Motors & Drives Information

The TPM is a small and highly dynamic gearmotor developed as a product representing the highest level of integration. The TPM is a geared motor (rotary actuator) based on an AC servomotor and high-precision planetary gearing. The size of this compact unit is less than half compared with a conventional motor and gear combination.

The TPM rotary actuator is characterised by an extremely high dynamic response: with an overall length of 186mm, the TPM 50 builds up a maximum output torque of 500Nm at a mass moment of inertia of 2.9kgcm2 - until now impossible values.

This high dynamic response is due to the considerable reduction in the moment of inertia: the mass moment of inertia of the actuator has simply been reduced by 50% compared with a conventional solution with separate motor and gear unit.

The reason lies in its design: the rotor inertia is considerably reduced by the low-speed motor and the mass inertia on the gear side is reduced by around 90% because the gear pinion is directly integrated into the motor shaft, thus eliminating the need for a clutch.

For example, with a load inertia of 150kgcm2 at the output, loads can be moved through 180 degrees with utmost precision in less than 150ms.

William M Erickson of Rexroth Corp describes his experiences of working with VisSim. "As a supplier of servo motors, drives and computer controls, we gain a substantial competitive advantage by being able to guarantee to our customers that the motors and drives we select will achieve the required performance criteria. Our customers are machine builders who use our servo products to perform motion control in a variety of applications, ranging from high-speed spindles to low-speed rotary tables.

Consider the customer who requires a very precise bandwidth (a measure of how well the real-world application follows the control command).

We don't want to supply a motor whose torque and velocity are so strong it will excite resonances in the machine.

Given the mechanical load, the mass of the customer's machine, and other factors, we determine the appropriate motor and drive, along with the exact set of control parameters.

We have to guarantee to the customer that these parameters will deliver the required performance bandwidth.

Until recently, we provided that proof by testing the components in our lab.

Amacoil now offers a grease fitting option which attaches to the shaft wipers on Uhing rolling ring drive assemblies. When the drive is running the grease fittings facilitate automatic shaft lubrication and the wipers clean the shaft, removing dust and dirt and preventing undue build up of grease. At higher speeds heat is generated between the shaft and the wipers.

Mounted adjacent to the wipers on each end of the drive, the grease fitting assemblies contain felt rings which absorb and evenly dispense lubricant as the drive moves.

This eliminates risk of overheating for OEM designers and production personnel wishing to use the drives for linear motion in various types of machinery such as winding machines, measuring probes and converting/packaging equipment.

The grease fitting option is recommended when shaft speeds exceed rated speeds (1000rev/min for Model RG drives; 1500rev/min for Model RS drives).

Depending on sise, Amacoil/Uhing rolling ring drives with wipers/grease fittings may achieve speeds of up to 4m/s over travel distances of up to 5m.

Axial thrust is up to 3.5kN.

Amacoil is the N American distributor for Uhing rolling ring drives.

Siemens Automation and Drives (A and D) has expanded the Simatic ET 200pro distributed I/O system for 'control cabinet free' installation to include motor starters. Setting options of up to 5.5 kilowatts make it possible to cover a wide range of applications with only a few device versions. The Simatic ET 200pro motor starters, which are available as line starters and reversing starters, have extensive diagnostics options as well as electronic overload protection.

They are also available with optional brake control.

Switching status and motor starter status are displayed via bus and LED.

Motors and loads up to 5.5 kilowatts are connected directly to the new motor starters, which in turn are connected to the Simatic ET 200pro distributed I/O system for integration in the Profibus or Profinet communications network.

The motor starters have IP65 protection and are suitable for 'control cabinet free' installation and use directly on the machine, at the local level.

The motor starters are available as line starters and reversing starters, each in a 'Standard' and a 'High Feature' version.
The 'High Feature' version of both starters is additionally equipped with four parameterisable digital inputs.

Special modules such as a 'repair switch module' which separates downstream starters from the mains or serves as additional short-circuit protection (group fusing) for the downstream loads round off the new line.

The local safety motor starter solution is used for safety-relevant applications.

It consists of a local safety repair switch module with parameterisable start and safe input as well as a 400V shut-off module.

These components enable a safe shut-down up to Cat 4/SIL 3.

The Simatic ET 200pro motor starters are integrated in the Simatic STEP7 engineering software.

With STEP7, the motor starters can be very easily configured and parameterised as both Profibus and Profinet nodes.

A wide variety of potential groups can be formed and different loads interfaced by means of the flexible connection system on the 400 volt load side.

