Motion Control & Drives


Rockwell Automation drives efficiency

July 2012 Motion Control & Drives

Rockwell Automation’s latest AC variable speed drive product offering, the Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 750-series, offers more selection options for control, communications, safety and supporting hardware than has been offered before. These highly efficient, easy to use flexible drives maximise investment, improve productivity and are suited for a variety of industrial applications.

“These drives are also available to order as part of a pre-engineered solution, enabing tight integration into most control platforms while meeting all safety requirements,” says Adrian van Wyk, Rockwell Automation’s business manager components, standard drives and industrial condition monitoring.

The PowerFlex 750-series offers:

* Seamless integration into the Logix Controller environment for simplified and enhanced configuration, programming, diagnostics and maintenance, reducing engineering time and related costs.

* A slot-based mechanical architecture to support additional options for I/O, feedback, safety, communications and auxiliary power supply.

* Predictive diagnostics and built-in safety features to help protect a customer’s investment and reduce unplanned downtime.

* Additional flexibility with packaging options to meet environmental protection requirements, high power cabinet and commonly-used power options required for high power applications.

* Increased safety performance levels with the Safe Speed Monitor option card, which includes an embedded safety relay rated to meet PLe/SIL CL3, Cat 3 and Cat 4.

* High-definition LCD display with six lines of text for more meaningful explanations of parameters and events.

* Real-time clock provides time-stamped events versus run-time data.

* Additional DPI communications capability, for expanded programming and connectivity capability.

* Easily assessable modular control and power components, heatsink and internal fans.

Class-leading control and communication

DeviceLogix control I/O manages control and status information locally within the drive, which allows independent or complementary operation to supervisory control and helps improve system performance and productivity. DeviceLogix is easily programmed with RSLogix 5000, DriveExplorer v 6.01, and DriveTools SP v 5.01 programming software.

“Owing to the PowerFlex 750s easy integration into the Logix environment, development time and related costs are reduced, while flexibility to customise a drive to more closely match application needs is provided,” explains Van Wyk.

The PowerFlex 750-Series DeviceLogix can be used to:

* Speed up reaction time by processing in the drive, reducing dependency on network throughput.

* Provide scaling, selector switches, or other data manipulations not already built into the drive.

* Read/write inputs and outputs and exclusively control the drive.

* Provide an option for decision-making if communication is lost with main controller.

* Control other PowerFlex drives via a peer-to-peer Ethernet/IP network.

Superior safety support

Safety is a key feature of the PowerFlex 750-series. “Besides protecting staff and equipment, these safety options can help provide reduced downtime, combined with an increase in productivity,” says Van Wyk.

There are two safety options in the range:

* Safe Torque Off: ideal for safety-related applications requiring rotational power to the motor to be removed without removing power from the drive, it allows for quick start-up after a demand on the safety system. This helps reduce wear from repetitive start-up, and provides safety ratings up to and including SIL CL3, PLe, and CAT 3.

* Safe Speed Monitor: this function provides a solution for applications that can benefit from access to a safety zone while there is limited motion. Featuring an integrated monitoring relay, it carries a safety rating up to and including SIL CL3, PLe, and Cat 4. With this option, the speed of the application can be safely monitored and controlled, allowing operators to perform process or maintenance work without stopping the machine.

The series consists of the PowerFlex 753, ideal for general purpose high performance applications, currently ranging up to 250 kW; and PowerFlex 755 for high performance and high power capabilities, currently ranging up to 1000 kW. Exclusive to the PowerFlex 755 AC drive, is connectivity of an entire enterprise through embedded Ethernet/IP to provide complete machine control, and simplified and enhanced machine design.

For more information contact Adrian van Wyk, Rockwell Automation, +27 (0)11 654 9700, [email protected], www.rockwellautomation.co.za



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