Motion Control Ethernet Module

Ethernet is fast becoming the network of choice for automation professionals–even for motion control and networking. Ethernet for the factory floor comes in a variety of “flavors”–one being Ethernet Powerlink. Baldor Electric Co. has launched a new plug-in motion/machine control module for its Ethernet Powerlink drives. The new controller module allows machine builders to eliminate the need for a separate external network controller, along with all of the cabling and panel space that would normally be required.

The new Mint Machine Module plugs into a hardware expansion slot in any of Baldor’s MotiFlex range of Powerlink-compatible three-phase AC motor drives. Two variations of the card are offered: a dual-axis version that will control the host Powerlink drive plus another external drive via a conventional analog interface, or a high-speed version that will also act as a Powerlink network controller to manage a complete multi-axis control system. Both options are compatible with Baldor’s powerful Mint motion language, with its rich development support.

Two further expansion card slots on MotiFlex drives also allow a system to be configured with any of a comprehensive range of fieldbus interfaces including Profibus DP, DeviceNet, EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, and CC-Link – to act as a gateway to PLCs, plus further I/O including encoder or resolver interfaces for dual loop feedback. The encoder option can, alternatively, be employed as a line shaft encoder for electronic geared motion applications.

Baldor’s Powerlink hardware comes with a machine control development environment called Mint. Mint provides a high level control language that is similar in style to BASIC, but with advanced structured programming features, multitasking support, and a library of high-level ‘keywords’ that provide ready-to-use software for common motion control (and machine control) functions. The Mint language can be used to create a standalone system. Alternatively, developers have the option of developing motion control programs on a host PC and transferring movement  and I/O commands to the motion subsystem. Windows support is provided using the ActiveX protocol.

Drives get smaller

Yaskawa Electric America Inc. has introduced a new ac variable frequency drive, the J1000, that it modestly calls the world’s smallest compact drive in size. The drive contains fewer parts than its brothers improving mean time between failure (the company says 28 years). It features overexcitation braking that reduces stop times without requiring external braking resistors. The company’s DriveWizardPlus software and USB Copy Unit for files work on this drive. The drive is available frhom 1/8 to 7.5 hp, 200-240 v single phase, 200-240 v three phase, and 380-480 v three phase all at 50/60 Hz.

–Gary Mintchell

Elau Products Integrate with Schneider

A couple of weeks ago I posted on my personal blog, Gary Mintchell’s Feed Forward, about Schneider Electric taking steps to integrate Elau (previously allowed to operate somewhat autonomously within the fold) into a Schneider company-wide packaging competency center. I also tried to puzzle out the meaning of the change.

First thing is the integration of Elau’s motion and control products into the broader Schneider Electric product line up. Elau has announced that it has come up with a “simplified integration” of Schneider’s fieldbus-equipped products into its modular packaging automation lineup. Dubbed “Easy Integration,” the system uses IEC compliant function blocks to communicate via Profibus, EtherNet/IP, CAN-based networks [read DeviceNet], and CANopen. In addition, the company is developing IEC 61131-3 compliant, configurable function blocks.

Product families already integrated include the Advantys STB, OTB, FTB and FTM families of I/O products, Altivar ATV 31 and 71 variable frequency drives, and (soon) TeSys U drive protection systems.
or http://www.packagingautomation.net or email info@elau.com.

A lot of drives

Yaskawa Electric, a manufacturer of AC drives, servomotors, motion controllers and robotics, announced June 6 that it has shipped 10 million variable frequency drives. In reaching this milestone, the company claims it is the first to reach this milestone and further claims to have more than 14 percent of the global market for drives rated from 0.1 to 300kW.

The company claims to have been the first to develop the transistor inverter, followed by the first insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) low-noise inverter and the first vector control general purpose inverter.

Green automation

While I was at our corporate office last week for four days worth of meetings, I talked with Packaging World Editor Pat Reynolds about green automation and energy efficiency. He and I will be running some complementary articles on the subject (he in Sept and me in Nov). He showed me a story from Bosch Rexroth about using a regeneration function in drives to put power back on the grid. Essentially, if you have certain applications such as a centrifuge or elevator, the mechanical reversing function can cause the motor to turn into a generator and excess power is genertated. The old response was to put on extra “braking resistors” to burn up the power so that the drive system didn’t burn up. Newer electronics allows the generated electricity to go back on the power grid, power local 24 vdc equipment or otherwise use the power.

This week, I received another press release, this time from B&R Automation about the energy savings that can be gleaned from its motion control line of products. The ACOPOS series of motion uses power supplies that employ power factor correction, another energy wasting power function. The release states that the series also employs regeration.

Look for more green automation releases–in some cases not new products–that emphasize energy savings in the face of increasing costs.

Gary Mintchell