Hi mechatronics fans!

Welcome to this new post in our Sinadrives blog.

February 2023

In this latest post we’ll be discussing mechatronics and mechatronic systems. The word mechatronics has become very popular in recent years, although not many people can clearly explain what exactly this term encompasses!

We understand mechatronics to be a discipline that combines different fields of knowledge related to the automation of processes:

• Mechanical engineering.
• Electronic engineering.
• Electrical engineering.
• Computer engineering.
• Process control engineering.
• Robotics engineering.

It’s a discipline that involves combining different scientific fields in order to achieve a more complex and advanced design of machinery and processes. Its main purpose is to facilitate human processes and activities through the creation of complex and sophisticated products and processes.

Generally speaking, a mechatronic system is an assembly, system or robot composed of mechanical, electronic, electrical, computer and control components that is intended to perform some pre-defined operation or function. A mechatronic system may be a complex machine, but it can also be a sub-assembly of the machine, a part combining different electromechanical elements. As a rule, this assembly is composed of a mechanical and electrical part, the driver and some sensors.

In recent years, the optimisation of industrial processes and subcontracting have enabled companies to reduce design, assembly and verification costs. This trend has created a clear need in the industrial market for the supply of mechatronic assemblies. Simple components are becoming less and less relevant for a machine manufacturer. The trend is towards ready-made systems such as mechatronic systems.

The main advantages include cost and design time savings, the reduction of time to market, the elimination of unprofitable operations, etc. Let’s review the most important points:

By purchasing a complete system, the machine builder obtains an assembly that’s already been designed, thus saving time and reducing the personnel costs involved in designing a new machine.

Buying a ready-made, verified assembly reduces the risk of something not working properly. The supplier of the assembly is a specialist in the field, has tested it several times and has accumulated experience with other similar customers. You don’t have to invent anything new and, above all, risk something going wrong due to a lack of information and experience.

Think for a moment about a hypothetical competitor of yours who’s designing a new machine. Imagine, for example, that they put all their effort into designing the motion system of a headstock. This entails entrusting several engineers to produce the design, create production lists and exploded-view drawings, make purchases, receive the corresponding parts, make the prototype, and prepare the documentation for subsequent assembly and testing. Depending on the complexity of the machine, this process can take anything from five to eight months and means involving dozens of people in the company’s process.

Meanwhile, let’s imagine that you integrate a 3D model that you’ve just received from your supplier and within six weeks the prototype has been delivered to your premises. Tried, tested and error free. Within eight weeks you have the headstock doing the job expected of it. The main difference is that you can already show the prototype to your customer, you can show it at a trade fair, or even take your first orders. You’re faster: while competitors are still waiting for their material, you’ve already validated the process and have your first orders.

The possibility of having an electromechanical assembly (mechatronic system) gives you a huge advantage and reduces the time between decision making and delivery of the first machine to market.

Being first on the market is always an advantage. You position yourself as a benchmark, as the leader. You have a higher retail price (RRP), suppliers are queueing up to sell to you, while your competitor, who is lagging behind, lacks all these things.

The well-known brand can always ask more for the same product. When comparing two quotes for approximately the same equipment, the well-known brand always wins and gets the order.

For whatever reason, you may ask your supplier to modify a certain feature of the electromechanical assembly, such as stroke, speed, precision, dynamics or weight. Perhaps it just involves sending an email with a new specification or requesting the modification of a parameter. Six weeks later, you have a new assembly with all these modifications at your premises. Once again you’re the first to market, once again you’re faster and more flexible, and you’ve barely had to use your company’s resources.

By having a partner capable of supplying a pre-assembled mechatronic system, you can build first-rate machines with few resources and no experience. You don’t have to be an experienced expert in positioning and control. Let’s imagine that you’re a laser specialist and you want to build a laser cutting machine. We can supply you with the entire machine chassis with integrated movements. All you have to do is apply the laser to the assembly. The same applies to any other application such as 2D or 3D printing, waterjet cutting, plasma cutting, knife cutting, wheel cutting, wire cutting, a scanner system, a measuring table, engraving machines, milling machines, lathes, drilling machines, etc. You’re the expert in the process; you don’t need to know how to position the object in space. Your know-how is the process; the software is what makes you stand out from the competition.

The complexity of the assembly depends on each case and on how far the customer wants to go: from a simple actuator with an integrated motor to a full machine chassis integrating components, sensors, wiring, drivers, PLC, testing and even programming. As far as we’re concerned, it’s a bespoke project in which we can even specify certain protocols for verification, delivery, start-up and collection of the packaging for reuse.

We have several pre-engineered assemblies. If your project fits into the standard product line, we can deliver your electromechanical assembly with linear motors (mechatronic system) within three to four weeks. Our standard product is easily scalable in size and length, and covers most industrial applications up to 150-200 kg in weight. Positioning speeds are up to 15 m/s and accelerations up to 100 m/s^2. The working stroke can reach up to 30,000 mm and the positioning resolution up to 0.05 micrometres.

Depending on the complexity of the project, the information we need may vary. In general, we ask for a brief description of the project, the load to be moved, the working strokes, the duty cycle, the level of precision and repeatability. With this information we make a power calculation and prepare a 3D drawing. At this point, the process can be started immediately.

Using mechatronic systems is in your hands. It doesn’t matter whether you wish to reduce your workload or costs. Just send us your details and evaluate our offer. The time savings alone can prove hugely advantageous.
In our experience, customers who act quickly and bring their machines to market in record time usually achieve their goals. Let us analyse your application to work out how much you can save. Contact our technical department.

If you have an application in which you’re keen to improve the performance of your machine, be it in terms of speed, dynamics, precision or simply reducing maintenance needs, please contact us.

Our specialists in Direct Drive technology and Linear Modules with linear motor technology will be happy to advise you free of charge.

Draw your own conclusions. Decide which innovation you want to implement in your machine to be competitive. We can help you.

Your SINADRIVES Team.