Requirements for servo-driven feed systems

Servo-driven feed systems are the heart of every modern grinding machine. To meet the highest demands, the following properties must be present:

1. Wide speed range for feed movements from slow finishing to fast positioning.
2. High positioning accuracy – the basis of dimensionally accurate workpieces.
3. Sufficient drive rigidity and high speed stability, so that the axes work precisely even under load.
4. Fast response without overshoot: For productivity and quality, high positioning accuracy alone is not enough. When starting and braking, the system must provide sufficiently large accelerations to minimise transition times and contour errors – this shortens process times and improves path accuracy.
5. High torque at low speed, strong overload capacity: Servo drives on grinding machines typically offer an overload capacity of more than 1.5 times over several minutes, sometimes even over 30 minutes. Short-term overloads of 4 to 6 times are possible without damage.
6. High reliability and stability: The feed system must be insensitive to temperature, humidity and vibration and have strong immunity to interference.

A feed system that fulfils all these requirements makes the difference between “good” and “excellent” machining quality – and is the basis for the accuracy our grinding machines stand for.