
movement of stepper motor and there is minimum distance that nut can’t go
below which is the limit, this some kind of example of motor drive resolution.

Picture 4.13 Servo motor with screw ball

(http://www.servo-drive.com/stepper_motors_linear_actuators_linear_stepper_motor.php)

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 Servo motor drive gets feedback from an encoder or a potential meter

Resolution depends on the number of lines inside encoder, the more resolution
you want the more expensive encoder and the more lines it has.
For example, encoder that has 360 lines means that it has one degree of resolution
but it cannot go below one degree.

Picture 4.14 : Optical incremental rotary encoder

(http://www.directindustry.com/prod/gsi-microe-systems/optical-incremental-rotary-encoders-39494-
523542.html)

Potential meter uses different method, which is analogue signal, which is

converted to digital through electronics.
Example: let us assume potential meter signal is 10 volt which equal 8 bit then:
28= 256 digit
360o / 256= 1.4 Resolution per step.(Robert H 2006, 43).

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5 INDUSTRIAL ROBOT

5.1 Introduction

I will try to give a brief history about an industrial robot, covering different types
of industrial robots and their differences especially articulated robot and scara
robot and their differences, besides giving small introductory idea about the end
effector and its rotational movement types.

5.2 History of a robot

It began in 1954 when Devol and Egelberger created the first robot and a
computer was just about coming, so they built not sophisticated controller robot
but they created programmable system that can do a variety of tasks. Then they
established the Unimation company that manufactured these programmable
systems (Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_robot).

In 1970 in the University of Stanford they created an arm which is actuated

through electrical servo motor and controlled by a computer to do variety of tasks
(Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_robot). In 1981 Japanese
created Scara arm which is especially designed for product assembly. The idea of
this robot is to do what human does and sony walk man was the first robot
assembly (Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCARA_robot).

The typical industrial robot which looks like a human arm has six different joints
like an elbow joint, a shoulder joint and a rest joint. These joints are powered by
a servo motor or a hydraulic motor or whatever type of motor. These powered
motor joints enable robot to reach objects in several ways. The amount of joint
space motor drive is depending on the nature of a robot task. One motions less on
motor drive less. There are several types of robot with less motor drive for
example 4 different joint space. The more sophisticated the job the more motions
we require so extra motor drive is need. All these six motor drives need to be
controlled to achieve specific task and sometimes we do not need to use all of
them so we eliminate some motor joint depending on the task requirements.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_robot)

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