Third-generation intelligent servo drive

Parker Hannifin's Electromechanical Division has launched a third-generation intelligent servo drive designed specifically for autonomous operation in decentralised control applications.

Parker Hannifin's Electromechanical Division has launched a third-generation intelligent servo drive designed specifically for autonomous operation in decentralised control applications.

Incorporating highly innovative motion control technology, the new all-digital Compax3 brings unprecedented flexibility to machine builders and system integrators, and sets a new performance standard for medium-power servos.

Compax3 combines an exceptionally high performance position controller, motor drive and power supply in a single compact and functionally independent module, which can be installed within the confines of the machine it is controlling.

The servo drive is particularly suitable for multiaxis applications involving dynamically changing move profiles; its advanced Fieldbus communication facilities include a HEDA real-time bus which allows very tight synchronisation of up to eight axes.

Designed for direct-on-line operation from a standard single-phase 230V AC mains supply, the Compax3 is available with a choice of two output current ratings: 2.5A continuous (5A peak), and 6.3A continuous (12.6A peak).

The 2.5A drive measures just 191 x 84mm, with a depth of 172mm, whilst the higher power drive has the same height and depth, but a width of 100mm.

Both versions are housed in robust metal cases and feature standard plug-in connectors - all of which are mounted on the front panel for ease of installation and system commissioning.

An optional IP54-rated enclosure enables the drive to be to be integrated directly into a machine that is exposed to dust or splashing liquids, thereby completely dispensing with the need to house the drives in a separate enclosure.

This design-in flexibility also extends to the physical positioning of the drive; advanced internal filters allow motor cables up to 10 metres in length to be used without taking any special EMC precautions.

In fact, these output filters, in conjunction with an integral class A line filter, enable Compax3 drives to meet the most stringent EMC immunity and emission requirements of the EN61800-3 standard.

Compax3 drives can be used for position/location, speed or torque control, and are suitable for use with any standard three-phase sine-commutated synchronous servo motor fitted with a resolver or high resolution SinCos sensor; the drives accommodate speeds up to 9000rev/min.

Parker carries a comprehensive range of compatible high-performance brushless servo motors and associated mechanical drive components, enabling machine builders to obtain all their motion control technology - and applications support - from a single, highly responsive supplier.

The position controller in Parker's Compax3 servo drive represents a genuine leap forward in motion control technology, using advanced techniques such as feed-forward, observer and oversampling.

It is significantly faster than the company's previous generation Compax product, which itself set a servo performance benchmark.

Compax3 can be controlled directly from a PC, or operate autonomously from internally-stored motion control programs, which are executed in response to external events or signals from a host controller, such as a PLC.

The Compax3 controller's built-in Flash memory can hold up to 255 predefined move profiles, and is fully protected against power failure.

Control programs can either be downloaded from a PC, or entered directly using a plug-in operating module which provides simple menu-driven parameter selection.

The PC software provides a highly intuitive user interface and is supported by wizards and online help; it also features an oscilloscope function to further simplify set-up and performance optimisation.

Powerful built-in profile generation facilities enable users to easily implement complex, event-driven motion control programs for large multi-axis applications.

Comprehensive communications facilities include RS232C/RS485 and HEDA bus interfaces as standard, with Ethernet and various Fieldbus interfaces available as options; the latter include CANopen, DeviceNet and Profibus DP, which supports the Profidrive profile and accommodates data rates as high as 12Mbaud.

The controller also offers industry-standard step-direction and +/-10V analogue control inputs, for users who wish to migrate existing machines to intelligent digital servo technology without changing host controllers.

Compax3 also offers an optional I/O module with eight control inputs and four control outputs: this uses PLC-compatible 24V signal levels for ease of system integration, and is particularly useful for applications where the servo is intended for completely autonomous operation within a machine.

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