Motors & Drives

Provider of high-performance motion control and positioning systems, Aerotech, has introduced two high-performance single-axis controllers: the digital XC4 and XC4e PWMs. They are suitable for driving brushed or brushless DC motors as well as moving coil actuators and stepper motors. A special feature besides the position-synchronised outputs (PSO) is the HyperWire fibre optic interface.

We exist in a consumer driven world where product development and innovation moves rapidly. In the fight to keep pace, manufacturers can be tempted to compromise on quality, but here, Graham Mackrell, Managing Director of Harmonic Drive UK, has explained why companies need to be stringent and avoid cutting corners.

  In addition to its drylin E linear axes with DC motors, igus has now developed a cost-effective and easy-to-use control system. Providing simple control and operation of the axes, the dryve D3 controller is for basic types of operation and the dryve D1 for more complex tasks.

It has been announced by TRINAMIC Motion Control that their first family of smart BLDC motors, designed for 4000rpm nominal velocity and 6.25-18.5Ncm rated holding torque. Together with the feature set and CAN bus interface, the PD42-x-1670 is highly integrated and offers the high handling.

A new family of versatile, feature-rich, configurable controls for brushless DC motors has been introduced by Minarik Drives, with the MDBL Series. MDBL drives control motors ranging from 90 to 280VDC, up to five amps/1.5 HP, using either 115VAC or 230VAC line sources.

A steam turbine rotor has been airfreighted to Sulzer’s service centre for fast repair, as 150MW generators provide power for around 100’000 homes so minimising down-time is essential to keeping the lights on for the local population. For one power plant in the Philippines, the swift repair of a steam turbine rotor was essential, so it was airfreighted using one of the world’s largest cargo planes, to Sulzer’s service centre in Indonesia, where the repairs were completed within eight weeks.

After the successful introduction of the complete range of ServoStep integrated motors JVL is now releasing Add-On-Instructions for fast and easy setup and programming in Rockwell Automation’s Studio 5000 software. The all-in-one unit: Motor, Absolute multiturn encoder, Drive, Controller, PLC and Ethernet Switch as well as TÜV-approved STO option.

A new motor control integrated circuit has been launched by INMOCO that provides ultra-smooth, quiet motor operation, with advanced current control and safety features specifically for stepper motors. The latest addition to the Juno Velocity and Torque IC family from Performance Motion Devices, the new Step Motor Control ICs offer higher PWM frequencies for smoother, more dynamic operation, in a 56-pin VQFN package measuring just 7.2x7.2mm. 

WEG has unveiled a new optional kit for its class-leading CFW500 series of variable speed drives (VSDs) that facilitates pump motor control through photovoltaic (PV) solar cells. The CFW500 Solar Drive comprises of a plug-in module to simplify set up and installation, complemented by a rich feature set that offers a host of user benefits. WEG‘s compact, energy-saving CFW500 Solar Drive is ideal for the control of centrifugal and submersible motor pumps installed in places where the power grid is unavailable or unreliable.

The introduction of Tier 4 and Tier 5 emissions regulations continue to have an impact on manufacturers of diesel engines and the final products in which they are used. Tier 4 has already been implemented for non-emergency generating sets and it seems only a matter of time before they will have to meet Tier 5 requirements. To help manufacturers meet both current and future emissions regulations, Burkert can develop complete dosing packages for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems.