Precision position feedback for smart manufacturing

As the world enters a new era of smart manufacturing, industry demand for precision motion control systems is increasing to unprecedented levels. Based in Taiwan, Chieftek Precision Co., Ltd. (CPC) is a global manufacturer of precision motion control products such as linear guide rails and direct-drive (DD) motion stages.

DD motor technology has been around for over 40 years, but its widespread adoption has happened only recently. Over the last few years, the cost differential between linear motor systems and traditional ball screw systems has halved.

In recent years, CPC has invested significant resources in motion-control related development projects including linear stages, DD motors, and DD rotary tables – many of which use Renishaw’s high-performance linear and rotary (angle) encoders.

Challenges

While the motion-control equipment market continues to see strong growth, competition remains fierce. Manufacturers need to stand out in a crowded marketplace in order to break through.

James Wu, R&D Department Manager at CPC, explains his company’s strategy:

“We started out as a miniature guide rail manufacturer and we are a leading player in this market with more than half of our revenues coming from guide rail products.”

He continues, “In recent years, we have seen growing demand for direct-drive motors and associated components, and we have also invested more resources in this area, which now accounts for around 70% of our total R&D expenditure.”

“In a crowded marketplace, efforts to minimise production costs are essential. Most of our machine components, motors and drivers are developed and manufactured in-house. Our biggest challenge is ensuring that our motors are competitive,” adds Mr Wu.

He concludes, “In terms of the parts we buy in, we keep our costs as low as possible by looking for high-performance parts that offer good value for money. We also develop our own motion control software that meets a wide range of customer requirements. Product customisation will become increasingly important as we enter the new Industry 4.0 era.”

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