Redefining Servo Drives! Delta Leverages Module Design in Multi-axis Motion Control for Production Efficiency and Environmental Sustainability

As severe weather and natural disasters pose greater threats to humanity, many governments, and enterprises are setting net-zero carbon emission goals and requiring carbon reduction for their daily operations. While many companies leverage green energy and reduce energy consumption to meet these goals, Jacky Chen, the GM of Delta Industrial Motion System BU (IMSBU) pointed out that manufacturers can broaden their perspective and choose products with optimal energy and space utilization. The resulting lower fault rate and maintenance costs can help achieve economic and environmental sustainability from the core.

The smart manufacturing trend continues to be an industrial wave. Manufacturers are pursuing sustainable operations through digital transformation and company upgrades. However, Jacky mentioned, "Smart manufacturing needs to build upon a precise and reasonable automation foundation; otherwise, it just becomes a flashy display." He further elaborated that multi-axis synchronous motion control is the foundation and is widely applied in production systems that utilize servo drives to build servo loops for precise motor movements. It gets more challenging as the motor number grows.

Delta began developing servo drives in 2000 from fewer axes to accumulating greater technological capabilities. “Delta’s servo drives now have roles to play in the market. Not only does the response speed reach advanced standards but the precision attains 2 to the 24th power, which can satisfy high precision motion control requirements, such as semiconductor applications”, Jacky stated. In addition, adopting precise and synchronous multi-axis control for winding applications in lithium battery production can prevent material fracture and deformation, which increases productivity and optimizes resource utilization.

There are various choices of servo drives on the market, however, Delta’s Advanced Multi-axis AC Servo System ASDA-W3 stands out from common individual structures and improves situations where messages between axes and synchronous algorithmization all rely on the host controller. The synchronous capability is no longer limited by the host’s computing power and update speed. "The ASDA-W3 is a new generation product that redefines the benchmark of motion control!" Jacky also proudly asserted that the ASDA-W3 would help manufacturers enhance productivity, and optimize energy and space utilization in a more precise and effective form.

The ASDA-W3 features a modular design and provides three major advantages. First, the specially designed backplane installation achieves easy module switching and axis adding. “Under this structure, it requires only one computing processor to break up the synchronous demands from the host. The speed is multiple times faster than communication networks, and the processor automatically executes inter-axis correction to achieve extremely precise synchronous results.” Second, by sharing the most resources, the ASDA-W3 shrinks the system size and can save more space when it contains more axes. With the same height, it further optimizes space utilization. Third, the ASDA-W3 adopts a single interface for one-step installation, uninstallation, and implementation.

Besides the structure, the ASDA-W3 is designed with high energy efficiency. It can have other axes to reuse the regenerative energy from deceleration to reduce energy loss. Users can expand energy storage space when there is large regenerative energy by purchasing extra energy modules at a later date to emergently execute ordered or synchronous stops when the system power shuts down unexpectedly to prevent mechanical or workpiece damage.

“Nowadays, production processes are becoming more complex and bringing higher demands for multi-axis synchronous motion control. More than half of the machines in the industry should consider adopting the ASDA-W3, including semiconductor, lithium battery manufacturing, electronic and electrical, woodworking, packaging, and logistics equipment.” Manufacturers can then reduce implementation, maintenance, and energy usage costs. Jacky concluded, “High quality and easy-to-use/maintain products can help companies integrate energy saving and carbon emission reduction into their daily operations to fulfill ESG and their company vision for social sustainability.”

The original article is posted on TechOrange, please refer to the link below: https://buzzorange.com/techorange/2022/08/25/asda-w3/. (in Chinese)