Start with the machine cycle
List pick position, approach, grip, transfer, placement and return. Give the time available for each operation rather than dividing travel distance by the overall cycle time. Gripper delays and settling can leave much less time for motion than the headline output rate suggests.
For a gantry, the moving load of one axis may include another axis, its motor, cables and tooling. State whether payload changes between the outward and return movements. Include the cable carrier, external process forces and any restrictions on jerk or part handling.
Choose mechanics before fixing a motor
A belt axis, screw axis and direct-drive linear motor have different strengths. Travel, acceleration, stiffness, repeatability, contamination and mounting envelope influence the choice. Screw critical speed and bearing life may limit a design independently of the motor rating.
A stepper can be appropriate for some short, predictable moves, while a servo may suit a more dynamic or variable-load duty. Avoid choosing by nominal wattage alone. The existing servo versus stepper guide sets out the technology trade-offs; the selection still requires the actual load profile.
What repeatability means at the part
Ask whether the tolerance applies to the motor shaft, carriage or picked component. Gripper compliance, structural deflection and part variation contribute to the result. A high encoder resolution does not remove those mechanical errors.
For synchronised axes, record the controller, network, operating modes and required coordination. A network label is not enough to confirm that a particular controller-drive-firmware combination supports the intended interpolation or triggering.
Hypothetical selection exercise
A light part travelling a long distance may be limited by cycle time and vibration, while a heavier part travelling a short distance may be limited by torque or structural stiffness. The correct shortlist changes even when both machines require the same average speed. This is an illustrative comparison, not a report of an installed machine.
Request a package review
Send a layout, moving masses, strokes, timing chart and tolerance at the part. Note vertical axes, holding brakes, washdown conditions and expected annual builds. We can discuss actuators, motors, drives and feedback together, with the scope of controls and commissioning support agreed explicitly.
Turn the requirement into an enquiry
Send the application, quantities and deadline, plus any existing model codes. We can discuss the original part, alternatives or a matched package. Compatibility, availability and supply arrangements are confirmed for the specific enquiry.
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