Siemens is extending its drive portfolio in the extra-low-voltage range for 24 to 48-V EC motors with its new SIMATIC MICRO-DRIVE. The new product line with UL- and CE-marked components consists of the PDC (Profidrive Control) servo drive in conjunction with a flexible range of motors and connecting cables from product partners, along with the […]
Drives + Supplies
Mitsubishi Electric Automation at Automate 2022
Mitsubishi Electric Automation will exhibit at Automate 2022 in Detroit to highlight solutions for a wide variety of applications and industries. The theme of the exhibit is “better together”, which shows creative solutions developed by a number of companies based on Mitsubishi Electric automation products. The “better together” approach includes an in-booth experience centered on […]
Part three of three: Example of a rotary axis needing a regenerative resistor
By Hurley Gill • Senior applications and systems engineer | Kollmorgen Please refer to part one and part two of this three-part series for background information on the functions and types of regenerative resistors for servo applications. Let’s now consider the worst-case deceleration of an axis needing to reach a zero velocity for a p-stop […]
Part two of three: Servo-system regenerative resistor types and accessories
In the first installment of this series, we explained the regenerative-power requirements for the controlled motion of servomotor systems. Here we detail common electrical protection circuitry. By Hurley Gill • Senior applications and systems engineer | Kollmorgen Designing a machine with servomotors, drives, and regenerative resistors requires consideration of numerous design factors. These components affect […]
Part one of three: Selecting regenerative resistors to harvest servomotor energy
Here we explain the data required for determining regenerative-power requirements and regen-resistor selection for the controlled motion of servomotor systems. By Hurley Gill • Senior applications and systems engineer | Kollmorgen Electric AC servomotors are either synchronous or asynchronous motors used in a closed-loop (servo) configurations for precise output control. Control over motion outputs — […]
What are biquad and other filter types for servo tuning?
One way to improve servo system performance is to increase the gains in the control loop, allowing the system to respond faster to commands and to settle more quickly, with less oscillation. But increasing the servo gains means that any resonances in the system — typically due to mechanical compliance — are further amplified, which can […]
What is external device monitoring and how does it relate to machine safety?
According to the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, technical protective measures should be used to reduce risks that cannot be avoided through safe design measures. These technical protective measures include safety devices such as door locks, covers, light curtains, and other equipment that monitors the machine movements. When the safety device controls and external device, such as […]
Controllers, drives keep pace with automation demands
With the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a surge in interest in automation across many industries. As demand for automation has increased, suppliers of automation components such as motors, drives, and controllers are seeing increased demand as well. Controllers and drives on offer today are more powerful and offer better performance than […]
What machine safety functions address speed, and when are they used?
The Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC states that when a machine manufacturer is unable to eliminate the risks of potential hazardous situations (for example, mechanical hazards such as crushing or cutting) through safe design methods, the next step is to reduce the risks through technical protective measures. These technical measures include protective devices, such as door locks […]
Motion system design: How to manage inertia mismatch
One of the most important parameters when sizing a motion system is the inertia of the load being moved. Regardless of the type of motor being used — AC induction, stepper, brushless DC, or AC servo — the ratio of the load inertia to the motor inertia has an important influence on system performance. If the […]