The basic definition for an AC Servo Motor is an automatic device that uses an error-correction routine to correct the motion of the AC Servo Motor. The general term servo can be applied to systems other than an AC Servo Motor that use a feedback mechanism such as an encoder or other feedback device to control the motion parameters. Typically when the term servo is used it applies to a 'AC Servo Motor' but this term is also used as a general control term with the meaning of a feedback loop to position whatever the item is including an AC Servo Motor.

An AC Servo Motor is different from other controlled motors in that it is controlled by a time-based derivative commonly referred to as the PID loop. An AC Servo Motor that is used to control position must be capable of changing the velocity of the output shaft because the time-based derivative, or the rate of change of position, is velocity.

There are two main types of AC Servo Motors - Rotary and Linear.

Rotary AC Servo Motor
A rotary AC Servo Motor is what most people think of when they think of an AC Servo Motor. The three types of AC Servo Motors are: AC Servo Motor, Brush DC AC Servo Motor, and Brushless DC AC Servo Motor. The motion of a rotary AC Servo Motor is often converted into linear motion by the use of a screw thread (ball screw or leadscrew), or with the use of belts and pulleys.

Rotary AC Servo Motor is an AC type motor that is used with a feedback device. These are typically only used in smaller application because a large AC Servo Motor is typically too inefficient when compared to its DC or Brushless counterparts.

Linear AC Servo Motor
A linear AC Servo Motor is a flattened out AC Servo Motor where the rotor is on the inside, and the coils are on the outside of a moveable u-channel. Both AC Servo Motor types are becoming more popular as AC Servo Motor prices continue to come down.

An AC Servo Motor is considered one of the more expensive motors when compared to AC, Brushless, DC, Stepper, and other motor types. The reason for the expense of an AC Servo Motor is the precision required to make an AC Servo Motor and the expensive components that go along with an AC Servo Motor. Generally speaking an AC Servo Motor is intended to be a very precise positioning or speed control device. The motion should be smooth and very precise. To accomplish these features, the AC Servo Motor is manufactured under very tight control parameters. Along with the cost of the AC Servo Motor are the case, bearings, connectors, and feedback devices. The case is usually industrial grade, often sealed to achieve an IP65 rating or better. The bearings are high quality to make sure that the AC Servo Motor can run the speeds desired and can handle the appropriate axial and radial loads. The connectors are typically mil-style connectors that can be detached at the AC Servo Motor, but are very reliable and industrial grade. The Feedback devices are typically differential encoders and or resolvers. The devices are very expensive and add cost to the AC Servo Motor.

There are two options for AC Servo Motor feedback controls, either a servo encoder or a servo resolver. A servo encoder and a servo resolver provide the same solution in many applications, but are vastly different. They are both used to sense speed, direction, and position of the AC Servo Motor output shaft.

The resolver on the AC Servo Motor uses a second set of rotor and stator coils called the transformer to induce rotor voltages across an air gap. The resolver does not use any electronic components, therefore it's very robust with a high temperature range, and is inherently shock resistance due to its design. A resolver is mostly used in harsh environments.

The optical encoder on the AC Servo Motor uses a rotating shutter to interrupt a beam of light across an air gap between a light source and a photodetector, over time the wear associated with the rotating shutter reduces the longevity and reliability of the encoder. The application will determine whether a resolver or an encoder is needed. Encoders are more accurate and are easier to implement so they should be the first choice for any application. The only reason to choose a resolver is if environmental and longevity requires it.

Anaheim Automation provides many different accessories for our AC Servo Motor. These accessories include a brake, encoder, connector, cable and a handheld interface unit.

The AC Servo Motor brake is a 24vdc system. These AC Servo Motor brakes are perfect for any holding applications. They are available on any Anaheim Automation AC Servo Motor, and are already attached to the rear of the AC Servo Motor. The AC Servo Motor brakes have a low voltage design for applications that are susceptible to weak batter, brown out, or long wiring runs. When electric power is applied to the AC Servo Motor brake the armature is pulled by the electromagnet force in the magnet body assembly, which overcomes the spring action. This allows the friction disc to rotate freely. When electrical power is interrupted, the electromagnetic force is removed and the pressure spring mechanically forces the armature plate to clamp the friction disc between itself and the pressure plate. Anaheim Automation's AC Servo Motor is designed with a 2500 counts per revolution quadrature encoder, with a resolution of 10,000 pulses per revolution.

