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Focus on Motors and Drives

| By Dorothy Lozowski

New line of stepper motion-control products released

motors and drives

IDEC

This product line includes controllers, stepper motors, an integrated controller/drive, an integrated drive/stepper motor, and an integrated controller/drive/stepper motor (photo). The integrated controller/drive and drive/stepper motor units save space and money, and simplify installation, by combining multiple components into a single unit. The integrated controller/drive/stepper motor units offer space savings, cost effectiveness and system simplification. As compared to more complex servo-motion control systems, steppers are a simpler technology, and require no tuning or adjustment. They also have excellent torque at low speeds, don’t require position feedback, and have very low maintenance requirements, says the company. These characteristics make them a suitable fit in a variety of applications, including pharmaceutical, printing, packaging, material handling and semiconductor industries. —­ IDEC Corp., Sunnyvale, Calif.

us.idec.com

 

 

 

Smaller motor for pumps improves performance

Electric Torque Machines (ETM)

Electric Torque Machines (ETM)

This company has recently extended its focus on motor applications to include positive displacement pumps. Peristaltic pumps require relatively high torque at low rotational speeds, typically in the range of 5 to 500 rpm, well below the direct-drive capability for incumbent, conventional a.c. or d.c. motors. As a result, incumbent motors are operated at a higher speed (over 1,000 rpm) and a speed-reduction gearbox is necessary to achieve the required torque and rotational speed. As a result, these geared-drive systems can be large, heavy and inefficient. Also, the gearbox increases cost, while causing a reliability and maintenance burden. Compared to these conventional geared systems, the direct-drive motors deliver high continuous torque at low rotational speeds, which eliminates the need for a speed-reduction gearbox and reduces the drive system size and weight (photo). The motors use transverse flux technology with increased pole count and low resistance coils, delivering 5­–10 times more continuous torque by mass compared to conventional a.c. or d.c. motors. And, according to the company, compared to the a.c. geared system, power consumption versus pump speed is reduced 29–54% for the direct-drive system. — Electric Torque Machines (ETM), Flagstaff, Ariz.

www.etmpower.com

 

Motor stage family with direct drive offers new options

motors and drives

PI

This company expanded its PIMag series of linear motor stages with the V-508, a new series of compact linear-positioning stages with high force three-phase linear motors and crossed roller guides (photo). The V-508 family of linear motor stages is offered with 80-, 170-, and 250-mm travel range. Two motor options are available: ironless for highest resolution and smoothest motion; and iron-core for highest force, acceleration, and velocity up to 1 m/s. Mechanically, the V-508 series features high-load, precision crossed roller bearings with anti-creep cage assist, preventing roller creep, which allows a long lifetime in high-duty cycle industrial applications, together with the zero-wear, non-contact linear motor. Linear motors provide smooth motion, and a high dynamic velocity range along with rapid acceleration, because they provide motion directly without the need of additional mechanical components, such as drive screws and gearboxes that add friction, vibration and noise. They are well-suited for scanning applications or automation tasks where repetitive fast start-stop motion with high precision is required and where reliability and maximum uptime are crucial. In addition to electromagnetic three-phase and voice-coil linear motors, this company also provides several types of electro-ceramic linear motors. — PI, Auburn, Mass.

www.pi-usa.us

 

Monitor vibration levels for predictive maintenance

EZmaintain

EZmaintain

Cloud-based computerized maintenance management software (CMMS) has been introduced by this company to integrate sensors to measure temperature and vibration levels of equipment, such as motors, gear boxes and more. Adding these smart sensors (photo) provides users with realtime data for condition monitoring through which alerts can be viewed directly from the CMMS dashboard. The CMMS works from both desktops and mobile devices. A simple screw-type mounting design can be used for the sensors. — EZmaintain, Elyria, Ohio

www.ezmaintain.com

 

 

 

Manage motors via several communication options

motors and drives

Siemens

The Simocode pro motor management system (photo) for motor monitoring and control has been expanded to incorporate new communication connectivity. Alongside the existing options over Profinet, Profibus and Modbus, open communication over EtherNet/IP, including additional EtherNet-based services such as NTP (network time protocol) are additionally available. The motor control devices of the Simocode pro product series were developed specifically for the management of motors in the low-voltage range. The system operates independently of the controller and offers protection, monitoring, safety and control functions between the motor feeder and the automation system. Because the EtherNet/IP communication protocol is provided on the individual communicating device, no additional communication devices, such as protocol converters, or adapters are required. — Siemens AG, Munich, Germany

www.siemens.com

 

These general purpose motors meet most needs

motors and drives

ABB

The N-series general purpose motors (photo, p.22) provide energy efficiency, reliability and safety in applications where a highly customized motor is not needed. The motors use cost-effective pre-packaged designs with short lead times. N-series motors currently include three product families: the high-voltage rib-cooled and modular-induction motors, and a new range of slip-ring motors. Even in their basic configuration the N-series motors satisfy most common requirements in many industries. A number of pre-engineered option packages are available. Vertically mounted motors fitted with thrust bearings, for example, are widely used in pumping applications. — ABB, Zurich, Switzerland

www.abb.com

 

This speed reducer fits IEC or NEMA motors

motors and drives

Gearing Solutions

The FlexFrame 5-hp face-mounted speed reducer (photo) incorporates patented adaptors that allow it to be used with either IEC or NEMA motors. Users can quickly switch or replace motors, interchange IEC and NEMA motors for export applications, add face, flange or foot mounts, and use shaft adaptors to match virtually any motor to any gearbox. Consisting of a face-mounted speed reducer with a hollow shaft input, these new designs function as gearheads. They are available in standard ratios of 3:1, 4:1 and 5:1, making them suitable for a wide range of industrial and commercial applications, including use on mixers, conveyors, hoists and other material handling equipment, food processing equipment, robotic drives, and more. With aluminum housings, FlexFrame units are lightweight with a small profile, creating a premium weight to torque ratio (power density), says the company. — Gearing Solutions, Solon, Ohio

www.gearingsolutions.com

 

 

New compact ring drive has a built-in brake

motors and drives

Nexen Group

The new compact ring drive (CRD) system, CRD 250B (photo), includes a built-in zero-backlash locking brake design that delivers twice the nominal torque without increasing the CRD footprint. It is durable, with a brake life of one million cycles, and requires little maintenance. The brake is spring engaged and pneumatically released so that it will default to lock in a power-failure or emergency situation. The CRD has a precision-grade bearing and drive mechanism in sealed housing. The three-drive design configurations allow it to be optimized for high speeds of up to 225 rpm, high torque or both. — Nexen Group, Inc., Vadnais Heights, Minn.

www.nexengroup.com