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 […]
Drives + Supplies
Five key electrical design concepts for mechanical engineers
Edited by: Paul J. Heney, Editorial Director Mechanical engineers often overlook important electrical issues when specifying their respective parts of an electromechanical system. This targeted advice will help you design your next electromechanical system. Mechatronic systems are the state-of-the-art technology in automation systems, intelligently integrating mechanical and electrical elements to perform increasingly complex and demanding […]
KBAC hybrid motor drive rated for 5 hp at 230 Vac (and 10 at 460 Vac)
New hybrid motor drives from KB Electronics are NEMA 4X — IP65 hybrid drives … digital drives with analog interfaces. • Model KBAC-217 is rated 5 hp and operates from a 230 Vac line. • Model KBAC-416 is rated 10HP and operates from a 460 VAC line. The drives are housed in a rugged NEMA 4X / IP65 die-cast […]
FAQ: How are the controls for servo motors tuned?
Servo motors are used in closed loop systems and operate based on error feedback—the comparison of a target value to the value actually reached by the motor/load. Because mechanical systems have inertia and compliance, the target value is rarely achieved on the first position command—hence, the need for feedback and correction commands. Servo tuning is […]
FAQ: What is settling time in a motor-driven servo system?
One of the unique characteristics of servo systems is that they operate in closed-loop mode. This means they use feedback—from a resolver or encoder on the motor, and sometimes from an encoder on the load—to compare the commanded value (typically position, speed, or torque) with the value that was actually reached. Based on this feedback, […]
Full range of servo amplifiers from Advanced Motion Controls
Advanced Motion Controls (AMC) offers a full range of servo drives and amplifiers. Servo drives are an essential part of motion control systems, and AMC servos are an excellent foundation for high performance. Currently, AMC offers hundreds of standard servo drive and amplifier models that accept various command signals, communicate over several networks and operate in […]
Danfoss acquires Vacon, expands capabilities within variable speed drives
In May 2015, Danfoss finalized the acquisition of global AC drives manufacturer Vacon. Today, Danfoss, through its business segment Danfoss Drives, is the world’s second largest manufacturer of variable speed drives, with more than 5,000 employees specializing in motor control, sales and service centers in more than 50 countries, and production and R&D operations in […]
Kollmorgen’s latest servo drive broadens range of power and industrial fieldbus options
Kollmorgen’s new 32-kW drive is one of the most power dense on the market, consuming only 576 cm2 of panel space; the smallest drive in the AKD® family, at 1 kW, consumes only 99 cm2. The AKD platform is one of the highest performing on the market, with a 0.67 µsec current loop, approximately 100x […]
A brief introduction to common bus and line regeneration
by Steven Peterson, Product Training Engineer, Yaskawa America Deciding which setup is right for a common bus takes research and evaluation, but selecting and implementing the right one significantly improves design performance and efficiency. Here we’ll outline how to prioritize features while accommodating a given design’s potential amount of regenerative energy and harmonic content. Designers […]
RotoShield GTL provides defense against costly torque overloads
Fenner Drives announced the launch of RotoShield Gearbox Torque Limiters. RotoShield GTL stops damage from costly torque overloads before it occurs by instantly disengaging components and automatically resets with 360° rotation. The unique compact design mounts directly to the motor and gearbox for easy installation with no additional design or machining required. “RotoShield GTL Torque […]