Mitsubishi’s Servo Drives and Motors: Powering the Future of Automation

Introduction

Mitsubishi Electric is the worldwide top brand for manufacturing electronic and electrical products that are efficiently used in various industries, especially related to automation. When we talk about movement, motors play a vital role in the movements of parts used for automation. Usually, an industrial motor can have a frame size of 140 or greater, and its horsepower can be 5 to 12,000. These motors have applications in several industries and sectors. These electric motors work by converting electrical power into motion at the least fundamental level. Pumps, conveyors, air-handling systems, and many more necessities in the most demanding sectors are powered by industrial motors.

The majority of servos’ applications are in industry. Servos drives are used in several significant sectors, including robotics, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and in-line processing. These are ideal for electrically powered equipment, including lifts, walking robots, rudders, and gripper actuators.

Mitsubishi has a large assortment of servo drives and motors for commercial use. AC, DC, servo, and stepper motors may satisfy most industrial automation needs. However, the most appropriate motor will vary according to the application. Modern life is very dependent on servo drives and motors. Mitsubishi Electric contributes to enhanced efficiency and standards on the production line by providing a wide range of automation, such as drive products, controllers, and industrial motors.

Understanding Servo Drives and Motors

Servo Drive

The electronic apparatus that regulates the electrical power transmitted to the motor is recognized as a drive. The drive modifies the quantity and frequency of electricity sent to the motor, which indirectly controls the torque and speed of the motor.

The servo drive is one of the four fundamental parts of the motion control framework. It takes the controller’s instruction signal, modifies it, or makes it more powerful according to need, and then transmits this to the motor with the precise current and voltage needed to cause the desired motion. The drive then regulates the electrical current to generate torque. However, it may also control position, torque, and speed based on various currents and voltages.

We can say that servo drives are to servo systems what the nervous system is to the human body. Their job is to give an engine as much information as possible about what, how, and when to perform. The system becomes a closed loop by responding and reading to a feedback mechanism. Due to the way it works, it is essential for quick collaboration between CNC components; in particular, if the servo drive fails, the CNC machine won’t be able to function correctly.

Servo Motors

The servo motor functions as a machine that moves components accurately and effectively. It features a BLDC motor with a positional feedback sensor. It would be not easy to accurately rotate an output shaft at a certain position, angle, and speed with a typical motor. It is only one part of the system for closed-loop motion control. A full motion system also consists of a servo motor, driving mechanisms, a potentiometer, an amplifier, a shaft, and a resolver or encoder.

A servo motor is an equipment that accurately positions or moves things via feedback control. It comprises a sensor and a control circuit alongside the motor. After receiving inputs from the sensor, the control circuit modifies the motor’s spin to bring it into the required position. This technique enables precise and in-control motions in a variety of contexts, including robotics and automation.

What Makes Servo Motors So Popular?

Spending

Servo motors are affordable compared to other motor types like brushless DC and stepper motors. Thanks to their cost-effectiveness, they can be used in various applications without breaking the bank.

Power

Because they can generate a lot of torque relative to their weight and size, servos are perfect for use in robotic arms and many other positioning parts that require strong movement. Additionally, this ability ensures movement accuracy and facilitates precise object control. This power makes them indispensable in lifting, gripping, and manipulating heavy objects in industrial settings, improving efficiency and productivity.

Flexibility

Servo motors are very practical as well as versatile in the usage of energy because, unlike conventional motor technologies, they require a small amount of power to operate. Additionally, they are simple and quick to program, making it possible to program various movements quickly. Because of their flexibility in responding to various sensors, encoders, and communication protocols, servo motors can be integral to contemporary manufacturing, automation, and robotics operations.

Durability

Servo motors can be employed for several years without requiring much repair or maintenance because they are built to withstand prolonged usage and have an extended lifespan. In applications where accuracy is crucial but interruption must be reduced, these factors render them useful at the very least.

