Servo Expert: Using Servo Expert ServoExpert is designed to assume you have a working knowledge of servo controls. You should have some experience installing, configuring, evaluating, and maintaining servos. Expert systems do not usually work well for novices; if you are new to servos, you may find this site difficult to use. If so, please contact the KCSN for assistance. You may want to view the resource "Use control theory to improve servo performance." This is a manuscript which was the basis for the article "A Refresher Course in Control Theory" published in Machine Design, September 1999. ServoExpert assumes the servo axes have been installed and tuned. If you need to tune up your axis, see Tuning a Servo Loop. The ServoExpert process ServoExpert walks you through a three-step process as shown in Figure 1. - Step I. Investigation
The investigation reviews the performance of your system. ServoExpert asks you to identify performance shortcomings. The investigation phase converts your observations into root causes. Each of your observations are translated in to one of more than a dozen root causes considered by ServoExpert. The investigation is complete when each of the observed performance short-comings has been entered. The root causes of servo problems are often hard to distinguish by observation. For example, two common problems, "high-freqeuncy resonance" and "low-frequency resonance," produce similar symptoms. However, it is important to correctly identify the problem; for example, the two resonance problems have very different cures. Accordingly, the investiagation of each problem concludes with a verification process. If you cannot distinguish among problems, you may need to execute the verification processes of each problem in question. - Step II. Recommendations
The recommendation phase is the heart of ServoExpert. At the click of a button, the expert-system software simultaneously combines the results of the investigation to prepare an action list for you to consider. - Step III. Action
The output of the recommendation phase is the action list. The list is composed of multiple actions, each scored according to how likely it is to help. Every action in the action list points to a unique web page that gives you the pluses and minuses of the action, as well as a short "how to" that guides you in implementing the action on your machine. If you would like more detailed information on the operation of the ServoExpert, please see "An Internet-based Expert System for Servo Problems," a paper presented at PCIM 2000 (Nuremberg, Germany). ServoExpert is designed to find servo problems in operating machines. The assumption is that the machine is functional, but experiencing problems of response, accuracy, stability, or noise. ServoExpert is not designed to help with non-servo problems such as: - identifying sources of drive faults,
- wiring problems,
- worn parts, or
- improperly sized motor and drive systems.
A second assumption is that all the components are appropriate for servo systems. ServoExpert also assumes the use of high-qualify electric drives such as sine-commutated brushless drives, which can produce smooth, well controlled torque.
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