Actuation and power electronics training

Life without motion is unimaginable. This statement is also valid in the production industry.

Electro-mechanic actuators, driven by highly efficient and accurate power electronic circuits, are the working horses within the industry. They determine the performance and 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 actuation systems.

Several questions can be asked about dynamic mechanical systems that are related with the actuation;

• How can mechanical systems be kept silent (free of motion) in a vibrating environment when large objects are actuated with high accelerations?

• How is a low energy consumption level accomplished when having a frequently alternating load?

• Why are permanent magnets so important for mechatronic drives?

• Is it possible to make strong actuators without permanent magnets?

• How can an electric car achieve such a high overall efficiency?

• What is the role of power electronics in the application of electromagnetic actuators?

These and many other questions will be elaborated in the course. For that reason the fundamentals of electromagnetic actuators and motors including the necessary power electronics to control them will be covered. Detailed attention is given to the challenging task of choosing the right actuator type for a certain application from an overwhelming diversity. The impact of different principles of electronic power conversion will be unraveled, ranging from linear to switched mode power circuits, each with their own benefits and drawbacks. The need for current or voltage drive is elaborated while attention is given for power amplifier noise. Especially aspects of element selection and/or development for short stroke or long stroke high precision linear actuation will be treated and special multi-DOF actuators will be presented as challenging examples.

This training is available for open enrollment as well as for in-company sessions.

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). 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 actuation systems.

This course is 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 actuation systems in order to make an adequate selection of available off-the-shelf components or initiate, specify and guide the development of a customized actuation system. 

Prerequisities:

University level education, with at least two years experience and completion of the courses Mechatronics System Design (METRON1/2) or equivalent.