The MR-J4 servo amplifier series from Mitsubishi Electric incorporates a multi-network interface called “Servo Open Network”. It enables the user-friendly drive to be compatible with all relevant motion control systems worldwide. Machine manufacturers who offer their solutions globally will benefit from the open network connection feature of the MELSERVO MR-J4 amplifier series. Communications is simplified […]
Servo Drives
What is a motor choke and why is it used?
A choke is a passive device that adds inductance to a circuit. Inductance is a property of a coil of wire that resists any change to the current flowing through it. (Straight wires also possess a small amount of inductance.) In other words, if current through the coil increases, the magnetic field of the coil […]
New control functions for model-based control servo drive from B&R
B&R has extended its model-based control for the ACOPOS P3 servo drive to include three new control functions. The functions are integrated into B&R’s Automation Studio engineering environment and allow the controller to be adjusted more precisely. This way, machine productivity and speed can be increased. Vibrations and oscillations decrease, so that machine components are […]
What is a motion profile?
Servo applications require defined, controlled movements, often to move a part to a specified position at a precise velocity or along a predetermined path. A motion profile provides the physical motion information and graphically depicts how the motor should behave during the movement (often in terms of position, velocity, and acceleration) and is used by […]
What is hunting in the context of motion control and how is it addressed?
When a linear or rotary axis must follow a predefined move profile to reach or maintain a precise position, speed, or torque, a closed-loop servo system is often the best choice. Feedback from an encoder — mounted on the motor or directly on the axis — provides information regarding the system’s actual state (position, speed, […]
Video: Yaskawa GA800 ac drive for industrial applications
In a recent Design World video with my super-smooth colleague Mike Santora, I got the chance to play with a GA800 ac drive demo from Yaskawa America Inc. This VFD includes network communications, embedded functional safety, and easy-to-use tools (including a smartphone app) for configuration and remote access. Yaskawa sent us a sample of the […]
Oriental Motor AZ Series ac input drivers now available with EtherNet/IP
Oriental Motor now offers EtherNet/IP communications on the AZ Series ac input line of stored data network drivers. These AZ Series drivers maintain the features of other AZ Series drivers … and this new communications driver model is compatible with all AZ Series products. AlphaStep AZD (ac input) stepper motor drivers offer superior high-speed performance, […]
Rockwell expands Kinetix 5700 servo system offerings, featuring energy, downtime savings
Industrial companies can rein in energy costs and reduce downtime using two new additions to the Kinetix 5700 servo system from Rockwell Automation. The new Kinetix 5700 regenerative bus supply provides direct energy savings by regenerating excess energy and putting it back on the facility’s grid or making it available for plant-wide use. It also […]
Galil’s EDD EtherCAT slave drives now offers TwinCAT Support
The EDD-3701x EtherCAT slave drive (part of Galil’s EtherCAT Family of products) now communicates seamlessly with any TwinCAT EtherCAT master — as well as with Galil’s DMC-500×0 and DMC-52xx0 EtherCAT master drives. The EDD-3701x drives have the ability to control either brushed or brushless servo motors, steppers, and microstepping motors. The EDD-3701x is also equipped […]
Embedded motion and frameless motors in collaborative robots
Collaborative robots are seeing exponential rise in use. “This trend is a perfect example of the so-called fourth industrial revolution or Industry 4.0 … a term defined by chairman of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab. It’s blurring lines between digital, physical, and biological spheres,” said Jonas Proeger of Trinamic Motion Control. Some of these […]