Anaheim Automation's AC Servo Motor comes with all the necessary connectors to connect to another company's servo driver or an Anaheim Automation servo driver. These AC Servo Motor connectors can also be purchased separately if they are lost. Please refer to the user's guide for a specific part number.

AC Servo Motor cables can be made with the supplied AC Servo Motor connector, or can be purchased from Anaheim Automation. The AC Servo Motor cable comes with a standard length of 5M but can be adjusted to any length required.

The steam engine governor is considered the first powered feedback system that used a gain value so it is considered the first servo mechanism. The word AC Servo Motor comes from the French phrase "Le Servomoteur" or the "slave motor". The first known record of its use was by JJL Farcot in 1868 to describe steam engines and hydraulics for use in steering a ship.

Anaheim Automation provides many different accessories for our AC Servo Motor. These accessories include a brake, encoder, connector, cable and a handheld interface unit.

The AC Servo Motor brake is a 24vdc system. These AC Servo Motor brakes are perfect for any holding applications. They are available on any Anaheim Automation AC Servo Motor, and are already attached to the rear of the AC Servo Motor. The AC Servo Motor brakes have a low voltage design for applications that are susceptible to weak batter, brown out, or long wiring runs. When electric power is applied to the AC Servo Motor brake the armature is pulled by the electromagnet force in the magnet body assembly, which overcomes the spring action. This allows the friction disc to rotate freely. When electrical power is interrupted, the electromagnetic force is removed and the pressure spring mechanically forces the armature plate to clamp the friction disc between itself and the pressure plate.

Anaheim Automation's AC Servo Motor is designed with a 2500 counts per revolution quadrature encoder, with a resolution of 10,000 pulses per revolution.

Anaheim Automation's AC Servo Motor comes with all the necessary connectors to connect to another company's servo driver or an Anaheim Automation servo driver. These AC Servo Motor connectors can also be purchased separately if they are lost. Please refer to the user's guide for a specific part number.

AC Servo Motor cables can be made with the supplied AC Servo Motor connector, or can be purchased from Anaheim Automation. The AC Servo Motor cable comes with a standard length of 5M but can be adjusted to any length required.

Anaheim Automation was established in 1966 as a manufacturer of "turnkey" motion control systems. Its' emphasis on R&D has insured the continued introduction of advanced motor driver/controller, such as the AC Servo Motor product line. Today, Anaheim Automation ranks among the leading manufacturers and distributor of motion control products, a position enhanced by its excellent reputation for quality products at competitive prices. The AC Servo Motor product line is no exception to the Company's goal.

Anaheim Automation offers a wide variety of standard and AC Servo Motor products. Occasionally, OEM customers with mid to large quantity requirements prefer to have an AC Servo Motor that is custom or modified to meet their exact design requirements. Sometimes the customization is as simple as shaft modification, brake, oil seal for an IP65 rating, mounting dimensions, wire colors, or label. Other times, a customer might require that an AC Servo Motor meet an ideal specification such as, speed, torque, and/or voltage. Engineers appreciate that Anaheim Automation's AC Servo Motor product line can answer their desire for creativity, flexibility and system efficiency. Buyers appreciate the simplicity of the "one-stop shop," and the cost savings of a custom AC Servo Motor design, while engineers are pleased with Anaheim Automation's dedicated involvement in their specific AC Servo Motor system.

Anaheim Automation's standard AC Servo Motor product line is a cost-effective solution, in that they are known for their rugged construction and excellent performance. A considerable size of its sales growth has resulted from dedicated engineering, friendly customer service and professional application assistance, often surpassing the customer's expectations for fulfilling their custom requirements. While a good portion of Anaheim Automation's AC Servo Motor sales involves special, custom, or private-labeling requirements, the company takes pride in its standard stock base located in Anaheim, California, USA. To make customization of an AC Servo Motor affordable, a minimum quantity and/or a Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) fee is required. Contact the factory for details, should you require a custom AC Servo Motor in your design.

