High-Performance Motion Control for World-Class Water Features

When water dances 500 feet into the air, synchronized perfectly to music and light, the underlying engineering must be flawless. This is the reality for WET Design, the creative force behind iconic installations at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, the Dubai Fountain, and major airports and civic centers worldwide. To achieve these aquatic spectacles, WET relies on precision motion control components that can withstand demanding environments and rigorous project timelines.

WET is not a traditional manufacturer with a flat, predictable production schedule. Their business is driven by massive architectural projects that often require hundreds of motion axes to be built and deployed simultaneously. This "flood" of demand creates a significant procurement challenge: finding a motion control partner who can deliver high volumes of servo systems quickly without compromising quality.

For their dynamic nozzle systems, including the high-volume "Mini-Oarsman," WET utilizes Teknic’s Eclipse servo drives paired with Hudson brushless servo motors. They also employ ClearPath-MC integrated servo systems (which combine the motor, drive, and controller into a single compact unit) for specific applications.

According to Andy Stangeland, Principal Electrical Engineer at WET, the ability to scale up quickly is a primary decision driver. “The lead time has been super critical—and well, honestly, it's been super easy,” said Andy. “[Teknic is] shorter lead time and easier to work with… and the price is better. I've never considered going back.”

Because WET installations are deployed globally, the equipment must adapt to varying international power standards. WET engineers frequently utilize rectified 400V three-phase power to create a high-voltage DC bus. To ensure reliability under these unique conditions, Teknic application engineers generate custom performance models for WET’s specific voltage inputs.

“I have curves for 400 volt [half-wave] rectified that I can't believe Teknic was even able to generate,” said Andy. “I use them all the time. We're pushing the system to its limits so it's been nice to have the real numbers.”

This responsiveness extends beyond just generating data. For Andy, the access to skilled Application Engineers who understand the nuances of the application is a key differentiator. “Thank you in general for all your engineering support,” Andy told the Teknic team. “You've been amazing at all the projects you've worked on and I really appreciate it.”

With this engineering validation in place, WET can fully leverage the Hudson motor's power density. The motors feature a fast electrical time constant that minimizes impedance to high-frequency current changes, ensuring minimal torque droop even at high speeds. Additionally, Teknic utilizes advanced 3-D finite element analysis (FEA) to optimize magnet shape, winding fill factor, and rotor geometry.

In practice, this allows engineers to get significant power out of a compact package, helping WET optimize their mechanical designs—in some cases utilizing direct-drive mechanics to eliminate the need for gearboxes. As WET designs new immersive experiences involving water, fire, and light, they continue to evaluate Teknic’s evolving motion control platform for their next generation of architectural masterpieces.