Servo motors

In industrial automation, servo motors from Festo offer simple operation, a great deal of flexibility and maximum precision as well as reliability with high cost efficiency for every application. Servo drives can control and hold positions, torque and speeds precisely and in fractions of a second. This enables complex machine drives that can also implement difficult production processes. For this reason, servo motors are particularly suitable in robotics and for automation solutions.

You can find more products in the category: Motors and servo drives

Servo motors from Festo

Festo servo motors together with servo drives are the ideal link between your mechanics and control technology and can be commissioned quickly and easily as a complete drive system with the Festo Automation Suite. Maximum connectivity in hardware and software is our guiding principle: Put together your electrical combination that meets the exact requirements of your application – regardless of your electromechanical system and control environment.

Festo Automation Suite

EMMT-AS servo motor

Our EMMT-AS is a dynamic, brushless, permanently excited AC synchronous servo motor. It was designed primarily for demanding and dynamic applications. The motor from our core range is characterized by an extremely low cogging torque, which enables it to achieve high synchronization, even at low rotational speeds, as well as good controllability and path fidelity in positioning tasks. The "electronic rating plate" contains all the important motor data. This can be read by the CMMT-AS servo drive and then used to automatically set the parameters for the servo motor. The space-saving one-cable solution significantly reduces the installation effort as well.

Servo motor EMMT-AS

EMMB-AS servo motor

The compact and extremely economical EMMB-AS is also a brushless, permanently excited AC synchronous servo motor. Available in four performance levels, it is suitable for simple positioning tasks, especially in the electronics industry and small parts assembly, as well as in test stations. It is available as standard with digital single-turn absolute measuring system, optionally also with multi-turn system. In combination with the ELGC axes, the EGSC mini slides and the CMMT-AS motor controller, the result is a perfect interplay of all components.

Servo motor EMMB-AS

EMME-AS servo motor

Reliable, dynamic, accurate: EMME-AS is our powerful AC synchronous servo motor with optimized connection technology for dynamic applications. The motor is available with classic 2-cable standard lines. IP54 degree of protection on the motor shaft without oil seal, IP65 on the motor shaft with oil seal and for motor housing and power/encoder connection ensure safe operation. The brushless, permanently excited synchronous servo motor is available in variants with Safety Encoder absolute, Multi-Turn and HIPERFACE®.

Servo motor EMME-AS

What are servo motors?

The name servo motor comes from the Latin word "servus" – "servant". This is because servo motors were originally designed as simple auxiliary drives for use in machine tools. Today, a servo motor is generally understood to be a mostly electric motor that has closed-loop control and can provide feedback on its rotational or linear position.

Servo motors are characterized by:

  • high dynamics
  • high positioning accuracy
  • high overload capacity in a wide range of rotational speeds
  • high speed accuracy
  • extensive rotational speed setting ranges

Which types of servo motors are there?

Servo motors can be operated in electronic position, torque or speed control. Sometimes these are also operated in a combination of different schemes. Drives can be divided into two basic types – synchronous and asynchronous servo motors. The fundamental difference between synchronous and asynchronous servo motors lies in their mode of operation and design.

A synchronous servo motor generates a rotating magnetic field that rotates exactly in sync with the frequency of the applied voltage or current. Here, the speed of the motor is directly proportional to the frequency of the applied voltage or current. Synchronous motors are typically used when high precision and speed are required.

An asynchronous servo motor, on the other hand, works differently. In an asynchronous servo motor, the magnetic field is generated by passing current through the rotor. The rotor rotates due to the interaction between the rotating magnetic field and the conductive tracks in the rotor. The speed of an asynchronous servo motor depends on the load it is driving and is generally lower than that of a synchronous servo motor. Asynchronous servo motors are typically used for higher torque applications.

So whether a synchronous or an asynchronous servo motor is better suited for the application always depends on the specific requirements.

Permanent magnet synchronous servo motors, asynchronous motors and brushed DC motors are widely used as servo motors. AC servo motors are usually referred to as motors that are operated on supply voltages generated directly by rectifying an alternating voltage. In contrast, servo motors that can be operated directly from an extra-low voltage are referred to as DC servo motors. However, this classification does not say anything about the engine type. Permanently excited synchronous motors are used as both AC and DC synchronous motors according to this definition. Asynchronous motors and reluctance motors are mainly used as AC servo motors; permanently or externally excited brushed DC motors are used more as DC servo motors.

In which industries are servo motors used?

Increasing automation in all areas of mechanical and system engineering means that increasingly shorter cycle times and greater flexibility required when changing products. This development has led to the servo drives used today. These motors are mainly used for applications in the following industries:

  • Packaging technology
  • Plastics industry
  • Metal industry
  • Food and beverage industry

Servo motors are particularly valued in these industries because they are scalable in their performance and application. They always offer the right performance – whether as a direct drive for high-precision axes or as a cost-effective motor/gear unit combination. In addition, the effort required for cabling and the time required for installing servo motors is very low, as they can be used with digital signal transmission and combined cables.