| EtherCAT servo drive technology precisely synchronizes motion sequences Nedschroef’s metal forming machines were previously powered by a single motor. A complex mechanical system with gear units and camshafts allowed all functions of the machine, including the gripper finger that transports the products between the individual machining steps, in order to run synchronously. “The gripper carriage was the first component that we equipped with separate servo drives,” explains Ivo Van Gorp, Coordinator/Developer Automation at Nedschroef. “In the past, the cams themselves had to be moved in order to adapt the machine when changing production, which was not only time-con- suming but also limited the setting range. After equipping each gripper and car- riage with its own servomotor, al

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