Using Axiomatic Design Theory for Selection of the Optimum Design Solution and Manufacturing Process Plans of a Limited Angle Torque Motor

Abstract

The brushless dc limited angle torque motor (LATM) has been widely used in areas of aerospace equipments, robot drives, optical scanning systems and any drive systems that require limited motion, ranging from the simple ON-OFF servo valves to the accurate tracking of a reference signal. This paper presents the optimum design procedure of a brushless direct current LATM to satisfy the functional requirements (FRs) and constraints using Independence axiom in axiomatic design (AD) approach. Also, to select the best manufacturing process plan, we consider both cost and thermal performance as two effective criteria, and evaluate available alternatives by computing information content in Information axiom. Finally, finite element method is employed to validate the results obtained by optimizations as well as experimental outcomes extracted from the manufactured prototype of the device.