Variable Frequency Drive vs. Servo Motor Drive

A VFD (variable frequency drive) is generally used to control a squirrel cage type motor, where both stator and rotor are of a wound type to create the magnetic flux. Servo drives are used to control permanent magnet motors. Permanent magnet motor because they use rare earth magnets in the rotor, create a much higher magnetic flux for their given size. This enables the motor to be able to create more torque in a much smaller rotor and hence motor size. Giving the motor a lower inertia to accelerate and decelerate much more dynamically than that of the asynchronous squirrel cage type motor.


Servo motors are used for getting a constant torque on all the speed ranges. Normal Induction motor torque varies with speed. Servos are normally used with machines for better torque characteristics. Servos are in normally closed loop controlled. Induction motors can be controlled with VFD in vector & vector less control.

Servos have a higher bandwidth than VSDs as well as may be controlled at a lot much less than 1 rpm. They preserve the optimum present within the windings utilizing an algorithm that calculates utilizing info from a really higher resolution positional feedback device (frequently a resolver) around the back from the motor. Their response occasions are a lot quicker (as they've extremely little inertia values) They are able to preserve correct speed and, position if a position loop is supplied by a motion controller, to extremely higher accuracy. VSDs have, at very best, an encoder around the motor and a lot reduce bandwidth

In reality a "servo drive" controls a "servo motor" there are many types of servo motor from dc to ac to brushless dc. A VFD cannot control a servo motor and a servo drive cannot control a servo motor. Calling a VFD, even with add on boards, as good as a servo drive is comparing apples to oranges. They are not the same, and not meant to be used for the same type of applications. A VFD can substitute for a servo in non position critical applications, but I would challenge anyone who said that their VFD drive was capable on +/- 1 micron positioning in a CNC environment, that is what Servo drives are designed to do, position. You can take a servo to a desired position and hold it there, without a brake.

Generally speaking, If you want to control speed and tork only use a VFD. But if beside that, you want to control accurate position then you need a servo.