Multiple Sizes

From larger to micro-servos industrial-grade motors, servos are available in a wide range of sizes. As a result, they apply to various robotic tasks, including constructing tiny robots and operating automation systems for industry. They are among the most adaptable and widely used motor technologies because of their diversity.

Effortless Use

Because they are user-friendly and convenient to install, servo motors are excellent for robotics, printing press, and positioning applications. Thanks to their quick and simple programming capabilities, these can be constructed with little technical knowledge. This accessibility encourages innovation and experimentation, allowing users to harness servo motors for various creative and industrial projects easily.

Availability

Finding suitable parts and components is typically not tricky because servo motors are generally accessible from various producers. By doing this, it is made possible for robotics, conveyors, automatic doors, and printing press projects to be finished quickly without the need to wait for equipment from foreign suppliers.

Weight

Compared to conventional motor types, servo motors are relatively light in weight, making them perfect for a wide range of usage. Their compact and lightweight design makes them ideal for applications where weight efficiency is crucial, such as aviation, aerospace, and robotics. Across various sectors, servos strike a balance between precision and weight, contributing to enhanced performance, reduced costs, and increased efficiency in a wide range of applications.

Mitsubishi Electric Servo Drives Product Line

The MELSERVO servo drives and motors from Mitsubishi Electric have outstanding performance, dependability, and utility. Mitsubishi Electric offers a variety of components that may be used to create a servo solution for any application.

MELSERVO-J5

It is the top servo drive series from Mitsubishi Electric. It has exceptional performance and usage. Numerous motor types, including rotary, linear, and direct drive motors, are supported by the MELSERVO-J5. It also has a 3.5 kHz speed frequency response, which shortens the manufacturing cycle time.

MELSERVO-JET

The MELSERVO-JET is a comprehensive motor and servo-driving system. It is perfect for situations in which a straightforward, user-friendly solution is needed. A modern control engine that is more powerful than previously is equipped with the MELSERVO-JET. There is a high-speed, high-precision control available in MELSERVO-JET.

MELSERVO-J4

The MELSERVO-J4 servo drive series is designed to coexist peacefully with people and the natural world. It includes many features that lessen vibration and noise and is energy-efficient.

MELSERVO-JE

The MELSERVO-JE servo drive line is distinguished by contemporary usability and reliable core performance. Because of its versatility, tiny equipment and massive production systems may benefit.

MELSERVO-JN

The tiny servo drive series MELSERVO-JN provides outstanding performance in a small size. It is easy to operate and contains basic operational functions, including in-built positioning and a single-click adjustment.

Mitsubishi Electric also comes with a variety of servo support software. This helps clients with the assembled customization and maintenance of their servo systems.

The Servo systems of Mitsubishi Electric is one of the most well-known brands in industrial automation. It has gained international recognition in a few days. The wide selection of premium servo products includes industry-leading performance for industrial automation applications, multi-axis amplifiers, direct and linear drive motors, and standard safety features.

Shaping the Future of Automation with Mitsubishi Electric

With its economic, ecologically friendly, inventive products and modern technology approaches, Mitsubishi Electric has created leading innovations for many industries, from household to aerospace. With its Manufacturing Automation Systems providing excellent convenience at all production levels, Mitsubishi Electric presents significant value to the global industry. The company utilizes an integrated mechanism through the MELSERVO series in the AC Servomotors drive and AC drive product category. It provides the automation sector with a variety of advanced and intuitive Motion Control Facilities, minimizing time-consuming and complex tasks for the seamless functioning of both electronic and mechanical systems. Motion control mechanisms now include several modern items. These comprise control software and servo motors for producing motion.

Within this System, these components function in coherence. The system is managed by software; servo motors provide motion. The drivers govern the motors, and motion controllers coordinate the motions of many drivers. They constitute a complete and unified solution for reliable and precise motion control in a variety of applications when used together.

Mitsubishi Electric ranks as one of the few corporations developing and producing its goods. MELSERVO series produces AC motors and AC Servo drives to boost machine manufacturers and consumers with production safety and efficiency. This collection, which has technological innovations that fulfill future automation expectations and needs, significantly impacts the industry. This enables the integration of manufacturing procedures with revolutionary 21st-century strategies in accordance with the objective of “more affordable cost, more advanced energy efficiency.”

