Vibration isolation and damping
To achieve high positioning accuracy in mechatronic systems, the following factors often limit the performance:
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Vibrations (external; e.g. floor-vibrations, acoustics)
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Structural eigenfrequencies
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Limited bandwiths of servo systems
To improve dynamic system performance, we apply active as well as passive damping solutions.
Isolation and damping
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Isolation means decreasing the coupling between the vibration source and the relevant system. Typical sources are: floor motions, reaction forces of moving stages, acoustics and cooling water.
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Damping means dissipation of vibration energy to avoid unacceptable amplification. Damping becomes very effective at the eigenfrequencies of a system.
Passive damping
Passive damping by means of polymer materials is an important competence to us. Together with GMT, a German rubber manufacturer, we have developed a new polymer material with very high damping values at low frequencies (>50%). Dynamic material models as well as FE-models have been developed to enable a first time right design based on predictive modeling. Dynamic verifications can be performed on the test-bench of MI-Partners. A damper designed for your application can be produced in series by GMT.
Active damping
To apply isolation and damping effectively, a solid understanding of the system dynamics is required (see competence Dynamics & Control). MI-Partners has developed an active floor vibration isolation system with high isolation performance and very low noise levels. The system enables sub-Hertz isolation with sky-hook active damping.