Different Types of Servo Motor and Its Applications

The Servo Motor is a commonly used motor for high technology devices in various industries like automation. This motor is a self-controlled electrical device, that switch part of a machine with high productivity and great accuracy. The o/p shaft of this motor can be stimulated to a specific angle. These motors are mainly used in different applications like home electronics, cars, toys, airplanes, etc. This article discusses what is a servo motor, working, types and its applications.

 

Types of Servo Motor

These motors are classified into different types based on their application like Brushless DC , AC , continuous rotation, linear and positional rotation, etc. Typical servo motors contain of three wires such as, power control and ground. The outline and dimension of these motors depend on their applications. The most common type of this motor is an RC servo motor used in interest applications like robotics due to their ease, reliability and affordability of control by microprocessors.

DC Servo Motor

Generally, this motor has a separate DC source in the winding and the armature winding field. The control can be archived either by controlling the armature current or field current. Field control comprises some benefits over armature control. Similarly, armature control comprises some benefits over field control. Based on the uses the control should be functional to the DC servo motor. This motor offers very precise and also quickly react to start or stop commands due to the low armature inductive reactance. These motors are used in related equipment’s and computerized mathematically controlled machines.

AC Servo Motor

This motor includes encoder which is used with controllers for giving closed loop control and also feedback. This motor can be employed to high accuracy and also controlled exactly as required for the applications. Often these motors have advanced designs of easiness or better bearings and some simple designs also use higher voltages in order to achieve greater torque. AC motor applications, mainly involve in robotics, automation, CNC machinery,etc.

Positional Rotation Servo Motor

This is a most common type of motor and the o/p of the shaft rotates in about 180o. It comprises physical stops situated in the gear device to stop revolving outside limits to protect the rotation sensor. These common servomotors include in radio controlled cars, radio controlled water, toys, aircraft, robots, and many other applications.

Continuous Rotation Servo Motor

This motor is quite correlated to the common positional rotation servo motor, but it can move in any direction indefinitely. As per the speed & direction of rotation, the control signal rather than set the static position of the servo is assumed.The range of potential commands causes the motor to rotate clockwise or anticlockwise as chosen, at varying speed, depending on the command signal. This kind of motor is used in a radar dish and it can be used as a drive motor on a mobile robot.

Linear Servo Motor

This motor is also similar the positional rotation servo motor, that is discussed above, but with an extra gears to alter the o/p from circular to back-and-forth. These motors are not simple to find, but sometimes you can find them at hobby stores where they are used as actuators in higher model airplanes.

Servo Motor Working

An exclusive design of this motor is suggested in controlling applications like the robotics. Basically, they are used to change the speed control at high torques and correct positioning. The required parts for this motor are highly developed controller and motor position sensor.These motors can be classified according the motor controlled by servomechanism.

If a DC motor is controlled using this machine, then it is called as a DC servo motor. These motors are obtainable in power ratings from segment of a watt to 100 watts.The servo motor’s rotor is designed lengthier and smaller in width so that it has low inertia.

Applications of Servo Motor

The servo motor is a small and effective motor and it can be used in some serious applications like precise position control.The controlling of this motor can be done with a PWM (pulse width modulator) signal. The applications of these motors mainly include in industrial robotics, computers, toys, CD/DVD players, etc. These motors are widely used in some applications where a specific task is to be done regularly in an exact manner.

• This motor is used to activate movements in robotics for giving the arm to its exact angle.
• This motor is used to start, move and also stop the conveyor belts carrying the product along with many stages. For example, bottling, packaging and product labeling,
• This motor can be used in the camera to set a lens of the camera to enhance the focus of images
• This motor is built into the camera to correct a lens of the camera to improve out of focus images.
• This motor can be used to control the robotic vehicle by controlling robot wheels,speed, generating plenty torque to move and also start and stop the robot.
• It can be used in solar tracking system to set the angle of the solar panel so that panel stays to face the sun.
• This motor is used in milling machines for metal cutting and forming to provide specific motion.
• This is used in Textile industries to control and knitting machines like spinning, weaving.
• This motor is used in automatic door opening and closing in public places like hospitals, theaters and supermarkets.

Thus, this is all about types of servo motor and its applications. We hope that you have got a better understanding of this concept. Furthermore, any doubts regarding this article, or DIY projects for engineering students, please give your valuable suggestions by commenting in the comment section below. Here is a question for you, What is the main function of a motor?