SERVO MOTORS

Description
Servo motors are used widely in a variety of industries for process control.
These AC or DC motors are designed to provide feedback on position
and speed so that a process can be tracked and moved with
precision. The three-phase AC servo motors are often designed with a
three-phase stator winding, similar to a standard AC induction motor,
but the rotor is constructed of a permanent magnet. The DC servo
motors are designed with a commutator and armature much like a standard
DC motor, but the stator is a permanent magnet. Even a standard
AC induction motor can be utilized as a servo motor if a control circuit
and a feedback circuit are used to control the position and speed. A
servo motor is shown in Figure 49.

Applications
Servo motors are used in a variety of applications from robots to precision
tools. They are used to move automobiles down the production line
in an automotive plant or for labeling beverage cans as they are processed
for shipping. On a smaller scale, very small servo motors are
used to populate printed circuit boards providing maximum precision
for computers and other electronics. Anywhere an object needs to be
pushed, pulled, lifted, or dropped with precision and accuracy a servo
motor can be applied.
Test Considerations
All testing of enclosed servo motors must be performed through the
cable connector on the frame of the motor. If multiple motors of the
same design are to be tested, a test connector should be made for ease of
testing.
Do not exceed 500 volts for insulation tests when testing permanent
magnet motors, unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer. Other
than the 500 volts limit, servo motors are treated much like any other
AC or DC motor. The biggest difference is in finding the right pin in the
connector, which leads to the stator winding or DC armature.
During the MCE standard test phase-to-phase resistance measurement,
the rotor may spin rapidly causing erroneous readings. If the motor does
not have a built in braking device, locking the rotor with other means
may be necessary to prevent the shaft from rotating.
No signal can be applied to the permanent magnet section of the motor.
Not all servo motors have permanent magnets, but instead are standard
AC induction motors powered by VFDs with a feedback circuit to indicate
position and speed.
Performing a RIC test on a motor with permanent magnets may prove
difficult due to the tendency of the magnet to align with the field produced
by the MCE on the stator windings. RIC testing can’t be performed,
if a brake is set when the motor is de-energized.