VisualSizer – Servo Motor Sizing Program for Windows

VisualSizer is a generic (manufacturer independent) servo motor sizing & selection software for the motion control engineer. It includes databases containing 6000+ motor/drive/amplifier combinations of various motor manufacturers. In addition it provides a database editing tool to add, delete and modify motor data.

The motor database includes the motor manufacturers like Allen-Bradley (Rockwell Automation), AMK Drives, AutomationDirect, Automation Intelligence, Baldor, Bayside Motion Group, Dynetic Systems, Festo, GE Fanuc, Mitsubishi, Moog, Oriental Motors, Ormec, Parker, Schneider Automation, Siemens Energy & Automation, Yaskawa and more.

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This software package has been used and tested by some of the most reputable motor manufacturing companies in the United States including their overseas divisions, such as GE Fanuc, Siemens Energy & Automation, Oriental Motors U.S.A., Schneider Electric, Baldor, Moog, Danfoss, and more.

VisualSizer supports the motion control engineer in a process that can be extremely time consuming: The determination of the right electrical motor and drive according to your application specifications. VisualSizer provides solutions within minutes!

With the help of VisualSizer, a motion design engineer can set up mechanical systems that utilize components like leadscrews, timing belts, gearboxes, etc. and, of course, electrical motors and drives. The actual problem is the process of determining the right motor for your setup. This is where VisualSizer provides great help. It will guide you effectively through what is usually a difficult and confusing process.

VisualSizer calculates the torque, speed and inertia requirements according to the user’s application specification, processes all motor data from a motor database and finally creates a list of all motors that match the requirements. VisualSizer will point to the optimum motor, but also allows the user to make his own choice from the list.

VisualSizer comes with a database of 6,000+ motor/drive combinations of various motor manufacturers. In addition, the user can add new motors and even modify and delete existing systems.

The VisualSizer program package includes a database editor, the Interactive Catalog, that allows adding and modifying motor data in an easy way.

VisualSizer does not only save time by automatically selecting the optimum motor, it also has quite some knowledge integrated to support motion control engineers in the actual design process.

The steps involved to run the program are fairly easy:

1. Select the components, such as gearbox, leadscrew, etc., you need for your application and enter the appropriate parameters.
2. Define a velocity profile (duty cycle).
3. Start the calculation.The program will list all motors that match the application requirements.
4. Create and print an application report.

KEY FEATURES of VisualSizer

• VisualSizer is a generic motor sizing software, i.e. it is not limited to the products of certain manufacturers of electrical motors and drives.
• Comprehensive application setup by providing a graphical (visual) display of the axes’ configurations.
• Creates detailed, professional looking application reports that will help the motion control engineer to find the optimum motor/drive combination according to the application specifications.
• VisualSizer creates Microsoft Word documents. Change the template document to your liking (incl. Logo, etc.) and VisualSizer™ creates your customized report.
• VisualSizer provides a high level of flexibility in regards to the use of units, either US Standard and/or Metric. Whether you use in-lb as a torque measurement or in-oz, or Nm, or kgm, VisualSizer allows you to set up your individual default units. You can even mix units within a parameter list.
• The current version uses motor databases containing more than 6,000 motor/drive combinations of manufacturers like GE Fanuc, Siemens Energy & Automation, Schneider Electric, Oriental Motors, Parker Hannifin, etc.
• User-definable motor databases. The software package includes the Interactive Catalog, i.e. a versatile database editor that allows you to add/modify further motor databases and create/print motor data sheets.
• Definition of applied thrust load for each motion segment.
• Verification & display of motor torque/speed (performance) curves.
• S-Curve feature for velocity profile (duty cycle).

VisualSizer will run under the various Microsoft™ operating systems.

A Comprehensible Guide to Servo Motor Sizing
by Wilfried Voss

The Importance of servo motor sizing should not be underestimated. Proper motor sizing will not only result in significant cost savings by saving energy, reducing purchasing and operating costs, reducing downtime, etc.; it also helps the engineer to design better motion control systems.

This book describes all the equations and algorithms behind VisualSizer including inertia and torque calculations for mechanisms such as lead screws, rotary tables, actuators, gears, and more. Also included is the calculation of duty cycles including a detailed description of S-Curve (Jerk Limitation) calculation. [Read more...]