Unleashing Speed, Ensuring Safety, and Protecting the Environment

The “MELSERVO-J4 series”, designed for flawless supervision and regulation, handles over 22 million pulses per cycle with its standard 4-bit resolution absolute encoder. The MELSERVO-J4, a series released to the sector to preserve zero-error supervisory and regulatory processes, reacts to greater than twenty-two million pulses per advance using the full encoder 4-bit resolution that comes as standard. It provides maximum positioning precision and operating speed, exceeding its high-end machine efficiency criteria as a result of its flawless actual operating features. All the elements are there for the greatest machine output in the “MELSERVO-J4 series”, which offers single, dual, and 3-axis drive options for cabinetry utilization.

Advancing Control and Precision with Digital Twin Technology

The drives made by Mitsubishi Electric create a model for themselves using the digital twins of the servomotors that they employ. This has predetermined coefficients for speed, position, current, and flow loops. Movement may then be accomplished in a considerably more responsive and tightly regulated cycle.

Adaptable Engine Selection

Functionality and adaptability are combined in the “MELSERVO-J4 series” servo drives running direct, linear, and rotary motors simultaneously. With their extensive software, servo drives, quickly and easily coupled to various motors, make coding and configuring gadgets highly practical.

Optimal Control with Swift Adjustments Using Standard PC

The series stands out for its intuitive software, which makes commissioning and troubleshooting using the MR Configurator2 coding tool easy to comprehend. On a typical PC, users may quickly do calibration, inspection, diagnostic, writing, reading, and parameter checking in addition to getting the best control and fastest setup times.

Precision in High-Speed Control

The MELSERVO-J2021, set to join Mitsubishi Electric’s lineup as the next-generation servo series, is an industry-leading servo drive. It reduces production machine cycle times thanks to its remarkable 3.5 kHz speed frequency response. Additionally, including rotary servo motors equipped with high-resolution encoders (67,108,864 pulses per revolution) ensures stable control by minimizing torque fluctuations. Furthermore, these servo drives can seamlessly integrate into the CC-Link IE TSN network, offering comprehensive drive solutions that enable high-speed, high-precision control.

The Future Is Now: Motion Control Systems for Industry 4.0

Mitsubishi Electric foresees that the communication networking it has created, CC-Link IE will eventually be fast-moving, or TSN (Time Sensitivity Network), and it also incorporates TSN functionality into Motion Control Systems. Due to TSN technologies, the information system’s data and query load and the operation of industrial equipment may now be accomplished over a single line. By doing this, the system will become adaptable and prepared for Industry 4.0 in the future.

Conclusion

Mitsubishi Electric is leading the automation sector with a comprehensive selection of electronic and electrical tools. Their servo drives and motors are essential for regulating and accurate motions in the automation industry. As the brains of motion control systems, servo drives effectively govern the flow of electrical energy to motors, assuring precision and effectiveness. Robotics, automation, printing press, and other fields benefit greatly from the exact positioning and movement of servo motors with their feedback control mechanisms.

Mitsubishi Electric’s servo solutions are renowned for their cost-effectiveness, power, durability, and versatility. This makes them ideal for a wide range of applications. Even for individuals with little technological expertise, integration is made simple by their user-friendly layout and accessibility.

The MELSERVO series, including the advanced MELSERVO-J5, user-friendly MELSERVO-JET, and efficient MELSERVO-J4, caters to diverse automation needs. The MELSERVO-JE and MELSERVO-JN series offer flexibility for various applications, from small equipment to large production systems.

In short, Mitsubishi Electric’s servo drives and motors power the automation. In the future, their dedication will guarantee that they will continue to be a reliable partner in supplying ideal control and accurate solutions for automation.

This entry was posted on September 29th, 2023 and is filed under Mitsubishi, Selection Guide, Technology. Both comments and pings are currently closed.