Siemens Answers: How Good are Different Motors for Typical Motion Control Tasks?

Motors are the muscle behind a machine converting a motion control task into movements. Therefore, correct motor selection is critical for optimal performance at the best price. The following table can provide guidance as you select the most appropriate motor for your application.

Motion Control Task	Typical Application	NEMA / IEC Standard Induction Motors	High- Performance Induction Motors	Servo motors	Direct Drives (Linear and Torque motors)
Constant Speed @ Line	blowers, pumps	Very good	Not Possible	Not Possible	Not Possible
Variable Speed @ VFD	Variable speed conveyor belts	Very good	Good but costly	Good but costly	Good but costly
High Quality speed control	Printing Press Callanders, Spindles	Technically possible but unsatisfactory performance	Very good	Very good (Motor is very well qualified, but gears in the drive train might have negative impact)	Very good(Motor is very well qualified - no gears in the drive train)
Multi-axis Synchronization (electrical gearing and cramming)	Web Handling + Rotary Knife as Cross Cutter	Technically possible but unsatisfactory performance	Good	Very good (Motor is very well qualified, but gears in the drive train might have negative impact)	Very good (Motor is very well qualified - no gears in the drive train)
Point to Point Control / Indexing	Pick and PlaceAuxiliary axes, index tables	Technically possible but unsatisfactory performance	Technically possible but unsatisfactory performance	Very good	Very good (Motor is very well qualified no gears in the drive train)
Path Control / Interpolation	CNC Feeding axis	Technically possible but unsatisfactory performance	Technically possible but unsatisfactory performance	Very good	Very good (Motor is very well qualified no gears in the drive train)