HIWIN electric actuators enable near-silent motion in Infineon acoustic test cell

System integrator MRK Systeme GmbH has automated acoustic testing of miniature components for semiconductor manufacturer Infineon, using HIWIN electric actuators, servo motors and servo drives to open and close a soundproofed measuring chamber with virtually no noise.

In an application report published on 24 September 2026, HIWIN explains that the project turned a manual laboratory process into a highly automated test cell. The cell measures tiny components such as microphones for in-ear headphones, which must be tested under conditions free of any acoustic interference.

Peeled ballscrew eliminates stick-slip

At the heart of the cell are two synchronised HIWIN electric actuators that move the chamber. They use a specially developed peeled ballscrew to transmit force smoothly without stick-slip effects, giving high repeatability over several thousand cycles a week. The moving parts of the chamber each weigh well over 100 kg, so the actuators must absorb and apply correspondingly high forces with precision.

The drive package is completed by EM1 series servo motors and ED1 servo drives, integrated via Profinet into a Siemens control environment. In each cycle, the actuators open the chamber, a collaborative robot with 3D optical guidance places the specimen, and the housing closes again with minimal acoustic disturbance.

“Smooth operation was one of the key criteria – not only during movement, but also when at a standstill,” said Thomas Rödig, Project Manager at MRK. Sourcing mechanics, motor and drive control from one supplier gave matched components, stable control of the synchronised axes and Profinet integration without extra interfaces.

On-site test de-risked the project

HIWIN’s Academy Truck visited MRK early in the project, and a feasibility test with real hardware was run directly at Infineon’s site. The result: far fewer manual steps, better reproducibility of measurement results and higher throughput, with multiple cells able to run in parallel without acoustically disturbing each other. MRK Managing Director Michael Mohre called the collaboration excellent and sees “potential here for many more projects”.

Sources

• HIWIN, “Electric actuators in an innovative test cell for acoustic testing at Infineon”, 24 September 2026 – hiwin.de

Image: HIWIN