Tech Briefs Magazine - August 2021 - MD-16

for every 10 °C increase in temperature,
a reduction by half in the life of the
product occurs. Therefore, keeping
drives cool is always important, especially
in warmer climates.
The basic modular drive consists of a power module (PM), control unit, and an operator panel (OP). The
power module supplies voltage to the motor, the control unit monitors the power module and is the brains of
the drive, and the operator panel is the user interface for the drive and motor control
In reviewing drive options, machine
builders and end users need to seek out a
drives supplier with a commonality of
configurable parameters and compatible
hardware offerings. This achieves a re -
duction in commissioning and training
time as well, thereby achieving an overall
lower total cost of ownership (TCO).
Within the OP on such a flexible
drive, standard dual-port Ethernet/IP
supports Ethernet/IP and Profinet and
integrates into an engineering portal or
third-party controllers, making them
ideal for a greenfield project or brownfield
application, with different
brands onboard the component elements.
The 24-VDC terminals allow
the communications of the drive to
continue functioning even if 480-V
power is removed. Thus, customers
can safely program the drive from
the front without risking an arc flash.
An integrated encoder offers incremental/high
resolution feedback,
while the memory card quickly backs
up parameters or recovers a program.
Several selectable applicationspecific
modes include pumps and
fans, mixers, agitators, conveyors,
and extruders for such a drive.
Seeking out such components, even
if the initial cost is somewhat higher,
will accrue benefits to the machine
builder and their customers in the
long run, owing to the overall cost
savings in commissioning, training
and maintenance.
16
Cov
ToC
Special Features
If a customer still wants a centralized
drive design, they can benefit from the
use of today's push-through design feature.
This means hanging the heat sync
of the drive out into the environment.
Heat sync and power unit fans are now
easily located outside the enclosure. The
AC unit can now be sized for the control
unit heat watt loss. Circulating fans can
replace AC units. The advantages in -
clude a lower energy bill up to 50%, a
smaller shop floor footprint, and a lower
cost for AC unit maintenance. As a rule,
Memory
Card
OP Interface
Analog I/O
Encoder
USB Port
Digital I/O
24 VDC
Ethernet
Dual Port
Features available on today's drives.
All popular drives from major manufacturers
use common parameters, al -
though some are more beneficial, owing
to their integration of this feature with
other design and electrical characteristics.
This makes it easier to program and
remember settings and locations for the
operators and maintenance personnel.
Once applied to one drive, the same
procedure applies to most others in the
system. The most advanced drives have
safety features built-in such as safe brake
control, safe torque off, and safe stop 1.
These features are available in hardwire
versions and on a network basis.
Drive investment can be a gateway to
digitalization. Drives and motors are in -
tegrated throughout the machine
building cycle, using several engineering
tools. From setup to commissioning
to the actual run conditions, maintenance
procedures, and issue resolution,
the construction, installation, and running
of today's machines can be simulated
in this virtual world, meaning the
startup time is greatly reduced and productivity
levels reach their optimum
mark much faster and remain there
more consistently.
In popular use today, there are three
different types of motor controls. Acrossthe-line
is the least expensive ini tial
investment. Essentially, the full voltage
and current are applied to the motor at
the time of engagement (up to 600%).
The motor will then run at nameplate
speed. Soft start is in the middle price
range and provides the ability to control
current, acceleration, and deceleration.
As with across-the-line, the motor will
run at nameplate speed. Variable frequency
drives (VFDs) are the most
expensive in their initial investment.
Still, there are many advantages of using
VFDs such as the ability to control speed
at any set point, to control current and
torque throughout the entire speed
range, and to realize energy savings
through regenerative braking.
VFDs are an attractive option for users
due to the fact they reduce mechanical
and electrical stress on systems, control
process variables, reduce in-rush current,
enable energy reduction, and provide
connectivity, with full data analytics.
Motion Design, August 2021

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Tech Briefs Magazine - August 2021

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