A versatile range of motor controllers is designed for permanent magnet or shunt wound DC motors in a compact, easy to use DIN rail mounting package.
Sprint Electric offers a versatile range of motor controllers designed for permanent magnet or shunt wound DC motors in a compact, easy to use DIN rail mounting package. The slim design of the single phase DC drives saves space and allows drive mounting adjacent to other control panel components. Easy to access adjustments and plug on screw terminals make these units quick to install and run.

Dual voltage supply and selectable AVF or tacho feedback are included in the standard features.

The range comprises of three types: nonisolated, isolated single-quadrant, and isolated regenerative four-quadrant DC drives.

Power ratings range from 0.55 to 1.8kW at 180V DC, with current capability of 3.4, 6.8 and 12.2A, respectively.

The nonisolated 340, 680 and 1220 models offer basic functionality at a very competitive price.

With a footprint starting at just 35 x 105mm, they fit easily into existing control panels or save space in new designs.

System concepts in bulk materials handling for food products have become increasingly similar to the pharmaceutical industry over the last few years, in line with machine requirements. Top-notch production requires high-quality raw materials without impurities. AZO, global leaders in ingredients handling and automation, has developed a range of reportable systems which have set new standards in production.

For production process flexibility, with a focus on sanitary design and automated materials handling, customers are demanding closed systems and low-dusting product intake with air regulation by means of large sized filters.

Safety in the work place, as well as the avoidance of cross-contamination, is also a key issue.

Systems must have good-flow characteristics and easy-to-clean access.

At a quick glance silos, hoppers, conveying systems, screeners, weighing systems and process-leading systems may seem similar.

A complete system will need to be divided into individual parts.

TM Robotics (Europe) has appointed Colin Reader as product manager for SCARA (Selectively Compliant Articulated Robot Arm) and Cartesian products in the UK and Ireland. The move comes in response to increased sales and an amplified interest in robotics from a host of industries including food processing, pharmaceuticals, electronics, automotive component handling and logistics. Reader brings with him a wealth of heavyweight experience gained at Siemens, Bosch Rexroth, Matrix Machines and most recently Gudel UK.

As technical sales manager of Bosch Automation Technology, he was instrumental in tripling his division's turnover in just twelve months.

'I believe that people in the UK are unnecessarily wary of robotics, even though interest and use is currently increasing dramatically' explained Reader.

'The reality is that a SCARA robot is a complete package, far easier to integrate than a linear system and much more versatile.

Furthermore, thanks to the SCARA adaptability, its cost of ownership is lower in the long term.

Despite this there is a UK tradition of building pick and place systems in house, sourcing motors, drives, couplings and software and re-creating the wheel.

Pumping limits have been expanded on the ESE range of magnet drive gear pumps to achieve applications to 300C and 40 bar pressures
This has been accomplished through the use of samarium cobalt magnet drives supplying the torque to meet the flow and pressure requirements at these elevated conditions. A direct mounting option for motors to 15 kW means an economic package for pump and motor combination. Flows are available up to 250 L/min and pressures to 40 bars.

Other models are available with standard packing or mechanical seals to meet these fluid conditions as well.

The new linear actuators from Danaher provide a replacement to pneumatic and hydraulic technology. Times are changing and industry is looking for cleaner alternatives to conventional pneumatics and hydraulics. Linear actuators are increasing being specified, but now with the introduction of the new Danaher high load capacity models, heavy duty linear actuator applications can also be considered.

Traditionally pneumatic and hydraulic actuators were seen as the only viable choice for heavy duty applications.

High capital investment, maintenance costs and health issues are driving industry to specify heavy duty linear actuators such as the new Danaher T130.

The Danaher T130 has a load capacity of 40,000 N, a maximum speed of 2 m/s and a stroke of up to 2m, with facility to support standard magnetic sensors in an IP65 protective enclosure.

Engineers will be particularly interested in the product accuracy.

Electro-mechanical actuators such as the T130 can be controlled with greater precision to provide enhanced repeatability.

Pumping limits have been expanded on the ESE range of magnet drive gear pumps to achieve applications to 300C and 40 bar pressures
This has been accomplished through the use of samarium cobalt magnet drives supplying the torque to meet the flow and pressure requirements at these elevated conditions. A direct mounting option for motors to 15 kW means an economic package for pump and motor combination. Flows are available up to 250 L/min and pressures to 40 bars.

Other models are available with standard packing or mechanical seals to meet these fluid conditions as well.

Design of the world's shortest length and lightest weight DC motor has been achieved using a new coil winding technology. Asaba Engineering has developed the shortest length and the lightest weight coreless DC motor for motion control applications. Motor length is only 18.9 mm, with an inner diameter of 20 mm.

Weight is only 28 grams.

Model YDC-20 is an 87.21% high efficiency motor and no load current is only 7.9 mA.

