Automation projects across manufacturing, packaging, electronics and logistics face challenges that include limited installation space, the need for precise and repeatable linear motion, rising cycle-speed demands, and seamless integration with existing control architectures. Festo’s servo portfolio addresses these issues with compact, modular drive and motor solutions. By aligning servo form factors, voltage classes and safety functions to real-world machine challenges, Festo enables builders to optimise performance without overengineering.
Compact precision for space-constrained electronics assembly
Electronics assembly, surface-mount device (SMD) production and micro-assembly applications demand compact, high-precision pick-and-place systems. These machines must handle tiny components at high throughput while fitting into tightly constrained machine frames. Traditional servo motors, belt systems or large external drives are impractical. Machine builders need compact, plug-and-play solutions that integrate easily into existing control systems without sacrificing cycle time.
The Festo EMMT servo motor, powered by the compact CMMT servo drive, is designed for these environments. They deliver high positioning accuracy, stiffness and dynamic performance in a small footprint. The motor’s mechanical design simplifies integration into pick-and-place units, inspection stations and multi-axis gantries, reducing engineering effort during machine design.
Application example: In an SMD placement cell, a compact CMMT servo drive controlling an EMMT servo motor provides fine X-axis motion for board-to-head alignment. The system delivers fast, accurate micro-movements between component pickup and placement, increasing throughput while avoiding costly redesign of the machine frame. Typical industries include electronics assembly, optical component alignment, and inspection and precision instrument manufacturing.
Robust motion for high-dynamic packaging transfer
Packaging machines must transfer heavy trays or grouped products over short distances, with frequent starts and stops, while maintaining positional accuracy to keep filling, sealing and labelling processes synchronised. With limited maintenance windows, components must be robust and easy to service.
Festo’s extra-low-voltage servo solutions address these needs with compact servo drives and motors optimised for high dynamics and reliability. The CMMT-ST servo drive’s small footprint reduces control cabinet space, while front-entry cabling simplifies installation and maintenance. The EMMT-ST low-voltage servo motor further reduces complexity through single-cable technology, resulting in cleaner wiring, fewer components and faster commissioning. Unlike standard stepper solutions, Festo’s extra-low-voltage servo systems use absolute encoder feedback to support rapid acceleration and deceleration while maintaining precise positioning, a critical feature for high-speed packaging lines.
Application example: In a tray-filling and sealing line, an extra-low-voltage servo drives the transfer axis between the filler and sealer. The motor handles the combined weight of multiple filled trays, accelerates rapidly to synchronise with conveyors, and positions trays precisely under the sealing station, reducing defects and improving consistency. Typical industries include food and beverage packaging, pharmaceutical primary packaging, and automotive component transfer systems.
Flexible motion with advanced S3 safety
Modern machine builders increasingly need motion solutions that combine high performance with advanced functional safety, without increasing system complexity. Festo’s CMMT-AS S3 servo drive meets these requirements by integrating PROFIsafe safety directly into a compact, modular drive platform.
With a multi-protocol interface, this drive integrates seamlessly into a wide range of higher-level controllers while supporting advanced safety functions beyond basic Safe Torque Off (STO). This flexibility is especially valuable in applications such as gantries, moving machinery and compact machine tools, where both productivity and operator safety are critical.
In safety-critical environments, stopping motion entirely is not always the most efficient solution. While STO prevents unintended movement, S3 safety functions, such as Safe Limited Speed (SLS), allow controlled operation at reduced speeds when operators enter protected zones for maintenance or material handling, without bringing production to a halt.
Application example: In an intralogistics gantry system, SLS enables axes to slow to a safe operating speed when personnel enter the working area, maintaining throughput while ensuring compliance with safety standards. Typical industries include intralogistics and automated warehousing, machine tools, CNC subsystems, and electronics assembly automation.
Key factors to consider when choosing a servo drive
Choosing between the CMMT servo series, extra-low-voltage CMMT systems and CMMT-AS S3 with advanced safety depends on the specific application. Factors such as payload, installation space, robustness, control architecture and safety requirements all play a role. When selecting any servo system, verify payload, cycle frequency and motion profiles to ensure the correct motor and drive sizing.
Environmental considerations such as washdown requirements, dust exposure or temperature extremes may dictate sealing or material options. Aligning control interfaces with plant automation standards simplifies commissioning, while planning for maintenance access and spares management helps minimise downtime over the machine’s lifecycle. By matching servo capabilities to real-world automation challenges, Festo enables machine builders to achieve higher performance, improved safety and faster time to market.
For more information contact Festo South Africa,
| Email: | sales.za@festo.com |
| www: | www.festo.co.za |
| Articles: | More information and articles about Festo South Africa |
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