Motion control for speed, precision and repeatability

Motion is precise control of a motor. Not just speed, but position also. It is often used for applications that require an extremely high level of repeatability or a very aggressive acceleration and/or deceleration. Machines like CNC mills and lathes, rotary tables, packaging machines, filling machines, stamping machines and many machines in the packaging and plastics industries are a few of the instances you will find motion control.
Motion control typically refers to systems with exact position/velocity/torque capabilities operating in either open or closed loop mode. Open loop stepping drives send motion commands to stepper motors but receive no information about the result. Closed loop stepper and servo systems have feedback devices at the motor shaft to verify or adjust the resulting motion.
Motion control systems control a machine’s position, velocity, force, and/or pressure. The system may control one, several or all of those variables. Motion control systems generally consist of the following components:

• Motion controller: The brain, and the central component that operates the system.
• Drive: The drive receives low voltage command signals from the controller and then sends the necessary voltage and current to move or rotate the motor.
• Motor: The motor converts the electrical energy to mechanical energy to power the system. Servo and stepper motors are common in motion control systems.
• Feedback device: It sends feedback to the motion controller to make necessary adjustments for position, velocity, force and/or pressure.