Prototype of motor feedback sensor unveiled at sps ipc drives 2017

SIKO GmbH, the measurement equipment manufacturer from Buchenbach, took an unusual step at exhibition stand 300 in hall 4a of sps ipc drives 2017 in presenting the disguised prototype of a sensor for motor feedback applications that is still under development. The courage to reveal in advance what is intended to be launched as a product innovation in the next few months paid off. Everyone was soon talking about the sensor camouflaged with foil, which will bear the name MSAC506, and there were plenty of visitors curious to find out what was going on. Mysterious and clever at the same time - a product disguised with foil so that it stands out from the many other sensors at the sps ipc drives trade fair.

Development objective: motor feedback for torque motors
Absolute speed and position detection for industrial robots, cutting heads, drive units for elevators and round and rotary swivel tables. Torque motors, for which the sensor is being developed, are enjoying ever greater popularity. They impress with significantly higher acceleration and speed values than conventional motor-gear combinations. However, torque motors make higher demands of the sensors that monitor speed and position. Truly absolute, dynamic, robust, wear-free and adjustable – these are the characteristics that the sensor system must have if it is to go into series production in the course of 2018.

Truly absolute and dynamic
This much is certain – the new MSAC506 sensor from SIKO works with an SSI interface for position detection of the motor and an additional analog 1Vss interface for control. Both interfaces are integrated into the sensor as standard and work in parallel. Absolute position information is provided with this combination at all times and exact commutation is possible even in dynamic operation. In particular, the drive can be started easily from any position with the aid of the absolute SSI data. By contrast, a system that “only” uses incremental sensors would tend to start jerkily or suddenly, or “stumble”. Development objective: At a maximum rotational speed of 6,000 rpm, the sensor should be able to record data up to a circumferential speed of 32 m/s.

Robust and wear-free
It should be possible to use the sensor and an associated ring (MRAC506) without problem in a working temperature range of -20…+85°C, meaning that the measurement solution will also be suitable for outdoor use.
Like all of the magnetic sensors manufactured by SIKO, the combination of the MSA506C magnetic sensor and the MRAC506 magnetic ring will be resistant to dust, chips, oils, grease, and moisture.

Adaptable to small diameters
The new MSAC506 magnetic sensor is intended to provide truly absolute scanning of even small radii down to approx. 50mm. This is to be made possible by a curved bottom to the housing which is adapted to the scale of the MRAC506. This solution will also offer the customer the advantage that a reading distance of up to 1.0 mm is achievable.

Development profile of prototype MSAC506 & MRAC506:

• Magnetic single-turn absolute encoder
• SSI interface (others available on request)
• 12-16 bit resolution
• Additional sine/cosine analog signals (1 Vss)
• Reading distance up to 1.0 mm
• Diagnostic LED
• External diameter scale MRAC506 ~ 100mm
• Hollow shaft diameter 50H7
• Rotational speed up to 6,000 rpm
• Working temperature -20…85°C