The Most Typical Causes of Servo Motor Failure
Whether you’re working in CNC machining or robotics, having machinery that can execute precise movements is crucial. That means ensuring every part of your machinery is functioning correctly. This is especially important for the parts that control movement in the machinery, such as servo motors.
You must be able to diagnose motor failures as quickly as possible. Knowing some of the most typical causes of servo motor failure will help you resolve these issues.
Overheating
As with almost any machinery, servo motors are prone to overheating after extended use. Although this is a common cause of servo motor failure, that doesn’t make it any less detrimental. Even if a motor doesn’t seem damaged after overheating, too much heat can reduce a motor’s lifespan considerably.
If your company can’t afford to shut your machinery down throughout the day, you can still protect it by keeping its environment cool and well ventilated.
Bearing Issues
If your servo motor is making loud noises such as whining or squealing, there may be an issue with the motor’s bearings. Bearings often become worn down over time, especially when workers don’t practice preventative maintenance. Otherwise, it’s possible a previous repairman installed the wrong bearing.
To prevent bearings from wearing out, ensure that contaminants haven’t gotten into the bearings. This will cause them to wear down much more quickly.
Worn-Down Brushes
Naturally, a machine’s brushes becoming worn down, chipped, or cracked can pose a problem for your servo motor.
Typically, replacing the brush is sufficient to fix the problem. However, it may be indicative of a larger problem requiring you to invest in a replacement servo motor if the brushes have become worn down prematurely.
Electrical Issues
There are a wide variety of electrical problems that can occur in a servo motor. For instance:
- Damage to capacitors
- Degradation of resistors and other electrical components
- Electrical surges
- Cable failure
In most cases, preventing electrical failures in your servo motor involves inspecting the internal components of the machine regularly, especially if your machine runs constantly. You should also double-check that your machine has sufficient surge protection.
As a manufacturer or engineer, practicing precision is essential for every part of your operations. This begins with proper care for all of your equipment. By diagnosing servo motor failures quickly, you can help minimize interruptions to your business’s operations.
