In motion control systems, servo drives affect precision, responsiveness and overall machine performance. Jackson McKay, marketing engineer at Advanced Motion Controls, showed Machine Design two digital servo drive families they were displaying at the Automate Show this past spring in Detroit.
DigiFlex Performance and FlexPro offer options to address a range of power, size and integration demands found in modern industrial and robotic applications.
The DigiFlex Performance series spans an operating voltage range from around 10 VDC to several VAC and supports broad current ratings, McKay said. Designed for multi-axis control, it enables synchronized operation across multiple actuators and integrates with digital control platforms such as the Click-and-Move motion automation control card (as seen in this spin-and-slide demo), facilitating flexible system architectures.
The FlexPro series has a compact design with high power density and fast update rates, McKay said, which are facilitated by advanced digital processing. These drives are suitable for space-constrained applications such as aerospace systems and robotics, balancing small form factors with precise, high-throughput control.
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To demonstrate interoperability, McKay showed how Advanced Motion Controls collaborates with motor companies to optimize system integration. One example features the FlexPro drive powering a motor from ASI Drives.
Another application involves Metalrota, where FlexPro drives manage both traction (wheel rotation) and steering control for automated guided vehicles (AGVs). This system is designed for environments such as warehouse automation and off-road vehicles, supporting real-time command inputs and dynamic control adjustments. The combined control of wheel motion and steering shows how these drives can handle complex robotic movement in embedded applications.
