Drives with optional positioning intelligence

Baldor has expanded its innovative Flex range of digital servomotor drives with higher-power versions that operate direct from 400/460V three-phase supplies.

Baldor has expanded its innovative Flex range of digital servomotor drives with higher-power versions that operate direct from 400/460V three-phase supplies.

The introduction extends the power ratings available from 6 to 20kW - allowing automation builders and OEMs for heavier industrial processes to implement more compact and lower cost movement control systems.

Two versions are available.

The 'smart' Flex+Drive combines an AC brushless servomotor drive - configurable as a velocity or torque amplifier - with built-in motion software.

This allows simple indexing or point-to-point moves with trapezoidal profiles to be performed standalone - reducing motion control system costs and space requirements.

A variant called FlexDrive offers the same basic drive capability without the built-in intelligence - at reduced costs.

Six versions of the new products are available, spanning 2.5 to 27.5A continuous output power (5 to 55A peak).

All feature an encoder input for electronic gearbox applications, and come with a free Windows setup program incorporating an advanced auto-tuning algorithm for rapid configuration.

Flex+Drives include built-in memory for storing 15 absolute or relative moves, which may be initiated using switches, or continuous commands via the built-in serial port or optional CAN fieldbus interface.

Simple PLC-style functionality is also possible, allowing users to construct simple tables of events, using motion events and/or on-board inputs to trigger outputs.

The new drives can be used with Baldor's BSM series of brushless AC servomotors.

'Matched performance' speed-torque curves are available for these combinations, minimising the need to undertake detailed evaluations - or to incorporate costly performance margins in the design.

The drives may also be seamlessly integrated with Baldor's standalone or PC-based motion controllers offering the advanced Mint multi-tasking programming language - or other commercial controllers via a standard +/-10V interface or CAN bus port.

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