Motion Control Systems: What CIOs need to Know?
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Motion Control Systems: What CIOs need to Know?

Manufacturing Technology Insights | Monday, October 21, 2019

The motion control market is to reach $22.84 billion by 2022. The core driver of the growth is the metal and machinery manufacturing industry because industry players are working toward enhancing accuracy, speed, and production.

FREMONT, CA: Most technology used in mechanical engineering is a corollary of the progression and implementation of motion control systems. Besides, motion control is all set to see significant changes in the forthcoming years.

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Motion control is an engineering technology, which is highly utilized in the industrial region. A motion control system is any practice that involves the use of moving parts in a coordinated way. So, if one is a CIO and wants to keep up with the trends in the field, then here are five things to know about motion control systems as they develop and evolve.

Applications of Motion Control Systems in Daily Lives

Motors and gears are far and wide and are used in everyday applications. Motion control systems like DC gear motors control everything from coffee-making machines used in offices to elevators to mass transit buses and trains. More so, motion control systems are also used in cars, shopping mall escalators, and to automate industrial processes. Across industries, CIOs can embrace the incorporation of robotics technology and conveyor systems to gain high-efficiency production and assembly margins.

The Change that Motion Control Market will See in the Impeding Years

The motion control market is predicted to reach $22.84 billion by 2022. The core driver of the growth is the metal and machinery manufacturing industry because industry players are working toward enhancing accuracy, speed, and production. Other value triggers are also capitalizing on product assemblies and the AC motor market.

How will Robotics Drive the Potential of Motion Control Systems

The employment of robots in industrial settings is projected to boost the motion control market value considerably. Warehouse owners, in particular, highly cling onto robots and invest in them to assist warehouse staff in handling product organization and deliveries. Furthermore, bots are also used in delicate service and surgical operations.

Motion Control Systems Feet in the Medical Industry

The medical industry is highly sensitive, with definite application requirements that ought to be met. The adoption of motion control systems in the clinical sector comprises wheelchairs that can traverse rough stairs and terrains and transplanted mechanical valves and air pumps for respiratory use. As such, the field of biomedical engineering is expected to develop as the need for capable and small medical devices, which utilize motion control systems increases.

Motion Control Systems’ Application in Fields such as Defense, Aerospace, and Automotive Industries

In the aerospace industry, motion control systems are utilized in pilot cooling system pumps, emergency fuel systems, and mobile weapon systems. While in defense, the systems are designed to meet strict military operation standards, which permit proficient operations in hazardous surroundings. The introduction of electric and autonomous vehicles will trigger increased use of motion control in the automotive industry.

While motion control may be unknown to many people, the systems are the backbone of vital arrangements. They are used in fields such as medical, transportation, oil and gas, metal and machinery manufacturing, textile and energy, and others.

Trends Changing Motion Control

Motion control is a crucial part of equipment operation and plays a direct role in automation. Below are a few trends for CIOS to bear in mind in motion control that are encouraging reform and increased productivity across the manufacturing landscape.

Simulation and Digital Twinning

The move toward digitization has stimulated a significant change in motion control—simulation. Machine development is a complex and lengthy process involving comprehensive drawings and design work, followed by modeling and testing of the new machine. Simulation is changing the whole process for (Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of motion control devices.

Simulation, typically incorporating finite-element modeling, assists engineers test a far more extensive selection of variables. The process eliminates surprises in the design phase, enhance the time to market, and better comprehend the real-world performance of every distinct component. Furthermore, the method culminates in a working digital model of the final product that people can study in detail. They can safely observe the effect of resizing motors and gearboxes and eventually dialing in the ideal balance between optimal performance, material costs, and machine footprint.

Simulation through digital twinning is not just practical for designing and developing new products. Engineers can also use simulations to monitor the effect of new controller algorithms or equipment upgrades. The process also makes it easier to test new functions and eventually deliver application-specific and niche functionality to the user. 

Frameless Motors

In the search for enhanced equipment competence, high performance, and throughput, motor designers and equipment manufacturers increasingly look to frameless motors. The motors deliver a host of competitive advantages comprising better performance in a more compact design, greater flexibility, and easier customizability. As manufacturing processes become more focused and factories more agile, application-specific equipment, frameless motors deliver the means to power the flexible machines and support specialized practices.

Truly Predictive Maintenance

Impromptu downtime is a killer for profitability and productivity. In previous decades, when tools failed, isolating the problem part needed seemingly endless troubleshooting and diagnostics work. Besides, some components are not as easy to reach and diagnose like others. The entire process was lengthy and costly at the same time.

Predictive maintenance is a trend made probable by digitization and the shift to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). The instance implies manufacturers and others who rely on heavy tools uptime can predict which machines are approaching a failure state. The devices can then be isolated and addressed before they pose a risk to throughput, employee safety, and profits.

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