Chris Cooper, global director of product management at Kollmorgen, admits that implementing functional safety in linear motors can be challenging. The company recently announced an upgrade to its SafeMotion Monitor (SMM) firmware, SMM 3.0, with more functional safety support for linear motors and linear axes. The intention is to help machine builders implement functional safety […]
Kollmorgen
What’s really the difference between a dc servo and an ac servo system?
This article provides a history and general guidance on the capabilities of different ac and dc servo technologies. By Hurley Gill • Senior applications and systems engineer | Kollmorgen Many of today’s industrial and commercial applications — whether controlling a specific operation or just some specific motion — require electric motors. These ac and dc […]
New high-resolution encoder offers multi-turn absolute feedback at zero incremental cost
Kollmorgen has introduced the new SFD-M (Smart Feedback Device, Multi-Turn). It allows machine builders to achieve high-resolution multi-turn feedback with absolute positioning information available at system startup. Designed to work with AKDTM and AKD2G drives, the SFD-M absolute multi-turn encoder can be integrated into Kollmorgen housed servo motors at no additional charge compared to the […]
Kollmorgen expands functional safety support with SafeMotion Monitor upgrade
Kollmorgen announced the latest update to its SafeMotion Monitor (SMM) firmware: SMM2.0. This upgrade allows OEMs to leverage SMM functional safety features with more encoder and motor types to support a wider range of applications such as material forming, multi-axis measurement equipment, food processing and food packaging. Originally standard for the 2G Motion System, SMM2.0 […]
Kollmorgen announces next-generation PCMM2G controller
Kollmorgen has released its new PCMM2G programmable motion controller. This highly scalable controller offers simple integration with systems based on the Kollmorgen Automation Suite as well as with third-party devices, bringing new capabilities and greatly increased performance to everything from standalone machines to complex, modular automation systems. The PCMM2G controller is compatible with previous-generation PDMM […]
What is a servo system, really?
The word servo has become synonymous with the words servomotor, servomechanism, and servosystem to indicate a closed-loop controlled system. By Hurley Gill • Senior applications and systems engineer | Kollmorgen, A Regal Rexnord Brand A servo is most simply defined as any driven mechanism dependent on feedback data yielded by the continuous monitoring of a […]
Frameless motors versus torque motors
Frameless motors are rotor-and-stator subcomponent sets that aren’t prefixed in a traditional motor housing. Here we outline some of their benefits … along with those of torque motors. By Lisa Eitel | Executive editor Frameless motors don’t include a motor housing or output shaft (or shaft-support bearings) either. Instead, the OEM or design engineer works […]
Servo drives feature support for new synchronized communication protocols
Kollmorgen has announced the latest update to its AKD2G servo drive. With the introduction of these new features, Kollmorgen has broadened its offerings to additionally support PROFINET IRT and Ethernet/IP with CIP Sync alongside CANopen, EtherCAT, and FSoE time-synchronized communication protocols. Each protocol is rigorously tested with a variety of motion controllers and certified by […]
Trends: Automation in agriculture and off highway
In smart agriculture applications, companies are leveraging motion systems to improve reliability in their designs. Advances in automation technology as well as related advances in sensors, imaging, and communications have meant improvements to the kinds of motion control systems employed in agricultural applications as well as other off-highway uses. That means that the smart agriculture […]
New motor designs redefine capabilities
Electric motors are at the core of industrial motion control. From servo and stepper motors to various linear motor designs, demand for these motors across a wide range of applications is only expected to increase. The rise in automation and ongoing electrification calls for more efficient electric motors and more diversified and specialized designs to […]










