Nidec and Nidec Sankyo jointly developed AC servo motors equipped with position detection technology "Zignear®"

Nidec and Nidec Sankyo jointly developed AC servo motors equipped with position detection technology "Zignear®"

Supports 17-bit resolution and is promoted to the industrial robot market

Nidec and Nidec Sankyo have jointly developed an AC servo motor (resolution: 17 bits) equipped with "Zignear®", a position detection technology that can also be used in industrial robots and can replace encoders.

【Features of this product】

• The same number of parts as a magnetic encoder and the same position detection accuracy and tracking performance as an optical encoder are achieved.

• The highest accuracy of position detection error is less than ±0.02° mechanical angle*.

• It can achieve the same action as a conventional 17-bit AC servo motor (proven by testing a system for driving an automated guided vehicle (AGV)).

• The shape is the same as the conventional magnetic encoder, making it easy to replace.

• By using a general-purpose microcomputer, various output formats such as ABZ phase output of optical encoders, serial communication common in magnetic encoders, voltage output, and PWM output can be supported.

• It is expected to be used in industrial robots, AGV, etc.

Encoders are sensors mainly used to detect the rotation of brushless DC motors . They are essential components for adjusting the motor to the target position and eliminating rotation unevenness. In the past, encoders were required for brushless DC motors because it was difficult to detect the exact position due to "deviations" in the installation and sensitivity of magnetic sensors, such as Hall sensors. Nidec developed an algorithm to correct the deviation and successfully improved the accuracy of position detection using a general-purpose microcomputer.

Optical encoders Although they can be used in high-precision, strong magnetic field environments, they tend to be larger in proportion to their accuracy, and require accurate alignment. Therefore, in addition to the relatively high cost of components and installation such as pulleys, they also tend to deteriorate in environments with a lot of dust and oil. On the other hand, magnetic encoders can be used in dusty environments and can use relatively cheap ICs, so they have cost advantages, but their accuracy is inferior to that of optical encoders. Nidec's "Zignear®" uses Hall sensors, general-purpose microcomputers, and fewer main components (the same as magnetic encoders), and can achieve the same high-precision position detection and high follow-up performance as optical encoders through software.

In the future, AC servo motors equipped with "Zignear®" will contribute to the needs for higher precision, more diverse communication methods, and replacement of conventional products in industrial robots and mobile systems that are increasingly undergoing technological innovation and diversification.

Zignear® is a registered trademark of Nidec Corporation in Japan and China.

*Position accuracy at room temperature under specified conditions