At Songwei, we encounter similar inquiries every day. Combined with the experience accumulated over the years, we would like to use a more grounded way, talk about picking
Fanuc spindle motor, should pay attention to those key points.
First Figure Out: What Do You Want to Do with Your Machine Tool?
Just like buying a car before you want to figure out whether it is running downtown, hauling cargo or off-road, picking a motor also have to figure out the purpose of the machine tool first.
* If you are mainly doing fine machining, such as electronic components, small details on the mold, then you need a high speed, high precision motor.
* If you want to turn and mill some large parts, such as aerospace components, automotive molds, then you need to choose a model with more torque that can withstand powerful cutting.
We often ask our customers to describe the materials and processes they usually process, so we can narrow it down faster.
Power Size Is Not "the Bigger the Better”
Many customers will initially say: "Can you give me a high-power? Just in case."
It sounds reasonable, but it's not. Motor power is too large, not only may not be compatible with the original drive, but also increase energy consumption.
For example: a customer's machine tool was originally equipped with a 7.5kW motor, he felt that 11kW is more "powerful”, the results of the installation of the drive directly after the error, simply can not run, and finally replaced back to the original specifications.
So the power must match the machine design. Small CNC may only need 1-2kW, while large machines may need more than 15kW. Before choosing, it is best to check the machine's factory parameters and then combine them with the actual machining needs to decide.
Speed and Torque: A Balance Not to Be Ignored
The "personality” of a spindle motor is mainly reflected in two parameters: speed (RPM) and torque.
* High speed, suitable for high-speed cutting, high efficiency, but cutting heavy materials may be "more than enough”;
* Higher torque is suitable for thicker materials, but slower speeds.
For example: drilling requires more torque but does not have to be too high speed, while milling often requires high speed and medium torque.
Fanuc's product line is also very targeted:
* α series: known for high-speed, high-precision, common in the electronics, semiconductor industry;
* β series: the main high torque, suitable for automotive, aviation and other large parts processing.
Don't Ignore the Heat Dissipation Method
Spindle motors generate a lot of heat when running at high speed. Heat control is not good, motor performance and life will be greatly reduced.
Fanuc's motor has two common cooling methods:
* Air-cooled: suitable for small and medium-sized machine tools, simple structure, easy maintenance;
* Water-cooled: more efficient heat dissipation, suitable for long time high load running conditions, such as automotive parts of the high-volume production line.
We have a customer doing continuous 24-hour production, before the air-cooled motor, often due to overheating downtime. After switching to a water-cooled model, the stability of the machine has improved a lot.
Control System Compatibility
This point is often overlooked. Many customers are only concerned about the motor parameters, but did not take into account the motor and drive, CNC controller matching problem.
Fanuc motor and its own servo drive, controller is the "best partner”. If you arbitrarily match, there may be speed instability, communication errors, and even can not start the situation.
One step we always take is to verify the customer's drive and system model when confirming the motor model to make sure that all the links are correctly matched.
Noise and Vibration
Many customers in the selection of motor will not take "noise and vibration” seriously, until after the installation of the machine only to find that the machining out of the surface roughness is not up to standard, tool wear accelerated.
In fact, Fanuc in this regard to do very well, their motors before leaving the factory have been balanced by dynamic treatment, vibration and noise control is very low. For mold manufacturing, precision parts processing, this is a considerable advantage.
Durability and Maintenance Costs
In factories, what everyone fears most is frequent equipment downtime. Motor durability and ease of maintenance, often directly determine the stability of the production line.
Fanuc's modular design of the motor, bad a part (such as bearings or fans) can be replaced individually, the maintenance time is short, but also can save a lot of money. Our repair cases in Songwei, most customers prefer to repair rather than replace the whole, because Fanuc's motor is durable enough.
Cost and Budget
When choosing a motor, the first thing many customers say is: "How much?”
Price is of course important, but we recommend thinking in terms of "long-term cost”.
Some motors are cheap, but low energy efficiency, easy to break, a few years down the repair and downtime caused by the loss, may be higher than the purchase of a better performance Fanuc motor.
So we often help customers calculate an account: initial investment + life + energy consumption + maintenance costs. Usually, when you do the math, you will find that it is more cost-effective to choose a suitable Fanuc motor.
If You Are Not Sure, Leave It to the Professionals
Picking Fanuc spindle motors is really not easy. Model number, complex parameters, but also have to take into account the needs of the machine system and working conditions.
If you are not sure, you can send us the nameplate photo, machine information.
In
Songwei, our team is helping customers confirm these details every day. Whether it's power, speed, or interface compatibility, we can give professional advice. Choosing the right motor not only restores stability to the machine tool, but also leads to higher capacity and lower costs.
