Drives News

How will the recent merger of Invensys Building Systems (IBS) with Schneider Electric division TAC, affect the Controls Market? The combination brings a formidable player to market, taking the Schneider Electric automation platform to a new level. The merger will provide customers with complete building solutions that include HVAC, security, field devices, fire and safety, lighting control, machine automation, and power monitoring and control and provides sales and service offices to 500 locations across 80 countries. IBS products already offered by TAC include such known names as Barber-Colman, Com-Trol, Crysalis, Erie, DuraDrive, and EconoDrive actuators and more. Will the merger change your control choices?

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A variable frequency drive that speaks your language, the MC Series LCD display lets you know the status of the motor and machine in easy to read English. Drive set-up is especially straight forward and intuitive. Learn more...

The model series C3177 digital drive is available as a packaged solution for the most demanding rotary motion applications. The controller incorporates a digital signal processor and encoder feedback to provide speed regulations better than .05% of the setpoint. Read more...

Panasonic's new Digital AC Servo drives and motors are compact and multi-functional. The A4-Series offers a power range of 50W to 5.0kW. Powerful real-time Auto-Tuning and fast response help the user to setup the drives, via keypad or intuitive setup software. Lean more about Panasonic's newest Digial AC Servo here.

The Near Zero-Backlash RV-C gearbox provides tremendous design flexibility and performance and an extremely compact and rigid, torque dense design. The high performance patented Nabtesco design provides a hollow pass through for cables, near zero backlash (less than 1 arc-min), high ratios (300:1), large overhung moment support, and a very large E-Stop capacity.

When rapid prototyping situations require COTS drive deployment, engineers can rely on a versatile Full H-Bridge Brushed DC Servo Drive Module. The module logic incorporates a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), configurable using LabVIEW. The servo drive module is suited for various applications including the automotive, robotics, instrumentation, and machine tools.

When deciding on whether to use micro-stepping in step motor applications, it is wise to understand the advantages and trade offs between full step, half step, and 64x micro-stepping control methods. A Design News article explains the effects of resolution versus motor torque to help you select the best driver for your application.

In the printing industry, synchronization and accuracy is everything. Mechanical gear box and clutch wear can require costly downtime adjustments and component replacement. Now, an Electronic Drive Line can reduce mechanical complexity, downtime and costs. Improved accuracy is also achieved by employing the precision positioning capability of the PowerFlex drive.

Need power from 45 to 93kW for machinery applications like extruders and punch presses? Maybe you have clean area applications such as food and pharmaceutical processing. Besides brawn, these drives also have brains — I/O expansion bus and cards can be configured for many communication protocols and a keypad provides access to built-in positioning control software.

Danaher Motion has a complete set of drives that offer advanced control technology along with compact packaging and simplified commissioning. Choose from a wide selection of servo AC, servo DC, adjustable speed drives, stepper and OEM/custom drive products, all available in a wide range of voltage and power ranges.

The L200 features a variety of new and enhanced functions, providing unparalleled simplicity and flexibility. They include side-by-side mounting capability, built-in timing logic and analog input math (PLC) function, DIP-switch hand-off-ratio and RS485 Modbus RTU communication interface. An optional NEMA4X keypad kit will allow flexible and cost-effective panel mounting.

Modern technology works to shrink the size of devices. When the electronics get smaller, so must associated motors. A new breed of DC motors integrates the drive electronics inside the motor enabling a smaller size motor but with all the capabilities of larger systems. UK based ebm-papst offers the model VDC Variodrive Compact Motor.

A Swedish stage design company recently installed 119 DC drives to control fly-bars and hoists used to quick-change theatrical sets and stage effects. The PLX digital DC drives communicate over Profibus, allowing all 119 drives to operate simultaneously and also eliminate eight tons of cabling. The system retrofit brings added safety and greater efficiency.

Traditional machine control pendants tend to be bulky and boxy devices and difficult to handle, making them unwieldy and even unsafe. Ergonomically designed hand-held control pendants can make the man-machine interface safer and easier. Uses include: Machine Tools, Assembly Lines, Automated Production Installation, Robotics, Troubleshooting, Maintenance, Cranes, and Medical Equipment.

ARM® is today's preferred microcontroller architecture. And a new baker's dozen Stellaris™ 32-bit MCU's have specifically been designed for microcontroller applications, with prices as low as $1.00 each. Applications include building and home automation, factory automation and control, industrial control power devices, stepper motors, brushed and brushless DC motors, and AC induction motors.

The MDM-5000 motor offers the highest available torque density available in a platform that is easily customized to fit any application. Versatile and economical, the MDM 5000 can be used with virtually all manufacturers’ amplifiers and controllers; offers multiple voltage capabilities; includes NEMA, IEC motor mounting or custom mechanical interfaces; and is CE/UL Compliant.

Allegro's new A3902 motor drive is designed for low voltage portable applications involving bipolar stepper or brush DC motors. The outputs have been optimized for low voltage drop, with currents up to 400 mA and an operating volatage range of 2.5 to 5.5V.

View more products by Digi-Key Corporation

DiceEngineering.com offers thousands of quality engineering jobs at top technology and engineering companies. Find jobs in your area of expertise. Search now.

If you like cheese, beer or both, Rockwell Automation, located in Mequon, WI (near Milwaukee) posts a position for a Senior Field Support Engineer in their Drive Systems division. Requirements include five years of drive related experience, and strong technical skills related to startup, diagnostics, and life cycle maintenance of drives and drive systems.

Interested in a career in the Motor Control Industry, but need more data? Now you can "Ask The Expert" at MotorControl.com any questions you may have about the industry. Your personal coach is a seasoned professional with 20+ years of experience. Perfect for students or those looking for a career change.

When selecting an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC), it is wise to understand the tradeoffs, of using high speed ADC's. Some obvious issues include: faster device cost, heat dissipation, and excess data averaging. Running too slow, the ADC can produce unwanted data aliasing problems. Evaluation Engineering describes some best practices in ADC selection and application.

Do you know someone who leave the copy machine empty and walks away to let others do their dirty work? Enter Eric Greeley, self proclaimed Office Hero and Good Guy, who dutifully restocks the office copier with paper. His efforts have increased office productivity by 2.6 minutes last month. Happily, Eric is not alone.

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