Parker’s Electromechanical Automation Division now sells Intelligent Parker Amplifiers or IPAs—1.5-axis servo-drive/controller combinations based on the ACR control platform. Available in two power levels—400W and 1,500W—the IPA can drive myriad rotary and linear motors and accepts feedback from industry-standard protocols. A dual-port Ethernet interface lets users connect several machine controls; Ethernet implementation is suitable for HMI, PC, and PLC-based applications. The IPA supports […]
Drives + Supplies
Problems VFDs cause and cable types that help solve them
Any machine that uses a VFD is subject to the effects of the drive’s chopped dc square-wave output signals. Here we explain how those signals affect and interact with motors and surrounding equipment, and how cables can help protect many components against the signals’ more detrimental properties. Variable frequency drives (VFDs) run myriad machines—including industrial […]
Rugged drive controls speed on ac motors to one horsepower
A new variable-speed ac motor speed control is simple to setup and operate. The rugged drive — Model 2999 Pacesetter AC speed control from Bodine Electric Co. — also features a NEMA-4X / IP-65 enclosure. It’s suitable for stand-alone ac-gearmotor applications that need controlled acceleration, adjustable operating speed, or reversing. Typical applications include conveyor systems, packaging machines, food-processing equipment, medical or lab equipment […]
Precise speed control reduces glass imperfections
Glaston America, a manufacturer of glass tempering ovens based in New Jersey, recently selected the Unidrive M family of variable speed drives from Emerson Industrial Automation USA LLC to improve the quality of its products. The company’s biggest customer is Cardinal IG, a manufacturer of residential glass. To ensure its glass tempering ovens meet the […]
Lenze Opens Michigan Office
Lenze Americas is pleased to announce the opening of a new office location in Novi, Michigan. “Lenze’s new office location will create a dynamic and modern workplace for the innovative work that our employees are doing to deliver a diverse range of solutions for vehicle manufacturing,” said Chuck Edwards, president, Lenze. “Automotive manufacturers look to […]
How a new VFD filter protects motors from two voltages
by Todd Shudarek, Principal Engineer, MTE Corporation A new filter for adjustable speed drives handles both differential and common mode problems. Most users of pulse width modulation (PWM) ac drives are familiar with the elevated differential mode motor voltages due to the reflected wave phenomenon, fast rise times and peak voltages they can produce. However, […]
Centralized or decentralized: Which motion architecture is best?
Decentralizing servo technology can lower costs in packaging and food and beverage applications. But centralized motion control has its advantages too. Sometimes the answer to which is better is neither one … but both. By Dr. Arne Linder | Product Management • Kollmorgen Decentralizing servo technology can bring machine and plant construction savings during installation. […]
STOBER debuts second generation of “PE” helical gearing unit
STOBER Drives, Inc. has released the second generation of its PE helical unit family featuring ground helical gearing. The redesigned PE unit is a first in its class, said Brian Sharp, STOBER product support technician. “When compared with spur gear units, the helical gearing of the PE allows for higher torque, ensures lower noise levels, […]
AC Drives lead in world energy efficiency and production
Global AC drives manufacturer, Vacon, has estimated that its AC drive products helped save approximately 55 TWh of electrical energy for the year 2013, a 10% increase over the previous year (in 2012, Vacon reported savings of 50 TWh of electricity with the help of their AC drives). Putting this in perspective: 55 TWh corresponds […]
Elmo Features its Nano Ultra High Power Servo Drive
Elmo Motion Control, a provider of advanced and cost-effective motion control solutions, will exhibit its flagship Gold Twitter, the smallest, high-power servo drive on the market at Industrial Automation North America (IANA) at IMTS in Chicago, Booth E-4971, September 8-13, 2014. Weighing at just 18 grams (less than 1 ounce), and less than 13 cm3 […]