Integrating servomotor concepts into Mechatronics Engineering Technology curriculum emphasizing high speed packaging machinery

Abstract

Most of the driving forces in high speed packaging are obtained from three-phase induction motors and servomotors. In order to introduce them adequately to undergraduate students having the Mechatronics major, one needs to start with the relationship between electrical and mechanical aspects of either type of motor. This relationship is also important for the understanding of kinematics of high speed packaging machinery systems and their design, operation and maintenance. Concepts are conveyed through force-current and force-voltage analogies between mechanical and electrical systems and simulation of mechanical systems by using differential equations and electrical networks. These concepts are being introduced by a sequence of four courses in the Mechatronics Engineering Technology program. Mathematical modeling of a servomotor control system using Laplace transformation and software tools are essential for communicating the concepts. Sizing a three-phase induction motor - amplifier combination for a desired motion trajectory of a load and also sizing a servomotor - amplifier combination for a desired motion trajectory are an integral part of programmable logic controller (PLC) course. Mechatronics Engineering Technology is a new program in the department of Engineering Technology. The curriculum emphasizes high-speed packaging that involves motion control mainly with servomotors and induction motors. The students in this program, in addition to many other courses, take courses in basic mechanics and mechanical design, electric circuits, basic mathematics and calculus before taking four courses of the sequence of courses. Concepts of mechanical cams (Ref: "cam definition" Merriam Webster) operation and performing an electronic cam using a servomotor control system for a given task are introduced. Writing ladder logic to perform a given cam operation for an application is also an integral part of the PLC course. A semester long project based on real life applications is assigned in each of these courses to satisfy the experiential learning component of the curriculum. Studying the performance of a given servomotor under a various load condition using models and software tools such as Simulink and LabVIEW are introduced in the PLC course. © 2011 American Society for Engineering Education.