Combining servo motors that have differing voltages ~ Question

[RotorRouter]

Probably there is no reason to state that I am new to this, because the question may make that evident.


My requirement is to combine 2 very small servomotors and 3 or 4 medium servomotors in the same CNC machine.

I believe that to optimize a servomotor it should receive a voltage that is close to it rated voltage, since the use of a lower voltage will reduce the speed and power coming from the motor. In addition, Gecko says that the power supply voltage must not be more than 5-volts in excess of the motor's rated voltage.

Does this imply that the small motors will have a low rated voltage and the medium motors should have a higher rated voltage. Therefore, does this mean that the power supply(ies) must provide a low VDC, a medium VDC, plus the 5VDC?

Thanks for any advice.

[Evodyne]

RotorRouter,

Originally Posted by RotorRouter I believe that to optimize a servomotor it should receive a voltage that is close to it rated voltage, since the use of a lower voltage will reduce the speed and power coming from the motor.

This is true. Kind of like putting a block under the gas pedal of your car. You can still drive it, just not at wide open throttle.

In addition, Gecko says that the power supply voltage must not be more than 5-volts in excess of the motor's rated voltage.

Right. You don't want to exceed the motors maximum rated voltage. There can be other voltage values listed. Some motors list a maximum rated voltage and a continuous operation voltage. Don't worry about the continuous value-design your supplies to get close to that maximum rating.

Does this imply that the small motors will have a low rated voltage and the medium motors should have a higher rated voltage. Therefore, does this mean that the power supply(ies) must provide a low VDC, a medium VDC, plus the 5VDC?

Well, the voltage rating is really due to the windings and wire gage and not so much the motors size. You could possibly have a 100V small motor and a 30V big motor. Or big and small motors with the same voltage ratings. But the answer to your last question is technically "yes"-if you want the best performance, you would want to match your supply voltages to the ratings of the motors.

Evodyne

[RotorRouter]

Evodyne,

Thanks for the answers, plus the correction about the wire gage versus the motor size.