DRIVES, CONTROLS & MOTORS FEATURE
WHEN PRECISION MATTERS
Demands on the precision drive system market continue to push the need for precise control with more compact designs. maxon UK & Ireland’s managing director, William Mason, explains how engineering support in the drive system market has developed, and where it’s going
O
ver the last 25 years, advancements in the precision drive market, involving DC and brushless DC motors up to around 750W,
have resulted in progressively more compact, torque-dense systems, with greater control. The result is that design engineers are able to specify electric drive systems, including gears and controls, that are becoming increasingly more specific to the task. 20 years ago, modifications might have
involved a customised shaft or a cable change. Today, drive systems can be designed from scratch to fit customers’ exacting requirements. Applications where performance is the most
critical have benefitted the most, changing the focus for precision drive system manufacturers like maxon, where high-volume OEMs require custom development. Today, maxon’s biggest market in the UK is
aerospace, followed by the medical sector, which is growing fast thanks to developments such as patient-implantable devices. The continued growth of robotics is also important.
THE DEMAND FOR CUSTOMISATION The ability to develop a customised drive system is dependent on the experience and expertise of the engineers responsible for specification. Today, design engineer customers frequently
provide a detailed specification of requirements. As a result, it’s crucial for locally based front-line
maxon ECX flat motor
engineers to carry out a thorough review and create an accurate design concept. Getting that stage right is essential for the R&D and manufacturing teams to develop a drive system that best achieves the needs of the application. maxon has invested in its UK & Ireland engineering team to support customers in drive system specification. All the team have engineering degrees as well as backgrounds in engineering. This means that when they talk to a customer about their application, the team understands the requirements on the drive system and the possibilities in customisation that can be achieved. This knowledge extends into specialised
sectors where distinct demands are supported by a top-down approach that spans R&D, material sourcing, and manufacture.
DEVELOPING COMPLETE DRIVE SYSTEMS Industrial standards are now commonly applied which cover component and material traceability, design criteria, as well as production. Recognition of EN ISO certifications for the medical and aerospace industries, for example, have been crucial for drive system manufacturers to achieve. The push for standards has coincided with the trend for complete drive system development, rather than providing just the motor. This includes the gear head, a feedback device, as well as a controller for speed, torque, and position; and, if necessary, a controller to coordinate multiple axes. Design and assembly of a complete drive
system can reduce development time for the customer, be that an OEM or project engineering team. Most importantly, relying on a dedicated motor engineering team to develop a turn-key drive system can increase performance for real world use. The 2018 acquisition of the Poole-based
motor manufacturer, Parvalux, has widened maxon’s capabilities, adding right-angle geared motors, higher power AC systems, as well as DC motors for consumer and industry- scale markets. The partnership has also
Aviation is an important sector for maxon
enabled combined technology projects, such as pairing a flat, brushless DC maxon motor with a Parvalux right-angle gearbox to create a compact, automated door control system.
FUTURE MARKET DEMANDS Customer requirements will push further developments in precision drive systems in future. Drive system manufacturers, for instance, are likely to become more involved with software programming for controllers in line with the developing need for complete, turn-key systems. The DC motor itself has been around for a
long time and it won’t fundamentally change. However, we will see improved tolerances and magnet strength, creating more powerful motors for their size. Today’s primary need for precise, compact, and highly reliable drives will be even more in demand in future as OEM’s look to increase the performance and efficiency of their systems. maxon’s £603million annual turnover is led by its American customers with a very strong medical market, followed by Germany and home customers in Switzerland. The UK and Ireland will continue to be important for the precision drive system market thanks to the requirements of its high-tech industrial base, particularly including the medical, automotive, and aviation sectors. One of maxon’s top 10 customers started out as a university project. So, whatever the scale, the success of future projects involving precision drive systems will continue to rely on first-hand engineering expertise from outset. The higher the demands on the drive system, the more important that initial design concept will become.
maxon UK
www.maxongroup.co.uk
maxon ECX Multi Pole DECEMBER/JANUARY 2025 DESIGN SOLUTIONS 23
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