For applications in automation, medical technology, and robotics
Kendrion has released a compact permanent-magnet brake for servo motors with low to medium torque, the Slim PM. The new series has been developed for applications in automation, medical technology, and robotics
Kendrion’s Slim PM and High Torque Line use the same mechanical and electrical interface to cover a range of torque with consistent brake technology, without redesigning the motor, allowing the customer to pay only for the exact torque required in the respective application.
According to Kendrion, 70% of servo motor applications fall within the mid- and low-torque range; the Slim PM has been designed to be a cost-effective solution for high-volume applications, including automation, robotics, conveyor technology, and tooling and packaging machines.
The Slim PM combines standardisation, cost-effectiveness, and a tailored design. Kendrion redesigned the brake’s magnetic circuit to simplify the overall system and minimise complexity in both material usage and the manufacturing process, helping to reduce material and manufacturing costs. The Slim PM has also been designed for an extended temperature range, using the same motor interface as the company’s proven high-torque permanent magnet brake.
Servo motor manufacturers are now able to expand their brake modular system in the low- and medium-torque range without incurring additional costs for design, assembly, or documentation. Instead of mastering different brake technologies in parallel, the motor manufacturer remains with a single system architecture, reducing internal effort and simplifying the scaling of motor families.
Waldemar Schaermann, product manager at Kendrion, said, “We wanted to develop a permanent magnet brake that could be seamlessly integrated into existing structures. The Slim PM is therefore not intended as a standalone solution, but as a complement to our High Torque Line. Two brakes, one system, that’s our approach.”
Another aspect is the competitive position of European manufacturers. While spring-loaded brakes are significantly cheaper and are often used in comparable applications in the Asian market, Kendrion consistently relies on permanent magnet technology. With the Slim PM, the company aims to offer this technology at a cost that was previously more feasible with spring-loaded brakes.
