Brushless AC (BLAC) motors are driven with sinusoidal AC currents, and due to skewed magnets and sinusoidally distributed windings in their stators, they also produce sinusoidal back EMF. Sinusoidal commutation is a common way to control BLAC motors, as it provides a very consistent torque output with little torque ripple. But at high speeds, sinusoidal […]
Drives + Supplies
OMD18 stepper motor drive and controller mounts easily
The OMD18 is an integrated stepper motor drive and motion controller in one. Through a simple RS485 communications interface the engineer can control a stepper motor with exceptional control and accuracy. Selectable acceleration ramps at velocities up to 2M steps/sec. Selectable step size resolution from full up to 1/16 fractional step. The drive’s small design lets engineers mount […]
Rexroth IndraDrive ML: Now also for higher voltages and marine applications
With additional variants for the voltage range from 525 V to 690 V, Rexroth expands the range of uses of IndraDrive ML drives for outputs up to four megawatts. International and application-specific certifications reduce engineering effort for universal use in industrial machinery and equipment as well as in marine and offshore applications. Wherever machinery and […]
KB Electronics case study: Custom ac drive for new boat lift
Now, a new custom ac drive is helping make a boat lift work faster and survive longer. A boat lift for residential use essentially takes a boat up in hoists and then stores it out of the water. That helps keep the boat — usually a private watercraft stored adjacent to a lake, river, or canal populated […]
Sigma-7 family of servo motors and amplifiers raise the bar in automation performance
The Drives & Motion Division of Yaskawa America, Inc. announces the introduction of Sigma-7, a new line of rotary, linear and direct drive servos and amplifiers that bring a new level of operating efficiency to automated equipment. System designers and automation end users will benefit from the speed, precision and efficiency improvements in Sigma-7, the […]
New variable speed drives from Schneider Electric improve machine performance
Schneider Electric’s new Altivar 320 Machine Drive is part of the new Altivar Machine range. The Altivar 320 offers a powerful combination of safety, reliability and simplicity with numerous out-of-the-box features for building more effective machines at optimized build costs. Available in compact and book form factors for simplified installation and efficient space use, it […]
STR3 miniature stepper drive solves vibration, size problems
The STR3 miniature stepper drive from Applied Motion Products solves two problems in one: The step motor drive addresses the problem of slow step motors that vibrate too much … … and it addresses space-constrained applications where bulkier drives just won’t fit. The STR3 utilizes a proprietary current control algorithm that optimizes motor performance, providing smooth […]
Eaton VFDs keep North Carolina town’s water flowing
A custom variable frequency drive (VFD) from Eaton was recently installed at the Town of Mooresville’s Water Treatment Plant in Mooresville, North Carolina. The VFD fits within the plant’s space constraints and has been keeping its 800-hp pumps moving efficiently. To avoid redundancy between the town’s new and old plants, and to maintain usability of […]
FAQ: What are servo feedback gains, overshoot limits, and position error limits?
Servo tuning can be accomplished by several methods, but the most common way is to use a PID algorithm. The PID algorithm uses three feedback gains—proportional gain, integral gain, and derivative gain—to compare the commanded position (or velocity) with the actual value and issue commands to correct errors between the two. Feedback gains determine how […]
Updated: Trends in electric motors Part II — Scott Evans of Kollmorgen sets record straight on motion design
In a recent interview with Scott Evans, Director of Product Strategy at Kollmorgen (for our Motion Trends coverage of electric motors) we got particularly good insight on the changes of today’s motion design. Following is some of Scott’s perceptive commentary. Enjoy! Several industries are spurring the biggest changes in motion design. Motion design changes in electronic hardware One obvious change in motion […]