Controlling an industrial servo with a pc?

[tfry200]

Let me start off by saying I don't normally deal with servos or motion control or anything like that. But I'm being asked to!

We need to test an AC servo motor we have in house. I'm told that there are motion control cards that can be purchased for a PC that can control a servo, and I've been asked to look into them.

Is this true? In round terms, how much do they cost? I have to believe there is more needed to run an industrial servo than a pc card. Would someone be willing to give me a simple explanation of what is involved with controlling an industrial servo so that I can research the components needed a bit more?

For what it's worth, we really don't need anything fancy. Just something to take us through the machine's range of motion.

Thanks for any light you can shed on this topic.

Tim

 

[xnuke]

I am not trying to make an endorsement here, but a company like Pro-Dex OMS might be able to help you with your questions. They make motion control cards for servos and steppers that can be put into PCs. Here's a link:

http://www.omsmotion.com/

xnuke
"Live and act within the limit of your knowledge and keep expanding it to the limit of your life." Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged.
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[cswilson]

You could get a motion control card to fit inside your PC, but you would need an external servo amplifier with the power circuitry as well. I think it would be better to get a "smart amplifier" of some sort with the controller embedded inside it, and a simple wire (e.g. Ethernet) link to the PC.

Curt Wilson
Delta Tau Data Systems

 

[burnt2x]

Google is your friend (and mine too)! Try the key words "controlling a servomotor by a pc" and you'll get a lot of hits!