Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MASMA (Magnetic measurement with Absolute Single digit Micron Accuracy)
Berichtszeitraum: 2019-05-01 bis 2020-04-30
In additive manufacturing, robotics or metrology, getting precise and repeatable parts, movements require very accurate measurement. The current trend is to move towards absolute measurement principles using magnetic sensing heads and magnetic scales. With the EU-funded MASMA project, BOGEN Electronic GmbH is addressing the lack of high-accuracy cost-effective absolute magnetic encoders on the market. BOGEN converts and extends existing absolute measurement solutions to modular encoders that will detect the absolute position for motion control using different scale patterns for different application types. In parallel, they strive to increase the reading distances with new sensing technology and implement smart functions. The company targets accuracy down to a single-digit micron. The first products will be released in 2021.
The MASMA consortium worked on several parallel work streams
1. Improving scales
The partners BOGEN and University of Vienna have used a lot of time and effort to improve the scale making to enable better positional accuracy of the magnetic patterns. At the same time, the team is looking at materials with higher magnetic flux for better scales supporting higher reading distances. From ideas to simulations and implementation, the concepts have been tried out and are in the process of being tested in different application scenarios. While simulation and first tests showed promising results, implementing the changes in production has been met with a few road blocks, especially delayed parts produced from special materials. Some of the testing has been shifting slightly in the time.
2. Improving sensors
The consortium is working on improving sensors for higher reading accuracy and better performance. The consortium works on many different parts: Ideation, Simulation and experimentation to improve the performance of the sensors to achieve higher reading distances and better accuracy. The first results show promising performance. At the same time, the project team is looking how the sensors can leverage the benefits of optimized scale patterns for better accuracy and higher reading distances.
3. Generating new sensing heads
The project team has defined a new product architecture for the next generation sensing heads that are based on the improved sensors (see above). New processing and new algorithms will improve the performance of new measurement solutions. Due to the high complexity of the new product architecture, some of the tasks have been delayed.
1. Improving scales
The partners BOGEN and University of Vienna have used a lot of time and effort to improve the scale making to enable better positional accuracy of the magnetic patterns. At the same time, the team is looking at materials with higher magnetic flux for better scales supporting higher reading distances. From ideas to simulations and implementation, the concepts have been tried out and are in the process of being tested in different application scenarios. While simulation and first tests showed promising results, implementing the changes in production has been met with a few road blocks, especially delayed parts produced from special materials. Some of the testing has been shifting slightly in the time.
2. Improving sensors
The consortium is working on improving sensors for higher reading accuracy and better performance. The consortium works on many different parts: Ideation, Simulation and experimentation to improve the performance of the sensors to achieve higher reading distances and better accuracy. The first results show promising performance. At the same time, the project team is looking how the sensors can leverage the benefits of optimized scale patterns for better accuracy and higher reading distances.
3. Generating new sensing heads
The project team has defined a new product architecture for the next generation sensing heads that are based on the improved sensors (see above). New processing and new algorithms will improve the performance of new measurement solutions. Due to the high complexity of the new product architecture, some of the tasks have been delayed.
The project has identified key areas to improve the state of art, has searched for solution and had initial success in several areas.
First, using new materials with higher magnetic flux will allow for higher reading distances. Writing patterns for multipole magnets with better magnetic performance has not been possible in the past with the existing magnetic technology. With several key changes, the project team has overcome several challenges and has proven, that higher magnetic flux patterns can be written. These improvements can be used both in MASMA products as well as in other existing products. The results in this phase of the project allow for 60% higher reading distances than the existing materials. The higher magnetic flux is an enabler to combine high accuracy scales and larger reading distances.
We are expecting the results of higher magnetic accuracy at the end of the project by improving both the accuracy of scales as well as the production of higher accuracy sensors/sensing heads. The preliminary results show that major improvements are possible, the project work to demonstrate these results is progressing well.
The consortium expects multiple products coming out of this project that will take advantage of the better scales, better sensors and better algorithms. This will be important for many different customers in the future.
Higher accuracy will lead to more energy efficient motors and less wasted energy due to less jitter. This will extend the use of magnetic encoders well beyond the existing applications.
First, using new materials with higher magnetic flux will allow for higher reading distances. Writing patterns for multipole magnets with better magnetic performance has not been possible in the past with the existing magnetic technology. With several key changes, the project team has overcome several challenges and has proven, that higher magnetic flux patterns can be written. These improvements can be used both in MASMA products as well as in other existing products. The results in this phase of the project allow for 60% higher reading distances than the existing materials. The higher magnetic flux is an enabler to combine high accuracy scales and larger reading distances.
We are expecting the results of higher magnetic accuracy at the end of the project by improving both the accuracy of scales as well as the production of higher accuracy sensors/sensing heads. The preliminary results show that major improvements are possible, the project work to demonstrate these results is progressing well.
The consortium expects multiple products coming out of this project that will take advantage of the better scales, better sensors and better algorithms. This will be important for many different customers in the future.
Higher accuracy will lead to more energy efficient motors and less wasted energy due to less jitter. This will extend the use of magnetic encoders well beyond the existing applications.