AMS

Actuators for mechatronic systems

Information

Life without motion is unimaginable. This statement is also valid in the production industry.  Electromechanical actuators are the work horses within the industry, and determine the quality of many industrial processes. In high-end industrial applications the accuracy of the production systems is increasing steadily, enabled by ever more powerful, precise, efficient and cost-effective actuators.

 

Several questions can be asked about dynamic systems that are related with actuators:

• How can mechanical systems be kept silent (free of motion) in a vibrating environment?
• How can an object of 100 kg be moved over a distance of 1 meter with sub nanometer accuracy with 30 G acceleration?
• How is a low energy consumption level accomplished when having a constant alternating load?
• How can one generate a constant force without exhausting the batteries?
• When are permanent magnets applied and when not?
• Is it possible to make strong actuators without rare earth materials?
• How can a hybrid car achieve such a high electric efficiency?
• How does power electronics play a role in the usage of actuating systems?

 

These and many others questions will be elaborated in the course. For that reason the fundamentals of electro-mechanics (electro magnetism and electro statics), different actuator concepts and their impact on system level will all be covered. The theory and practical implications of power electronics will also be expounded because they are indispensable for an optimal functionality of the actuator itself. Aspects of actuator selection/ development for short stroke or long stroke linear actuation will be treated and a special multi-DOF actuator will be discussed.

 

Participants will acquire a mix of theoretical background, do's and don'ts and practical insight that is useful when designing mechatronic systems with different actuators.

 

After the course, the participant will be able to initiate, specify, guide the development of a special motor or select the proper off-the-shelf actuator (type & version). 

Intended for

Mechatronic system designers and architects who are involved in the multi-disciplinary development of motion devices and need a better insight into the various aspects of actuators in order to make an adequate selection of available off-the-shelf components or initiate, specify and guide the development of a customized actuator. Prerequisites: University level education, with at least two years experience and completion of the courses Mechatronics system design (Metron1/2) or equivalent.

Programme

Day 1

System overview

Actuators in dynamic systems, performance limits of actuators, and actuators as part of servo controlled systems.

Basic theory I

Magnetic fields and sources, magnetic modeling, working principles, actuator classification, electric-magnetic analogy, force calculation methods (energy method, Maxwell stress, Lorentz law).

Basic theory II

Electric fields and sources, modeling, working principles, actuator classification, force calculation methods (energy method, Coulomb law).

 

Day 2

Lorentz actuator

Steepness, current density, thermal effects, thermal modeling: convection and conduction, dissipation for heated systems, thermal duty cycle, cooling strategies, K-factor variation, magnetic damping, dynamic response (bandwidth), electric power demands.

Reluctance actuator

Control implications, flux-sensing, hall-sensing, gap-sensing, special applications, e.g. rotor with magnetic bearing.

Electro static and Piezo actuators

Modeling, controlling in positioning loops.

 

Day 3

Power amplifiers

Linear amplifiers, Pulse-width-modulation, current measurement, modeling, amplifier output impedance, amplifier matching.

Hybrid actuator

Gravity compensators, passive magnetic bearing, stiffness, non-linearity.

Special Multi-DOF actuators

Phi-z actuator, planar motor concepts, off-the-shelf 3-phase linear motor with smart commutation.
 

Award: certificate of attendance.

 

This course is part of the Certified Precision Engineer program of the Dutch Society for Precision Engineering (DSPE). 

Timetable

08-10-2012 09:00
09-10-2012 09:00
10-10-2012 09:00