More flexible machine building
January 25th 2007 As well as introducing the flexibility of Ethernet Powerlink and TCP/IP connectivity into the high-power machine building sector, Baldor's new 3-phase motor drives focus on modularity, combined with novel design features, provides users with significant potential for savings.
Baldor's MotiFlex e100 range provides drives rated in five steps from 1.5 to 16 A. Compatibility with Ethernet Powerlink introduces great flexibility into electrical system building. Each drive features a hub enabling systems to be built using a simple daisy-chain connection scheme.
The high-speed and deterministic Ethernet Powerlink network cuts cabling substantially, and can greatly reduce the costs of building large multi-axis systems.For example, a single Baldor machine controller can manage systems up to 16 interpolated axes.
The design incorporates many features to liberate high power machinery builders to make savings and improve performance, including:
· No need for a separate power supply
· Each drive can supply power to itself, and also to a number of neighbouring drives
· Each drive can operate independently or as part of a shared DC bus
· Power regenerated in multi-axis systems may be utilised by other axes
· Shared bus capacitance means external braking resistor(s) are often not required
· Each drive incorporates a universal encoder interface and built-in I/O
· Two 'option card' slots provide expansion capability
· May be used for rotary and linear servo/vector motors
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