To read this content please select one of the options below:

Using variable‐reluctance actuators in automated manufacturing machines

Norbert C. Cheung (Norbert C. Cheung is based at the Department of Electrical Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China)
Jianfei Pan (Jianfei Pan is based at the Department of Electrical Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China)

Industrial Robot

ISSN: 0143-991X

Article publication date: 1 August 2003

564

Abstract

Most advanced manufacturing processes require high‐speed and high‐precision assembly machines for material transfer, packaging, assembly, and electrical wiring. To achieve the precise motion control, most of the machines use rotary electrical motors as their prime motion actuators, and couple their output shafts to mechanical motion translators. In this paper, the author proposes a new direction in high performance automated machine design, and suggests that the future high performance motion systems should be designed through the philosophy of “simplifying the mechanics through direct‐drive actuators and advanced control methodologies”. For this purpose, this paper investigates a class of direct‐drive variable reluctance (VR) motion actuators for high performance motions, and also looks into a number of VR actuators suitable for robotic applications. It also highlights their features and advantages, and describes the challenges of controlling these devices.

Keywords

Citation

Cheung, N.C. and Pan, J. (2003), "Using variable‐reluctance actuators in automated manufacturing machines", Industrial Robot, Vol. 30 No. 4, pp. 355-362. https://doi.org/10.1108/01439910310479621

Publisher

:

MCB UP Ltd

Copyright © 2003, MCB UP Limited

Related articles