Food Processing - July 2008 - (Page 41) E q u I p M E n t: M oto R S & d R I v E S ▼▼Brushless advantages A new series of speed controls and servo motors is designed to provide customers the advantages of brushless technology for adjustable speed applications – less maintenance, quieter operation and more efficient and higher torques in smaller packages, the vendor claims. The new control, BMCSeries, has models available from 1/4 through 3 hp. The brushless DC motors, BSM25 and BSM33, are available with NEMA mountings from 1/4 through 3 hp at 1800 rpm. This brushless technology is suitable for conveyors, mixers, door openers, material handling, packaging and many other general-purpose industrial applications which utilize adjustable speed. Baldor Electric Co.; Fort Smith, Ark. 479-646-4711; www.baldor.com use AC drives: the AF-60 LP Micro Drive for small motor controls, the AF-600 FP Fan & Pump Drive for HVAC and Pump applications, and the AF-650 GP General Purpose Drive for control of mixers and material handling applications. These are drives with built-in functionality and compact size that are easy to set-up, and meet all relevant global standards. They allow customers to immediately save costs by simplifying installation and decreasing the need for add-on equipment. GE Consumer & Industrial; Cleveland 330-405-2839; www.geindustrial.com tor, and over 50 percent less total space compared to a traditional servo system with separate motor and drive packages. Overall, this dramatically reduces the required space and air conditioning requirements of the control cabinet. Bosch Rexroth Corp.; Hoffman Estates, Ill. 847-645-3600; www.boschrexroth-us.com New drive upgrades The fast-configuration FlashDrop tool, new control-panel assistants and hardware upgrades enhance the simple start-up and use of ACS550 general purpose drives. The fastconfiguration tool provides easy parameter selection and setting and other features that make it ideal for high-volume customization or repeat programming of multiple drives/ machines. Other upgrades to the drives include additional assistants to improve the control panel and drive functionality. Some of the hardware enhancements are: reducedframe sizes and horsepower extensions for more competitive sizes, reduced cabinet space requirement and reduced manpower, time and installation costs. ABB Ltd.; Zurich, Switzerland 41-0-43-317-7111; www.abb.com ▲▼Wash-down motor control Manufacturers seeking networked motor control solutions for wash-down environments now have several options. The PowerFlex 40 AC drive and the ArmorStart product lines have packaging options that are now rated by NEMA and UL: NEMA/ UL Type 4X/12 (IP66/54) for indoor use. Suitable for food processing equipment, the rating provides UL-listed protection against circulating dust and high-water pressure for equipment such as mixers, pumps, conveyor equipment, fans and packaging machinery. Rockwell Automation; Milwaukee 414-382-2000; www.rockwellautomation.com ▼▼Takes half the space The IndraDrive Mi motor casing serves as the heat sink for the servo/control system, which is attached to the long axis of the motor, adding only a small amount to the cross sectional profile. This results in up to 30 percent less area required compared to other integrated systems where the electronics are fitted behind the moSame color, new name ▲▼PWM controller The IntegraMotors line of products combines all four elements of a typical motion control system – a control, a brushless DC motor, a gearhead and an optical encoder – into one compact package. A digital pulse width modulation-controlled version is now available. The all-in-one design reduces wiring hassles, assembly time and cost, as well as minimizes EMI. These models combine a 24VDC brushless DC motor with a built-in open loop voltage mode PWM controller. Compared to analog controls, digital PWM controls can significantly lower system costs and power consumption. Bodine Electric Co.; Chicago 773-478-3515; www.bodine-electric.com New AC drives Performance-conscious facility operators and original equipment manufacturers will appreciate new, full-featured, easy-tofoodprocessing.com They will remain the same color, but the familiar blue gearboxes from Alpha Gear have a new name. As of July 2008, the company’s name has become Wittenstein Inc. to be consistent with the other business units of the company. The ISO-accredited Wittenstein facility in Bartlett, Ill., has become the base of operations for all servo gear solutions sales and development efforts in North America. Wittenstein Inc., Bartlett, Ill.; www.wittenstein-us.com July 2008 food processing • 41 http://www.boschrexroth-us.com http://www.geindustrial.com http://www.baldor.com http://www.abb.com http://www.bodine-electric.com http://www.rockwellautomation.com http://www.wittenstein-us.com http://foodprocessing.com
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