Smart servo axis with IIoT functions

The adaptation of different tasks and concepts in industrial automation requires high computing power on the one hand, and on the other hand intelligent functions with which the requirements of Industry 4.0 can be efficiently implemented. The Lenze i950 inverter is designed precisely for these requirements.

One example is its unusually dynamic control performance. The inverter's optimized kinematics take into account both the drive axis itself and the control path behind it. This means that faults and deviations are corrected much faster than with standard inverters on the market. As a result, the target value is restored in less time, and the deviation from normal operation of the servo axis is only minimal.

During operation, this pays off twice over. On the one hand, there is the high precision in positioning, as required for example in print shops. High-quality print products can only be produced with exact ink application. On the other hand, in the higher speed that can be driven. Viewed over the entire press, this advantage adds up to a 20 percent higher cycle rate. For the user, this means a considerable gain in performance and efficiency, which is not bought at the expense of lower quality but is accompanied by better results.

Information centre for IIoT

Future-proof factory automation must take into account the development towards the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) - the intelligent use of data to make machines smarter and more flexible, to make servicing and maintenance more efficient and to enable new OEM sales and service models.

But where does the required data come from? The seemingly simplest answer is additional sensors. But they involve a lot of effort: wiring and control systems become more complex, planning and installation costs rise, as do the costs for materials and maintenance. But Lenze shows that there is another way. Intelligent use of the data already available from the servo axis makes additional components superfluous. Instead, the drive itself becomes a sensor that lays the foundation for services such as condition monitoring. The Lenze development experts advise their partners on how to detect belt tension, friction and inertia anomalies in existing data and how to generate profitable new service models from this data.

Easy access to the cloud

Data processing for condition monitoring and predictive maintenance can be handled by the powerful i950 at the edge. However, IIoT also means networking beyond the individual machine, for example to monitor different systems together, to maintain different locations centrally or to benchmark. Such more complex tasks are usually handled via cloud services that enable the use of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI). A simple way to transfer data from the powertrain to IIoT is therefore essential.

With the x500 gateway, combined with the X4 Remote platform, machine builders receive a ready to use  cloud solution from Lenze that includes continuous condition monitoring, remote machine maintenance and user-friendly asset management. OEMs and users are free to choose the cloud provider to build their IIoT platform.

Easily networked

Lenze also meets the requirements of mechanical engineering when it comes to wiring. The standardized One-Cable-Technology (OCT) further simplifies the design of the machine. Instead of separate supply and data lines, only one single connection is required. The open motor feedback protocol transmits the motor data digitally. In the case of Lenze's MCS and m850 series drives, for example, it also transmits the encoder signal and motor temperature. This is also part of the "drive as sensor" concept, as resolvers and motor temperature sensors can be omitted here. Less wiring reduces material costs and saves space in the control cabinet. In addition, potential sources of error are reduced: connection and wiring related failures become less frequent, and finding the cause is easier because fewer options have to be tested.

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