This product design uses the Asaba patented coil winding technology.

Rated voltage is 6V, minimum starting voltage is from 0.0V.

Starting torque is 26.55 mNm and the torque constant is 14.76 mNm/A.

A high ratio gearbox is not required, reducing the total installed cost.

A double shaft for an encoder is available as an option.

Significant applications include robot actuators, mobile medical products and miniature pumps, where a quick response, low power consumption and miniature size are required.

Lin Engineering, the stepping motor specialists, introduce the new SilverPak 23DE; an integrated NEMA 23, High Torque, 1.8 bipolar stepper motor, microstepping driver and encoder. The SilverPak 23DE is designed to help reduce overall design time and system cost for a wide array of step motor applications needing high torque. The SilverPak 23DE is 2.25'' in width and is offered in three body lengths: 2.52'', 2.96'' and 3.89''.

Depending on its stack size, the integrated motor/ driver is capable of producing up to 294 oz-in of holding torque.

The SilverPak 23DE operates from 15 VDC to 48 VDC and the available phase current ranges from 0.3 Amps to 3 Amps peak.

This integrated motor/driver combination boasts jumper configurable step resolutions ranging from 2x microstepping up to 256X microstepping and 4 selectable damping modes.

The unit also features: optically isolated step, direction and disable/enable inputs; as well as under-voltage and over-temperature protection.

Pole Damping Technology (PDT) is yet another feature that the SilverPak 23DE can provide.

Pole Damping Technology enhances stepper motor performance, thus creating a more accurate and smooth motion profile.

Lin Engineering, the technical leader in step motor design, is pleased to introduce their compact and lightweight step motor complete with a small E4 encoder from US Digital. The 1.8 degree NEMA 11, bipolar stepper and miniature E4 encoder are designed for flexibility in applications with limited space. The 211 series motors measure a mere 1.1inch square and are available in three lengths; 1.24inch , 1.75inch and 1.99inch.

The 1.8 degree NEMA 11 motor provides high torque in a small package.

Depending on the length, the 211 motor can produce maximum holding torques of 9.2 oz-in to 16.6 oz-in.

The US Digital E4 miniature encoder is designed to provide digital quadrature encoder feedback of motor position as well as stall detection for applications with space constraints.

The E4 encoder is capable of tracking 100 to 300 cycles per revolution (CPR); 400 to 1200 pulses per revolution (PPR).

The E4 encoder will only add 0.9inch of length to the 211 motor.

Please note that encoder mating cables and connectors are not included and are available separately.

Where to look for wasted power, and how to get it back, a discussion article by David Spitzer, in particular relating to fluid flow, flow control, and pumping systems
People and events throughout the world are interrelated as never before. Technical developments in far-off places can have dramatic effects here at home. Fluid handling systems may seem independent, but a malfunctioning system may affect the bottom line of a major corporation.

Inefficient fluid handling system operation can cause a distant power plant to generate more electricity.

The plant might then emit more greenhouse gases and potentially increase global warming that might affect us all.

Or it might trip off and cause a major outage.

Fluid handling systems are generally composed of mechanical equipment that generates hydraulic energy for a process that consumes that energy.

The fundamental strategies to improve the efficiency of fluid handling systems are to reduce (or eliminate) the need for the hydraulic energy, to generate useful hydraulic energy more efficiently, or to use the process to produce useful energy.
The control engineer may or may not have direct responsibility for implementing these strategies, but his ability to influence the implementation of these strategies should not be underestimated.

Pay Attention to the Process.

Reducing the need for hydraulic energy often entails a technical analysis of the process, which results in beneficial process changes.

Control engineers are often ill prepared to perform this analysis because their training and experience lie in other areas.

However, they can influence the decisions of others by simply asking thought-provoking questions.

* Can we eliminate the pump by locating the vessel upstairs and feed using gravity?

This would free up space and allow us to - ?

* Chilled water is used to cool a liquid to keep the flowmeter operational, but if we use a different flowmeter, which does not require cooling the fluid, then we can reduce the size of the chiller and - ?

* What is the maximum load required by the process?

* Is the equipment oversized?

* Smaller equipment would occupy less space, be less expensive, and cost less to operate.

* Can the fluid be obtained from another fluid handling system and eliminate the need for this equipment?

* That would simplify the process and make space for - ?

Most of the benefits cited in the above examples are not energy savings.

Instead, they represent a win-win situation where the need for hydraulic energy is reduced, so energy costs are reduced.

As a byproduct, the process and/or installation is improved.

Reducing or eliminating the need for hydraulic energy offers one of the best strategies to reduce energy costs, but it usually requires pragmatic insight into the process and utility operation.