Rockwell Automation Bolsters Mid-Range Machine-Builders Control Platform

The Allen-Bradley Kinetix 6000M integrated drive-motor, which combines the Allen-Bradley food-grade servo motor and Kinetix 6000 multi-axis servo drive into one on-machine package. The integration of these elements helps machine builders in a number of ways, allowing them to reduce the time it takes to wire a system, as well as simplify cabling, according to the company.

Allen-Bradley's CompactLogix 5370 programmable automation controller, which provides a integrated motion control system by using Rockwell's common design and networking environment.

The Kinetix 5500 servo drive and VP low-inertia servo motor, an integrated, compact EtherNet/IP solution that helps to simplify system wiring. The product is targeted toward packaging, material handling, or converting systems with more than six axes, and does not require separate power rails or other accessories, allowing for machine scalability, according to Rockwell. The drive and motor combo also uses half the energy of similar solutions and can lower the cost of cables because it provides transmission and feedback over a single cable, the company said.

The Allen-Bradley Stratix 5700 layer 2 managed Ethernet switch, which is based on Cisco technology and allows machine and equipment builders to manage data from the IT and controls environment.

The component-class programmable logic controllers to simplify selection, installation, and commissioning of machines and equipment.

The Connected Components Workbench, a freely downloadable software package to program the Micro800 family of controllers and configure other system devices.

The Virtual Support Engineer, a virtual monitoring solution that provides secure, remote access to customer locations. The solution allows for, among other things, event and alarm notifications to operators via SMS, as well as other forms of communication.