Low-voltage dc stepper and servo drives offer innovative and space-saving options for many motion control applications traditionally handled by ac servo drives. Kevin Wu Product Marketing Manager Siemens Industry In the not-so-distant past, industrial facilities were limited in the motor types they could deploy on production lines. Today, their choices have been widening quickly, however, […]
Drives + Supplies
AutomationDirect adds new servo systems for motion control applications
AutomationDirect has added LS Electric servo systems that provide extremely accurate motion control and include the most requested features — setup wizards, auto-tuning, built-in indexer, and more — in an extremely cost-effective package. The L7S family of brushless servo systems is fully digital and capable of covering a broad range of motion control applications. There […]
New smart drive from Rockwell Automation helps reduce unplanned downtime
Rockwell Automation is expanding its PowerFlex AC variable frequency drive portfolio to support a broader range of motor control applications, giving engineers more flexibility, performance and intelligence in their next generation drive through TotalFORCE Technology. The new PowerFlex 755TS drive is the first six-pulse drive to incorporate TotalFORCE technology from Rockwell Automation to help customers […]
STXI Motion, Redler Technologies partnership delivers complete motion solutions for machine builders
STXI Motion and Redler Technologies have partnered to address the growing needs of machine builders for mobile, compact, and ruggedized low-voltage motion solutions. STXI Motion provides motors, encoders, and mechanical designs for full motion design solutions. By combining STXI Motion’s portfolio and expertise in low-voltage servo motors and drives with Redler Technologies’ servo drives for […]
What are harmonics and how do they affect motion control systems?
Harmonics are voltages or currents caused by non-linear loads on a power supply. Harmonic frequencies occur at integer multiples of a fundamental frequency and are superimposed on the fundamental voltage or current waveform, creating a distorted waveform. Harmonics are classified first by their order, or the integer multiple of the fundamental frequency. For example, for […]
Why do servo drives use PWM and how does it work?
The basic function of a servo drive is to convert, or amplify, low-power signals from the controller into higher-power signals to be delivered to the motor windings. Servo drives (also referred to as servo amplifiers) can be either linear or switching types, depending on how power is delivered to the motor from the switching devices […]
When is dither helpful in motion control systems?
Dither is one of several terms used to describe small, rapid, back-and-forth movements of an object. Depending on the context, when the term “dither” is used in motion control systems, it can refer to purposeful, commanded movements or to unintended, unwanted motion. In some motion systems, dither is purposely induced to reduce the effects of […]
What is an observer in motion control and how does it affect performance?
A servo control loop uses sensor feedback to determine whether the system’s actual state (position, velocity, or torque) matches the commanded state. But sensors feedback isn’t perfect — even high-quality encoders and sensors can introduce noise, phase lag, and other errors in measurement. One way to improve the feedback of a servo control system is […]
New enclosed drive series for industrial pump, fan and compressor use in harsh environments
A new enclosed drive system from Siemens, the SINAMICS G120XE, is designed specifically for the demands of industrial pump, fan and compressor applications in a wide variety of markets. Built around the company’s SINAMICS G120X infrastructure drive, this new enclosed system is ideal for fast design and commissioning in industries such as oil-and-gas/petrochemical, water/wastewater, power […]
New drive system from Bosch Rexroth is compact and scalable
Bosch Rexroth’s new ctrlX DRIVE is a compact, scalable and consistent modular drive system. ctrlX DRIVE has space-saving dimensions of up to 50% and can provide tailored solutions with peak currents of 6 to 375 A. Components in the ctrlX DRIVE system can be combined freely with one another, giving designers virtually unlimited combination options. […]