Micro drives have open API
Third Quarter 2007
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Hardware gives OEMs freedom to personalise drives
CHI Control Components introduces a family of some of the smallest drives available: the new Vacon 10 family. It offers features such as integrated EMC filters, intelligent navigation and a versatile application interface. The first micro drive product is called the Vacon 10 Machinery, and is designed especially for OEM customers.
The Vacon 10 range of micro drives
The family covers the power range from 0,25 kW up to 5,5 kW. "The Vacon 10 family is the first member of our new product range. It offers great flexibility in meeting customer control requirements, and excellent opportunities to find new business in the very competitive and rapidly growing micro drives market. It ideally supports our strategy: a wide product range, outstanding drives know-how, customer orientation, the latest technology and mass customisation," says Heikki Hiltunen, executive vice president, Vacon.
Until now Vacon has not had a particularly strong presence in the fierce micro drives market.
Open adaptability
The secret of the new family lies in its architecture. The drive has been built to allow easy and fast tailoring of the product to meet various customer needs. The control interface of the drive is often the area that is in need of tailoring. The ability to adapt to customer control requirements is incorporated in the control card, called the application interface (API). A set of API boards is offered as standard, but the API construction also gives OEM customers freedom to create API applications for specific needs.
Extensive functionality
The Vacon 10, fitted with a general purpose API, offers a wide range of functions for a drive of this size, a good number of I/Os and MODBUS communication. With this solution, the micro drive will meet the needs of most general applications on the market.
The drive family also comes with mini API options, which provide an excellent solution when only limited functionality is needed, for example in a bus protocol for machines running with bus systems.
Replacing a contactor with a drive is tempting and challenging. To meet this application Vacon 10 offers a simple contactor miniAPI with DIP switch configuration and limited I/O. If the standard version does not meet user needs, CHI's design service can help to develop a tailored solution.
Construction
With its integrated filter, the Vacon 10 meets as standard the EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) requirements for industrial and public networks. It can meet even higher standards when fitted with external filters for special environments such as hospitals. The enclosure class is IP20, and it is designed for cabinet mounting. No side clearance is needed in parallel installations.
Powerful software support
The micro drive allows the customer to program, commission and monitor the drive in a way that is normally only expected from bigger drives. It supports Vacon's standard PC tools such as the manufacturer's NCDrive, NCLoad and NC61131-3 Engineering Tool. The Vacon NC61131-2 Engineering Tool can be used for creating customer-specific software. Other PC tools, which are available for free download at www.vacon.com, are intended for tasks such as commissioning, monitoring, and loading various applications into the drive.
The PC is connected to the drive with an optional micro communication adapter (MCA) and a cable. The cable can be a standard USB or Vacon's own RS485 cable. The MCA allows uploading and downloading of parameters without connecting the drive to the mains.
Environmentally friendly
Vacon 10 is an environment-friendly product. Like all Vacon AC drives, it is energy efficient. The product is RoHS compliant (Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive) and all materials and packaging have been chosen with recycling in mind.
For more information contact Rob Hare, CHI Control Components, +27 (0)11 824 7400, [email protected], www.chi.co.za
Further reading:
Precise detection of complex rotational movements
Beckhoff Automation
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
The EP3751-0260 EtherCAT Box module by Beckhoff connects an acceleration sensor with an inertial measurement unit - a gyroscope. This provides accurate detection of acceleration and rotational motion in addition to shock, vibration and tilt measurement, both as preprocessed values and as raw sensor data.
Read more...
Energy management system for electrohydrostatic actuation systems
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
In the machine manufacturing industry, more drive systems are being converted from servo-hydraulic throttle to electrohydrostatic actuation systems. The four-quadrant capability of the electrohydrostatic pump unit and servo drive used in this technology, in combination with the new Moog energy management system, allows regenerative power flows generated during braking or pressure relief to be stored and reused.
Read more...
Drive solution for stacker reclaimer
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Hägglunds Drives South Africa recently completed a retrofit project on the bucket wheel of a stacker reclaimer at Richards Bay Coal Terminal. The project entailed replacing a gearbox drive solution with a direct drive solution from Hägglunds Drives SA.
Read more...
Kamoa-Kakula power pack order for SEW-EURODRIVE
SEW-EURODRIVE
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
With well over 100 units already delivered, SEW-EURODRIVE is set to continue supplying Ivanhoe Mines’ prestigious Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Read more...
Seven ways to reduce production downtime on the plant
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Production downtime is one of the biggest risks in the manufacturing industry. Follow these seven tips to reduce machine downtime in your production line.
Read more...
The time is now to implement a motor management strategy
Schneider Electric South Africa
Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Motor management plays an all-important role in controlling motor energy costs in various industries, segments and applications. Research and practical experience have consistently shown that effective motor management practices can result in significant energy savings, reduced operational costs, and improved overall system reliability.
Read more...
Rapid overhaul of compressor motors
ACTOM
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Marthinusen & Coutts Zambia was requested by a smelter based in the Copperbelt to provide an in-country repair solution for its two critical 4,5 MW compressor motors. The company was given only three weeks in which to overhaul and commission the motors.
Read more...
PC-based motion control on a labelling machine
Beckhoff Automation
Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
For 50 years, Bausch+Ströbel in Germany has been developing packaging and production systems for the pharmaceutical industries. The company’s goal is to offer the best technical and economical solutions for the challenges of modern industry. Its new ESA1025 labelling machine shows how this is achieved with PC-based control from Beckhoff as the central motion controller.
Read more...
Thrust for hybrid electric flying
Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Several leading academic institutes in Germany are collaborating on the future of hybrid electric flying. The partners are researching an entirely new propulsion system for medium-range aircraft with up to 35 passengers.
Read more...
Precise knowledge for precise applications
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Aerotech has been supplying standard product solutions such as motors, drives, controls and positioning tables since 1970. Customised motion subsystems include positioning systems on granite structures with undercarriage and vibration isolation, and also external measurement systems.
Read more...
printer friendly version