Inverter drives reduce motor control complexity

Lenze's smv range of inverter drives is designed for use in small motor application where dynamic speed and torque control are required.

Lenze has removed the cost and complexity from vector-based motor control with the launch of the new smv range of inverter drives; offering fast dynamic torque response, sophisticated auto-tuning and impressive low speed operation from a compact, low-cost and simple to use package.

The smv drive also offers ingress protection to IP65 allowing for outdoor use, operation in environments with atmospheric moisture present and protection from low-pressure water jets.

The smv range is designed for use in small motor application where dynamic speed and torque control are required, such as conveyors, food production, packaging lines and HVAC systems.

Development of the smv product has been driven by customer demand and feedback from the international sales force.

The popularity of the existing Lenze smd range of AC inverter drives stimulated demand for a compact, simple to use AC drive offering vector control that can be used in a wider range of applications and be delivered under strict cost pressure.

The Lenze smv is expected to replace more complex and expensive drive solutions while delivering far more energy efficient operation than alternative electromechanical forms of speed control.

Lenze expects the smv range to expand the market for small drives by providing sensorless vector control that is extremely easy to commission and operate.

An easy to use facia keypad and a choice of onboard parameter sets ensure that the basic control and set-up procedure can be completed in seconds.

A higher than standard IP65 ingress protection also removes the necessity for a control cabinet in some working environments, and provides additional protection for panel mounting in higher rated control cabinets.

In common with other AC drive and simple servo products in the lenze compact drive family, the smv also features a programmable EPM chip.

Essentially a memory chip mounted in its own rugged plastic enclosure, the EPM plugs directly into the drive facia, allowing OEM manufacturers to copy across an entire operating set in a matter of seconds and commission the drive without having to turn it on.

In a product support and maintenance situation, a replacement EPM chip can often be used to return a machine to service without calling out a support engineer, or having to commit skilled programming time to re-commission an individual drive.

At launch, the smv drives are available in the power range 0.25kW to 2.2kW for single-phase supplies and up to 7.5kW for three-phase supplies.

Standard operating modes include standard and enhanced V/Hz (constant and variable) operation, vector speed control and vector torque control.

Motor calibration is via an auto-tune function and a range of communication options are available in order to integrate the smv into a wider machine or plant control network, DeviceNet, RS-485, LECOM, CANopen, Ethernet/IP and Profibus are all available from launch with others being introduced soon.

Various options are available including remote external keypads, dynamic braking units, and through-hole mounting for the external heatsink.

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