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Servo drives are intelligent alternative

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Feb 21, 2008

The packaged BLuAC5 range includes a PWM drive stage with a 5A continuous rating (15A peak) and direct-online 90-265V AC input.

Mclennan has a new range of intelligent servo drives from California based Applied Motion Products.

The packaged BLuAC5 range includes a PWM drive stage with a 5A continuous rating (15A peak) and direct-online 90-265V AC input.

It may be configured for linear or rotary sinusoidal and trapezoidal commutated brushless servomotors with tuning made very straightforward with AMP's Quick Tuner software which features a built-in digital oscilloscope.

The powerful DSP-based drive stage may be programmed for torque, velocity, positioning and programmable (stand-alone) modes.

With full application flexibility in mind the drive can be supplied with a choice of three integrated controllers from simple +/-10V or pulse and direction operation through to sophisticated graphical point-and-click multi-axis motion programming.

These three options -S, -Si and -Q are fully compatible with AMP's advanced stepper motor controls and may be freely mixed in multi-axis systems for complete cost and performance optimisation.

The basic -S version allows analogue +/-10V DC control in torque or velocity modes as well as digital pulse and direction, CW/CCW or A/B encoder following - all with programmable electronic gearing capability.

The -S version also allows "host" control from a PC or PLC using AMP's SCL programming language.

For more sophisticated control the -Si (simple indexer) version allows preprogrammed stand alone operation using AMP's Si Programmer Windows based point-and-click graphical software - a highly user-friendly icon based programming environment for users of all levels.

This multitasking programming environment ensures fast setup and machine interfacing.

As well as motion commands, I/O, conditional branching, alarms, and operator interfacing are also provided along with comprehensive troubleshooting support.

The -Q controller version uses an onboard motion controller based on AMP's high level Q programming language that stores complete multitasked motion and machine control sequences.

The -Q can handle conditional processing, maths functions and register manipulation for complex move sequencing and electronic gearing applications.

Multi-axis host control or stand-alone control is made extremely simple with AMP's SiNET Hub and Si programmer software which allows up to four or eight -S, -Q, or -Si drives to be configured, sequenced and networked with a PC, PLC or HMI in host or stand-alone modes.

The compact BLuAC5 intelligent drive is packaged in a robust panel mounted metal housing and is fully CE certified.

The I/O complement is model dependant - the BLuAC5-Si includes four dedicated inputs for limits and jog plus 11 general-purpose inputs with three dedicated outputs for alarm, brake and motion and four general-purpose outputs.

An isolated 24V DC user power supply and a 24V DC keep-alive input are also included.

Interconnection is made easy with screw terminal connectors for AC power, motor power and RS422/485 with subD connectors for motor feedback and I/O.

The BLu range also includes board level and packaged intelligent servo drives with 24-48V DC power supply options with the same choice of integrated controls from simple +/-10V or pulse and direction operation through to sophisticated graphical point-and-click motion programming.

Mclennan stock and supplies a wide range of servomotors to complement the BLu and other servo drive ranges.