Electric motors

RLS is strongly rooted in drive technology and has been developing advanced sensor solutions for speed and position detection (commutation) for various electric drives for decades.

"The variety on the market is huge, we needed the best technology that would fit into our motors. RLS were happy to adapt and tailor their existing magnetic encoder products to our needs." TQ-RoboDrive (Germany)

Many drive manufacturers trust our OnAxis encoders, as well as bearingless encoders like RoLin, AksIM and Orbis. They are all based on highest quality, robustness and sustainable technologies. We are also happy to accept individual challenges and realize modifications and special solutions.

How do encoders in electric motors work?

Brushless motor


Challenge:

Built-in rotary encoders are used to indicate the angle of the motor shaft in brushless permanent magnet motors. In such cases, the encoder serves as a feedback device, which is crucial for the proper operation of the equipment. Brushless motors require electronic commutation, often partly achieved by using rotor magnets as low resolution absolute encoders (typically six or twelve pulses per revolution). The resulting shaft angle information is transmitted to the servo drive so that it can excite the correct stator winding at any time.

Solution:

For the BLDC motor to function properly, the controller (drive) must know the position of the rotor. To achieve this, zeroing should be carried out. Zeroing is a process in which an alignment of the electrical and mechanical position is achieved. In this way the controller knows through which winding a current should be sent.

SPEED

Speed detection can be achieved with incremental encoders, from compact encoders such as RMBs, RMs, to bearingless encoders such as RoLin or AkSIM, as well as redundant and space-saving solutions. We are also happy to implement modifications and special solutions.

POSITIONING

A servomotor is a closed-loop servo mechanism that uses position feedback to control its movement and end position. For this application, absolute encoders like AksIM or Orbis are mainly used. The input to its control is a signal (either analog or digital) representing the commanded position for the output shaft. The motor is paired with a type of encoder to provide position and speed feedback. The measured position of the output is compared with the commanded position, the external input to its control. If the output position deviates from the target position, an error signal is generated which then causes the motor to rotate in both directions to bring the output shaft to the corresponding position. As the positions approach, the error signal is reduced to zero and the motor stops.

Why RLS magnetic encoders?

CHALLENGES

  • Reliability
  • Repeatability
  • Low weight and compact size
  • Low energy consumption

BENEFITS

  • Good price-performance ratio
  • Wide range of available sizes
  • Wide range of resolutions
  • Industry standard absolute or incremental output options
  • High dynamic response
  • High accuracy
  • Large installation tolerances
  • High reliability
  • Non-contact 360° rotation or linear position detection
  • Low power consumption
  • Immune to stray external magnetic fields

RLS helps to drive a robot revolution

TQ-RoboDrive motors offer high torque at a low weight, which is important for applications with exoskeletons and cobots. This combination of high torque and low weight (high torque density) is what differentiates TQ-RoboDrive motor systems from those of other motor manufacturers.

For its ultra-low weight frameless motors designed for robotics applications, TQ-RoboDrive sought a precision magnetic encoder solution. This demanded a new miniature absolute encoder that wasn’t available on the market.