All Sales for a customized or modified AC Servo Motor are Non-Cancelable-Non-Returnable, and a NCNR Agreement must be signed by the customer, per each request. All Sales, including a customized AC Servo Motor, are made pursuant to Anaheim Automation's standard Terms and Conditions, and are in lieu of any other expressed or implied terms, including but not limited to any implied warranties.

Anaheim Automation's customers for the AC Servo Motor product line is diverse: companies operating or designing automated machinery or processes that involve food, cosmetics or medical packaging, labeling or tamper-evident requirements, cut-to-length applications, assembly, conveyor, material handling, robotics, special filming and projection effects, medical diagnostics, inspection and security devices, pump flow control, metal fabrication (CNC machinery), and equipment upgrades. Many OEM customers request that we "private-label" the AC Servo Motor, so that their customers stay loyal to them for servicing, replacements and repairs. PLEASE NOTE: Technical assistance regarding its AC Servo Motor product line, as well as all the products manufactured or distributed by Anaheim Automation, is available at no charge. This assistance is offered to help the customer in choosing Anaheim Automation products for a specific application. However, any selection, quotation, or application suggestion for an AC Servo Motor, or any other product, offered from Anaheim Automation's staff, its' representatives or distributors, are only to assist the customer. In all cases, determination of fitness of the custom AC Servo Motor in a specific system design, is solely the customers' responsibility. While every effort is made to offer solid advice regarding the AC Servo Motor product line, as well as other motion control products, and to produce technical data and illustrations accurately, such advice and documents are for reference only, and subject to change without notice.

The following information is intended as a general guideline for the installation and mounting of the AC Servo Motor. WARNING - Dangerous voltages capable of causing injury or death may be present in the AC Servo Motor system. Use extreme caution when handling, testing, and adjusting during installation, set-up, tuning, and operation. It is very important that the wiring of the AC Servo Motor be taken into consideration upon installation and mounting.

Subpanels installed inside the enclosure for mounting AC Servo Motor system components, must be a flat, rigid surface that will be free from shock, vibration, moisture, oil, vapors, or dust. Remember that the AC Servo Motor and amplifier will produce heat during work, therefore, heat dissipation should be considered in designing the system layout. Size the enclosure so as not to exceed the maximum ambient temperature rating. It is recommended that the servo amplifier be mounted in an upright position, providing adequate airflow. The AC Servo Motor should be mounted in a stable fashion, secured tightly. NOTE: There should be a minimum of 10mm between the servo amplifier and any other devices mounted in the system/electric panel or cabinet. There should be at least 10mm space in the lateral direction and 50mm space in the longitudinal direction, between the AC Servo Motor amplifier and other electronic/electrical devices. For multi-axis systems, mount in the panel left to right according to power utilization (highest to lowest). If power utilization is unknown, mount from left to right based on Amp rating. NOTE: in order to comply with UL and CE requirements, the AC Servo Motor amplifier must be grounded in a grounded conducive enclosure offering protection as defined in standard EN 60529 (IEC 529) to IP55 such that they are not accessible to the operator or unskilled person. As with any moving part in a system, the AC Servo Motor should be kept out of the reach of the operator. A NEMA 4X enclosure exceeds those requirements providing protection to IP66. To improve the bond between the power rail and the subpanel, construct your subpanel out of a zinc-plated (paint-free) steel. Additionally, it is strongly recommended that the AC Servo Motor amplifier be protected against electrical noise interferences. Noise from signal wires can cause mechanical vibration and malfunctions.

The following environmental and safety considerations must be observed during all phases of operation, service and repair of an AC Servo Motor system. Failure to comply with these precautions violates safety standards of design, manufacture and intended use of the AC Servo Motor and amplifier. Please note that even a well-built AC Servo Motor products operated and installed improperly, can be hazardous. Precaution must be observed by the user with respect to the load and operating environment. The customer is ultimately responsible for the proper selection, installation, and operation of the AC Servo Motor system.

