BMG, which celebrates 50 years of business this year, has recently released the new Danfoss iC2-Micro Drive into the African market. This advanced system has been designed with new features for easy replacement of the VLT Micro Drive FC 51. “The new versatile iC2-Micro Drive delivers superior motor control and mechanical brake performance, is more intelligent and powerful than its predecessor, and is easier to use, install and commission,” explains business unit manager, David Dyce. “The advanced iC2-Micro Drive, with reduced complexity and greater functionality, offers improved performance and energy efficiency over the VLT Micro Drive FC 51, ensuring a seamless retrofit for existing applications and for complex tasks.”
This compact unit, with a small footprint and side-by-side mounting, can be installed in tight spaces, and is able to withstand a wider operating temperature range for safe use in harsh environments. In fact, these drives can operate reliably at full load for ambient temperatures up to 50°C. They are available in a power range for one-phase of 200–240 V AC: 0.37–2.2 kW and for three-phase of 380–480 V AC: 0.37–22 kW. In addition, the drives come standard with coated circuit boards and controlled airflow movement to reduce the possibility of corrosive contaminants coming into contact with the drive’s circuitry. The drive’s fan system has built-in on/off control to reduce noise and save energy. The fan is also removable for simplified drive maintenance.
A key feature of the iC2-Micro is the integrated PID controller that enables users to program closed loop functions directly into the drive, improving its speed and process control capability. Advanced control algorithms and digital signal processing ensure more precise control over motor speed and torque, resulting in improved efficiency of the system and reduced energy consumption.
“We highly recommend iC2-Micro Drives to our customers needing to upgrade existing drives, or who are in the process of selecting drives for a new project,” says Dyce.
Other new features include torque open loop control, locked motor detection, and permanent magnet motor control. This system, with PM motor compatibility, provides efficient permanent magnet motor control in open loop under VVC+ throughout the power range, and is available in two versions, with or without the RFI filter.
Integrated energy efficiency features, including an automatic energy optimiser and sleep mode, can reduce energy consumption by up to 30%. In addition, the iC2-Micro Drive has new safety features, including enhanced overcurrent protection and short circuit detection, which protect the motor and drive from damage in the event of a fault.
The iC2-Micro Drive comes standard with an intuitive, user-friendly interface with display and keypad. The local control panel also has a standard potentiometer for local speed adjustment. This drive is incorporated with spring type I/O terminals for simple external control wiring. The VSD can be quickly and easily installed and configured, saving users time, and reducing the risk of errors.
An optional remote control panel provides extra functionalities, including a monochrome display, multi-language support, a parameter copy and download, easy connection with RJ45 port, and a remote mounting kit. The drive can also be programmed with the Danfoss MyDrive Insight commissioning and monitoring tool. This software enables users to perform offsite commissioning and backing up of the drives program. It also allows hot commissioning while monitoring live scope readings. The software includes valuable predictive maintenance features such as motor winding and load envelope monitoring.
BMG’s range of Danfoss drives has been designed to save energy, optimise process control, and improve productivity in many sectors, including processing, mining and minerals, industrial HVAC, marine and water, and also chemical, oil and gas industries.
Innovative five-axis laser precession scanner
Motion Control & Drives
Motion control specialist, Aerotech has launched the AGV5D, an innovative five-axis laser precession scanner specially developed for laser micromachining. This makes it possible to create high-precision bores, contoured slots and other complex geometries with dimensional tolerances in the sub-micrometre range.
Read more...World’s first miniaturised, robot-assisted surgical device DNH Tradeserve t/a DNH Technologies
Motion Control & Drives
Swiss drive specialist, maxon, together with Virtual Incision, have developed the MIRA Surgical System. This is the world’s first miniaturised and robot-assisted surgical device. It works with the sterilisable maxon ECX Speed 6 and 8 mm drives.
Read more...Modular hydraulic control blocks for brake actuation
Motion Control & Drives
Electrohydraulic brake release valves are exposed to extreme loads, and can become uncontrollable in the event of a power failure. The experts at WEBER-HYDRAULIK GMBH have developed a practical, modular solution that ensures the safety of construction machinery, and is also suitable for a wide range of other vehicles with hydrostatic drive systems.
Read more...CIV ratings for electric motors need closer monitoring
Motion Control & Drives
As most technical industries increasingly rely on advanced motor control technologies, understanding and selecting motors with appropriate Corona Inception Voltage (CIV) ratings is vital to prevent costly failures and downtime over time.
Read more...WearCheck team celebrates diagnostic milestone Wearcheck
Motion Control & Drives
Condition monitoring specialist company, WearCheck celebrated a noteworthy milestone recently when diagnostic manager, John Evans diagnosed his three millionth used oil sample at the company’s Durban laboratory.
Read more...Variable speed drive for water challenges and green agriculture Schneider Electric South Africa
Motion Control & Drives
Schneider Electric South Africa has launched its Altivar Solar ATV320 variable speed drive, a solar-powered drive solution that is compatible with a wide range of water pumps, catering for water challenges and decarbonisation of irrigation pumping and agriprocessing machinery.
Read more...Advanced solutions for valves Bearing Man Group t/a BMG
Valves, Actuators & Pump Control
BMG delivers state-of-the-art valve solutions to diverse industries across Africa, in collaboration with InterApp, a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-quality valves.