A new position‐sensorless position control method for high‐speed spindle systems

Abstract

AbstractThis paper proposes a new position‐sensorless position control method for high‐speed spindle drive systems. Mechanical vulnerability of position sensors such as an encoder mounted on a spindle motor is becoming a serious problem as required speed increases. For high speeds above 1500 rad/s, sensorless drive is preferred. It is possible for current technologies to control spindle motor in speed control mode without the sensor, but not in position control mode without the sensor. In the example of high‐speed spindle systems of automatic machine tools, implements must be automatically attached to and removed from the spindle at standstill. Automation necessitates position control, for which current technologies require a sensor. The proposed method makes it possible to realize pure sensorless high‐speed spindle systems performing in both speed and a position control modes. The method can attain a position control performance with quick settling from speed control and a repetitive positioning precision of 0.006 rad, 0.4°, which is comparable to that achieved by current sensor‐based methods. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 141(3): 58–69, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.10059