Primary Contents

Question

What concepts are applied for countermeasures for noise for a Servo System?

Answer
1. Countermeasures for Noise

The following four aspects are important when considering countermeasures for noise.

1-1. Investigate Noise Sources

Devices that cause rapid changes in voltage or current are noise sources.

Generally the larger the signal power, the stronger the noise source becomes.

List the noise sources that surround your Servo System.

1-2. Identify the Noise Transmission Path

Once you know the source, position, type, and characteristic of the noise, you can narrow down the noise transmission paths. For each possible noise transmission path, apply a countermeasure. Start with the most probable path. You can narrow down the noise transmission path by seeing how effective the countermeasure is.

Another method is to use shield boards connected to frame grounds to check the effect of electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic induction, and electrostatic coupling.

1-3. Noise Countermeasures Must Not Be Removed until the End

Even if the countermeasure applied to a noise transmission path was ineffective, do not remove the countermeasure. There may be several noise transmission paths and the countermeasure that you applied may be blocking the second largest noise path.

1-4. Noise Transmission Paths That Are Common in Servo Systems

Leakage current from the motor electrostatic coupling to the frame ground becomes large in Servo Systems and Inverters.

If the current is not absorbed very well, the frame ground potential will become unstable. This increases cases where noise is transmitted to other devices through the frame ground.

2. Actual Noise Countermeasures

Countermeasures for noise transmission paths as well as countermeasures against leakage current are described below.

2-1. Countermeasures for Electrostatic Coupling 2-2. Countermeasures for Conductive Coupling 2-3. Countermeasures for Electromagnetic Induction 2-4. Countermeasure for Electromagnetic Waves

Note: Use a noise filter for an output without a capacitor for the noise filter on the driver output side.

2-5. Countermeasure for Leakage Current 3. Other Noise Countermeasures

If noise-related errors persist even after applying noise countermeasures, try the following measures. They may be effective depending on the model of Position Controller and Servo Driver.

3-1. The Positioning Point Is Offset When Connected to Position Controller with a Pulse Output Problem:

Noise is superimposed on the command pulse input signal, so the Driver takes the noise as a command signal.

Countermeasures:

・	Separate the power source. Use a dedicated power supply for the Controller's pulse output. It is effective to separate the ground line as well.

・	Shield the pulse signal. If positioning is offset even after separating the power source, connect both ends of the command pulse signal line shield (shielded twisted-pair cable) to the frame ground.

Note:

Make sure that the Controller and the Driver are always grounded to 100 Ω or less. If the grounding is ineffective, it will make the problems worse.

3-2. The Positioning Point Is Offset When Connected to Connect to a Controller with an Analog Output Problem:

Noise is superimposed on the feedback pulse (encoder signal), so the Controller takes the noise as a feedback pulse.

Countermeasures:

・	Shield the feedback pulse signal. Connect both ends (Controller and Driver) of the feedback pulse signal shield (shielded twisted-pair shielded cable) to the frame ground.

Note:

Make sure that the Controller and the Driver are always grounded to 100 Ω or less. If the grounding is ineffective, it will make the problems worse.

3-3. The Ground Is Bad Problem:

If the ground to 100 Ω is bad, noise will be transmitted from ground. If noise persists no matter what countermeasures are used, check the ground potential.

Countermeasures:

・	Connect to a good ground at 100 Ω or less.

・	Improve the condition of the ground. Separate the frame ground of high-power devices and low-power devices.

・	Float the frame ground line of the Control device and other applicable devices

・	Cut the shield of the shielded cable. These countermeasures are for worst case scenarios. If the Servo System is operating in an environment with serious noise problems, it will not operate at full capacity.