Have you been toying with the idea of installing a new motion control system? Knowing when to make an upgrade isn’t specific to industrial motion control. In fact, the dilemma of update or make do is something that anyone can relate to. Maybe your car is running pretty well, but it just celebrated its 15th birthday. Perhaps your furnace is singing its swan song every time the heater kicks on. Or maybe the newest version of a perpetually updating smartphone just hit the market. Of course, there’s much more to consider when updating your motion control system than upgrading your smartphone. You can, however apply the same logic to motion control upgrades that you would with other things in your life. Here are some questions that can help you decide if it’s time to update your motion control system.
Why do you want to upgrade your system?
Do you just want shiny servos? Was that salesperson really convincing? Is it a case of keeping up with the Joneses? These aren’t good reasons. More often than not, well-maintained and serviced machinery can keep up with your needs. Only upgrade if it makes sense for your business.
Does it do what it needs to do?
If anything can no longer do its job adequately, it’s time to upgrade. Sometimes the solution is a repair, and you’d be surprised at just what can be repaired. If your motion control system is beyond fixing, however, it’s time for an upgrade.
How well does it do its job?
So your packaging system still works. That’s great. But it doesn’t work all that well. That’s not so great. Again, repairs or a reman might be the answer, or maybe you can upgrade a single component to get your machinery back on track. Just remember, think to repair before you think to replace.
Are you at a disadvantage if you do not upgrade?
Servos are built to last an incredibly long time. You could be running a system that’s 20+ years old. You can be a player in your industry with legacy parts, but there could come a day when you can no longer keep up. If your legacy system is holding you back, consider upgrading.
Is it safe?
Some people are fine settling for good enough. Their system might not be as efficient as it was in the past, and it can’t hang with the competition, but it gets the job done. That’s all well and good unless your machinery is no longer safe. If your motion control system can no longer be run safely, it’s time for an update.
Upgrading isn’t always the best option.
There are certainly times when it makes sense to upgrade your motion control system. More often than not, however, you can extend the life of your system and still keep up with the competition. Repair offers economical, environmental, and practical advantages over an entire system upgrade. Sure, you might one day need to upgrade your system, but your current system could have another 5 to 10 years left before those upgrades are necessary.
Don’t upgrade your machinery prematurely. Call us today for any of your Indramat repair, reman, or replacement needs.