The atmosphere in which an AC Servo Motor is used must be conducive to good general practices of electrical/electronic equipment. Do not operate the AC Servo Motor in the presence of flammable gases, dust, oil, vapor or moisture. For outdoor use, the AC Servo Motor and amplifier must be protected from the elements by an adequate cover, while still providing adequate air flow and cooling. Moisture may cause an electrical shock hazard and/or induce system breakdown. Due consideration should be given to the avoidance of liquids and vapors of any kind. Contact the factory should your application require specific IP ratings. It is wise to install the AC Servo Motor and amplifier in an environment which is free from condensation, electrical noise, vibration and shock.

Additionally, it is preferable to work with the AC Servo Motor/amplifier system in a non-static protective environment. Exposed circuitry should always be properly guarded and/or enclosed to prevent unauthorized human contact with live circuitry. No work should be performed while power is applied. Don 't plug in or unplug the connectors when power is ON. Wait for at least 5 minutes before doing inspection work on the AC Servo Motor system after turning power OFF, because even after the power is turned off, there will still be some electrical energy remaining in the capacitors of the internal circuit of the AC Servo Motor amplifier.

Plan the installation of the AC Servo Motor and amplifier in a system design that is free from debris, such as metal debris from cutting, drilling, tapping, and welding, or any other foreign material that could come in contact with circuitry. Failure to prevent debris from entering the AC Servo Motor system can result in damage and/or shock.

NOTE: Meeting CE Requirements requires a ground system, and the method of grounding the ac line filter and the AC Servo Motor amplifier must match. Failure to do this renders the filter ineffective and may damage.

The following information is intended as a general guideline for wiring of the Anaheim Automation AC Servo Motor product line. Be aware that when you route power and signal wiring on a machine or system, radiated noise from the nearby relays, transformers, and other electronic devices can be induced into motor and encoder signals, input/output communications, and other sensitive low voltage signals. This can cause systems faults and communication errors. WARNING - Dangerous voltages capable of causing injury or death, may be present in the AC Servo Motor amplifier. Use extreme caution when handling, wiring, testing, and adjusting during installation, set-up, tuning, and operation. Don 't make extreme adjustments or changes to the AC Servo Motor amplifier parameters, which can cause mechanical vibration and result in failure and/or loss. Once the AC Servo Motor is wired, do not run the servo amplifier by switching On/Off the power supply directly. Frequent power On/Off switching will cause fast aging of the internal components in the servo amplifier, which will reduce the lifetime of AC Servo Motor system. It's required to use reference signals to control the running of the AC Servo Motor amplifier.

Strictly comply with the following rules:
- Route high-voltage power cables separately from low-voltage power cables.
- Segregate input power wiring and AC Servo Motor power cables from control wiring and motor feedback cables as they leave the servo amplifier. Maintain this separation throughout the wire run.
- Use shielded cable for power wiring and provide a grounded 360 degree clamp termination to the enclosure wall. Allow room on the sub-panel for wire bends.
- Make all cable routes as short as possible.
- Single point grounding is required when mounting the AC Servo Motor and servo amplifier, and grounding resistance should be lower than 100Ω.
- It's prohibited to apply power input noise filter between servo amplifier and AC Servo Motor.
Factory made cables are recommended for use in our AC Servo Motor and amplifier systems. These cables are purchased separately, and are designed to minimize EMI. These cables are recommended over customer-built cables to optimize system performance and to provide additional safety for the AC Servo Motor system and the user.

NOTE: Meeting CE Requirements for an AC Servo Motor and amplifier system requires a ground system, and the method of grounding the ac line filter and the servo amplifier must match. Failure to do this renders the filter ineffective and may cause damage to the filter. For grounding and filter suggestions, please contact the factory.

WARNING - To avoid the possibility of electrical shock, perform all mounting and wiring of the AC Servo Motor and amplifier system prior to applying power. Once power is applied, connection terminals may have voltage present, even when the AC Servo Motor and amplifier are not in use.

