When it’s time to consider a new motion control solution for your application, rule #1 is “Solve the problem, then worry about the design.”

This is easier said than done, but not if you apply a disciplined, time-tested framework. First, you must clearly understand the problem and the local environment. Failure to do so often results in a suboptimal motion control solution or complete failure.

Secondly, the designer should evaluate the application in light of proven existing motion control solutions. The engineer must also take stock of their skills and the expertise of the team in order to effectively choose the right options and to accurately anticipate development time and resources.

Before choosing any motion control products, the design engineer needs a set of principles to guide his or her selection. Long term experience and common sense has taught us seven important, but often overlooked, principles. 

These key learning have been encapsulated in a simple notion known as the SHAIRED paradigm:

• •Simplicity of design to reduce problem-causing complexity and cost
• •Homework; calculate the required torque, inertia, duty cycle, etc.
• •Analysis of the application and alternatives must be thorough
• •Integration of the system into existing factory automation
• •Redundancy built in to a system to exceed performance expectations and deal with unexpected changed in load and operating parameters
• •Economical solution for the short and long term.
• •Development time must be accurately estimated

Using the above guidelines during motion control system design, evaluation of alternatives, and final product selection will help increase the odds of application success.