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Motors and drives: Dare to differentiate
ControlDesign.com
Our roundup of new motors and drives for industrial machine applications shows a technology marketplace that’s more easily integrating machine control hardware and software, while providing better capabilities.
By Rick Pedraza, Managing Editor, Digital MediaOUR ROUNDUP of new motors and drives for industrial machine applications shows a technology marketplace that’s more easily integrating machine control hardware and software, while providing better applications capabilities at the same time.
A new ARC Advisory Group study shows the market for motors, drives, and motion control technologies was more than $5 billion in 2005, and forecasts it will reach nearly $7 billion in 2010. According to ARC senior analyst Himanshu Shah, the worldwide market for general motion control products will grow at an annual rate of 6.1% over the next five years.
However, the study says suppliers will be challenged over the next few years to differentiate themselves, and offer better value propositions to users and industrial OEMs. “This,” says Shah, “is critical in the face of an expanding market where user requirements differ significantly.”
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This roundup reveals improvements in some of the core technologies on which drives are built, as well as greater improvement in digital processing power, performance, and resolution. It includes drives designed for integration into a PC that come in multiple architectures, Ethernet-based networks tuned for motion control, and integration of mechanics, electronics and motion control software.
Other products feature controller-enabling that allows the drive, motor, and application to work together through a preprogrammed chain of events, or by monitoring sensors, dancers, encoders or other feedback devices. Improvements in control techniques, the use of more powerful algorithms and greater processing power in motor drives allow some of the products in our roundup to work better together to increase machine control functionality and capability.
Attention to safety is apparent in the drives, motors, and components presented. Safety features recently added to some motors and drives allow operators to perform tasks without removing power from the drives.
Product Roundup:
Motors and Drives
What’s the Vector, Victor?
SM-Vector drive operates with vector duty-rated induction motors rated for 200, 230, 400, 460, or 590 VAC from 0-240 Hz. Modes of operation include constant torque V/Hz, variable torque V/Hz, and sensorless-vector speed mode or torque mode. Auto tuning determines key performance values based on the motor and installation variables. The drive delivers 200% of motor-rated torque, and can control the motor to 1 Hz at full output torque. Leeson Electric; 262/377-8810; www.leeson.com
Watch Your Speed
Altivar 61 variable-speed AC drives achieve under-voltage ride-through qualified to SEMI F47 standards, providing a range from 1-900 hp. Each drive has a common user interface and multiple I/O and communication options for managing and monitoring all applications. Drives are available in two models: 1-125 hp at 200-240 V, and 1-900 hp at 380-480 V. Schneider Electric; 847/397-2600; www.us.schneider-electric.com
Watch Your Step
MDrive17Plus microstepping driver/motion controller accepts an input voltage range from 12-48 VDC. Features of the brushless motor include oversized input capacitors to minimize power line surges; an operating temperature range of -40 to 85 °C; robust general-purpose I/O; a 10-bit analog input; 0-5 MHz step clock rate; and microstepping to 51,200 steps/rev. Options and accessories include long-life linear actuator, encoders, integrated planetary gearbox, control knob and linear slide. Intelligent Motion Systems; 860/295-6102; www.imshome.com
Featherweight Control
Castanet 60-V servo amplifier furnishes continuous current up to 3.3 A (60 V input). The 100-V model provides 2.5 A. Drives can operate standalone or as part of a multiaxis motion system. The amplifier operates from a DC power source in current mode and controls both DC brush and brushless motors. External power supplies are used to support 7.5-96 V operation. Features include high current-loop bandwidth (> 4 KHz), and high output linearity. Elmo Motion Control; 978/399-0034; www.elmomc.com
Down With the Drain
SSE motor has a hydrophobic aspiration system that removes condensation moisture in the motor, eliminating the need for drains used in conventional washdown-duty motors. The motor has a stainless-steel housing, a conduit box welded to the motor, conduit box cover, shaft, base, fan cover and slinger, making it impervious to rust and deterioration caused by frequent high-pressure caustic sanitizing operations performed in food processing and pharmaceutical plants. Baldor; 800/828-4920; www.baldor.com
Independent Control
Model 800-1514 dual-axis servo amp for current (torque) control of brushless servo motors accepts encoder and Hall feedback data from a range of servo motor types. Drive torque is controlled by a ±10 V command from a motion controller or PLC. The amp communicates with the setup computer via a RS232 link. It includes industry standard buffered encoder output, torque command, and all control signals are optically isolated. Copley Controls; 781/828-8090; www.copleycontrols.com
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