Drive Offers Flexibility and Functionality

Siemens' latest high-performance drives have a modular design and plenty of smarts

Joseph Ogando, Senior Editor -- Design News, September 24, 2007

Flexibility and functionality. That's what design engineers increasingly demand from drives. And SINAMICS S120 drives from Siemens Energy & Automation shine on both scores.

In terms of flexibility, S120 single- and multi-axis drives offer users a choice between high-performance servo or vector modes. Switching modes requires little more than “simply flicking a software switch,” says John Krasn-okutsky, Siemens' motion control marketing manger.

The drive also features a modular concept that separates the drive's power unit and controller, allowing users to select combinations best suited to a given application. And with a flexible backplane providing a link between the S120's components, the system can handle centralized or decentralized control of stand-alone or common-bus drives.

According to Krasnokutsky, the modular nature of the drive offers some added advantages on the shop floor. For example, the separation of power unit and controller has potential safety benefits — by giving users the ability to restrict access to the high-power parts of the system while making the control unit accessible. The system's modularity and flexible backplane also enable easy controller upgrades, while leaving the power units intact. Users can also add or remove axes more easily, often without interrupting production.

As for functionality, the S120 has plenty of smarts. Its Easy Positioning feature provides built-in control for point-to-point motion. The drive also has integrated safety functionality — including safe stop, safe torque, safe braking and limited speed. And the S120 drives now have a “Drive Control Chart” that adds PLC-like logic capabilities. In simpler or stand-alone applications, all this built-in intelligence may eliminate the need to buy a separate controller, Krasnokutsky says.

SINAMICS S120 ac drives are available in single-phase 230V for the 0.25 to 1 hp range. The come in three-phase 460V for the 0.5 to 400 hp range. Power modules are available in compact block construction for systems up to 125 hp or as chassis units for systems from 150 to 400 hp.

related stories
resource center
by this author

View more articles by Joseph Ogando

Technology Marketplace

Article tools sponsored by

Talkback

We would love your feedback!

» View All Talkback Threads

» Submit talk back

DN's Resource Center Get Free Information, Made Easy

Understanding a Modular Instrumentation System for Automated Test
National Instruments | White Paper
Request Item
Advanced Features of High Speed Digital I/O devices : White Paper Series
National Instruments | White Paper
Request Item

View all DN resources >>

Design News Partner Zones

CAD/CAE Model Clean-Up: Reduce Iterative Cycles
This webinar featured research and survey results related to problems associated with preparing CAD geometry for CAE applications. We discussed how Recipe-Based Automation can help create "just-in-time" CAE-ready geometry each time a cad model is updated. Watch the Presentation

Light Matters: Systems Level Approach to HBLED illumination applications
Its good practice to apply a systems-level approach to high-brightness LED (HBLED) illumination applications. Minimally, the system includes the optical, thermal and electrical characteristics of the of the HBLED, the lens (if any) which is built-in to its package, secondary optics such as external plastic lenses/reflectors to direct the light as your application requires and power driver electronics. Read More

Design Engineers' Portal for Sensing and Machine Safety
Whatever industry you're in, or whatever product you manufacture, the right sensors to automate your plant, and to improve your overall efficiency, quality and safety are a must. You'll find Banner Engineering to be an amazing resource of products, training and people with expertise.