Anaheim Automation's cost-effective AC Servo Motor product line is the wise choice for both OEM and user accounts. Anaheim Automation's customers for the AC Servo Motor product line is diverse: industrial companies operating or designing automated machinery or processes that involve food, cosmetics or medical packaging, labeling or tamper-evident requirements, cut-to-length applications, assembly, conveyor, material handling, robotics, special filming and projection effects, medical diagnostics, inspection and security devices, pump flow control, metal fabrication (CNC machinery), and equipment upgrades. An AC Servo Motor is found in motion systems that require High torque, position, velocity and/or torque control.

Anaheim Automation also offers an AC Servo Motor product line that integrates a matched AC Servo Motor, servo amplifier and controller in one unit. This design concept makes selection easy, thus reducing errors and wiring time. With friendly customer service and professional application assistance, Anaheim Automation often surpasses the customer's expectations for fulfilling specific AC Servo Motor and amplifier requirements, as well as other motion control needs.

NOTE: Technical assistance regarding the AC Servo Motor product line is available at no charge. This assistance is offered to help the customer in choosing Anaheim Automation products for a specific application. However, any selection, quotation, or application suggestion for an AC Servo Motor, or any other product, offered from Anaheim Automation's staff, its' representatives or distributors, are only to assist the customer. In all cases, determination of fitness of the AC Servo Motor in a specific system application is solely the customers' responsibility. While every effort is made to offer solid advice regarding the AC Servo Motor in a specific application, and to produce technical data and illustrations accurately, such advice and documents are for reference only, and subject to change without notice. Anaheim Automation is in no event responsible or liable for indirect or consequential damages resulting from the use or application of the AC Servo Motor. Improper use of an AC Servo Motor in an application can result in personal injury or death, property damage, and/or economic loss.

There are two main types of Servo Motors - Rotary and Linear. Rotary Servo Motors Rotary Servo Motors are what most people think of when they think of Servo Motors. The three types of Servo Motors are: AC Servo Motors, Brush DC Servo Motors, and Brushless DC Servo Motors. The motion of rotary Servo Motors are often converted into linear motion by the use of a screw thread (ball screw or leadscrew), or with the use of belts and pulleys. AC servo motors have the advantage of being able to handle much higher current surges than brushed DC motors. Rotary AC Servo Motors are the AC type motor that is used with a feedback device. These are typically only used in smaller application because a large AC Servo Motors is typically too inefficient when compared to its DC or Brushless counterparts. Linear Servo Motors Linear Servo Motors are a flattened out Servo Motors where the rotor is on the inside, and the coils are on the outside of a moveable u-channel. Both Servo Motors types are becoming more popular as Servo Motors prices continue to come down.

There are two main types of Servo Motors: Rotary and Linear. Rotary Servo Motor A rotary Servo Motor is what most people think of when they think of a Servo Motor. The three types of Rotary Servo Motors are: AC Servo Motor, Brush DC Servo Motor, and Brushless DC Servo Motor. The motion of a rotary Servo Motor is often converted into linear motion by the use of a screw thread (ball screw or lead screw), or with the use of belts and pulleys. A Rotary AC Servo Motor is an AC type motor that is used with a feedback device. These are typically used in smaller applications, because a large AC Servo Motor is typically inefficient when compared to its DC or Brushless counterparts. Linear Servo Motor A linear Servo Motor is a flattened out Servo Motor where the rotor is on the inside, and the coils are on the outside of a moveable u-channel. Both Servo Motor types are becoming more popular as Servo Motor prices continue to come down.

A rotary Servo Motor is what most people think of when they think of a Servo Motor. The three types of Rotary Servo Motors are: AC Servo Motor, Brush DC Servo Motor, and Brushless DC Servo Motor. The motion of a rotary Servo Motor is often converted into linear motion by the use of a screw thread (ball screw or lead screw), or with the use of belts and pulleys. A Rotary AC Servo Motor is an AC type motor that is used with a feedback device. These are typically used in smaller applications, because a large AC Servo Motor is typically inefficient when compared to its DC or Brushless counterparts.