PLANT MANAGEMENT
Robotic applications have highly specific needs when it comes to drive controllers
including possible future requirements too. Some drives even provide built-in motor temperature monitoring and integrated brake transistor and brake control.
EASE OF INTEGRATION How easily the drive controllers are able to integrate with other control systems is also important. Part of this is ensuring that the drives provide the necessary real-time Ethernet-based communications interfaces. But it also means checking whether the supplier can provide a wide range of supporting control and automation products such as integrated HMIs, set-up, analysis and configuration software, as well as drives accessories to ensure a stable operating environment for the drives, including EMC filters, harmonic filters, output chokes and high performance ferrite cores (see point five). Te number of software packages should be kept to a minimum in order to minimise the cost of user software licenses, so look for a supplier that offers a comprehensive all-in-one software package for drives set up, configuration, functional safety and applications development, without ongoing/annual licenses or initial set up costs.
FEEDBACK CONTROL In addition, you may need to consider
whether the drive needs to support encoder feedback. Some suppliers now offer drives with two-channel multi-encoder interfaces that allows control of all encoder types such as Resolver, TTL, HTL, SinCos, SSi, EnDAT, Hiperface and BiSS.
STABLE OPERATING ENVIRONMENT In many industrial environments, ensuring the stability of drive controllers is sometimes overlooked. However, an EMC-compliant assembly with efficient control cabinet and suppression system is the basis for safe operation of machines and equipment. When choosing drives, it is therefore prudent to check what range of accessories the drives supplier can offer. Whilst these accessories can be sourced from a third-party supplier, it is better to deal with a single supplier that can provide everything, optimised to suit their own specific drives.
Check whether you require any of the
following drives accessories. Mains EMC filters: these reduce the cable-fed emission to the required limits of IEC 61800-3-C1/ C2. Other variants may offer low leakage currents or the operation of special mains
Mark Checkley is with KEB Automation.
www.keb.co.uk
www.engineerlive.com 27
networks. Mains chokes: these reduce the input peak current draw and the mains distortion. By smoothing the input current draw, the lifetime of the drive is enhanced, particularly at constant high utilisation. Output chokes and filters: these reduce the voltage and current stress of the motor winding. Combi-filters (EMC/ Output choke): these space-saving combinations consistently adapt and optimise the drive controller. Sine-wave filters: these protect the motor winding from voltage peaks and allow the use of long motor cables. Harmonic filters: these reduce the low frequency mains distortion on rectifier supplied devices. Tese harmonic filters allow easy integration to a switchgear layout. Sine-wave EMC filters: these allow operation of motors with long motor cables even without screening. High-performance ferrite cores: these reduce the values of du/ dts also in the frequency range of the bearing currents.
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