Baldor Servo Drives Now Compatible with Multiple Ethernet Standards

Baldor Electric Company (NYSE: BEZ) is announcing even greater flexibility for one of the most versatile servomotor drive ranges in the world. The e100 drive family has been re-engineered to become compatible with no less than three industrial Ethernet standards - EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP and Powerlink - as well as standard TCP/IP networks and Baldor's own highly popular Mint system building environment. The drives offer system builders a choice of servomotor, closed-loop vector or V/Hz motor control modes, combined with an array of features and configuration options that provide exceptional versatility of use.

The new drives are versions of Baldor's e100 single- and three-phase drives. Up to now, these drives have been compatible with the real-time Powerlink Ethernet standard, TCP/IP and Baldor's Mint system building environment. With this release, Baldor upgrades the capability of the drives to additionally be configured for EtherNet/IP or Modbus TCP networks. These two communications protocols greatly extend the applications potential of the drives in PLC-controlled applications.

Baldor's MicroFlex e100 and MotiFlex drives have earned a reputation for being extremely easy to configure and use - through features such as wizard application software which removes the traditional complexity of drive set up.

The drives also offer many novel hardware capabilities that PLC users can benefit from. The three-phase drives are energy efficient, offering a DC bus system that can share regenerated power with other axes. As well as their own local I/O and CANopen expansion, many drives also have option card slots, providing a high degree of configurability for specific applications including almost all fieldbuses. Other features include universal encoder feedback input, and programmable notch filters to eliminate mechanical resonance effects, as well as the ability to be used with servomotors, closed loop vector motors or in V/Hz motor speed control modes.

"Our new drives support multiple standards - out-of-the-box - at no extra cost and without any need for plug-in cards," says Baldor's product manager David Greensmith. "They provide system builders with a universal drive platform that can be used in many different ways to suit different customers and applications - from standalone motion control systems to networked systems hosted by PLCs or other devices."

In addition to the new drive functionality, Baldor now supports all of the Ethernet networks on its NextMove e100 motion system and machine controller. This combines network control capability with control facilities for up to seven analog or stepper drives, and may be used standalone or in conjunction with PLC or PC hosts.

Baldor Technical Datasheets

Baldor Mint Lite Programmable Motion Drives

Mint Lite offers all the multitasking language power of Baldor's Mint motion controllers in single axis form and is now offered as standard on all e100 drives, free of charge or license fees.

Mint Lite transforms the Ethernet ready MicroFlex and MotiFlex e100 drives, into powerful intelligent drive systems assuming complete control of the drive on-board I/O, communications, and Ethernet networking features, offering the potential for significant cost savings in indexing drive applications or advanced distributed intelligence in real-time Ethernet solutions.

Features:

• Mint Lite is completely free, including Mint Workbench, Mint ActiveX components
• No runtime license fees
• Motion features including homing, incremental and absolute moves and target position change on the fly for product, label or print registration
• High-level BASIC programming language
• Multi-tasking allows for a more deterministic, responsive operation and structured programming
• EVENTs provide programmable response to critical functions such as input state changes, communications, position registration and error handling
• User defined Subroutines, Functions and variable names
• Ethernet connectivity for a networked solution
• Low cost distributed I/O expansion via CANopen
• 2 high speed latch inputs capable of capturing position in 1μs
• Choice of 105-230Vac and 180-528Vac units with common software and configuration
• Simplified commissioning and serial manufacture through the use of digital drives and single point of access via Ethernet
• Compact solution, requiring less panel space and wiring
• CANopen manager for system expansion
• Non-volatile RAM for user data storage and Flash program storage
• Compact solution, requiring less panel space and wiring
• Elimination of external controller or PLC saving cost and reducing complexity
• Real-time Ethernet technology
• CAN interface be used to provide peer-to-peer communications with other Mint based controllers

Baldor Mint Lite Programmable Motion Drives

Baldor Technical Datasheets

Baldor Digital Servomotors and Drives in Plasma Cutter Application

Baldor high performance digital servomotors and drives used on all four axes

Fort Smith, AR, January 11, 2010 - Techserv Cutting Systems Ltd, the specialist manufacturer of CNC profile cutting systems, has delivered four HS 4000 hi-definition precision plasma cutters to the UK's Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA). Each cutter employs an advanced fully-synchronized four axis motion control system - based entirely on Baldor Electric Company digital servomotors and drives - to provide the precision of movement needed for tight tolerance, large-scale profile cutting. The plasma cutters are being used to help fabricate the steel plate bow sections of two new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, the first of which is due to enter service with the Royal Navy by 2016, with the second to follow by 2018.

The plasma cutters are installed at the Appledore (Devon) shipyard of Babcock Marine Division, one of the principal members of the ACA. The Appledore shipyard is involved in building the steel bow sections of the warships, which are then transferred to Babcock's Rosyth (Fife) shipyard for integration and final ship assembly. The first of some 20 consignments from Appledore, comprising 11 fabricated units weighting between 20 and 36 tonnes each, were shipped by barge to Rosyth in August.

Techserv's HS 4000 plasma cutters are very high performance machines, capable of producing high quality cut parts from steel plate sheets up to 5 metres wide and up to 35mm thick. They employ precision extruded aluminium for the chassis and main beam to ensure rigidity and low mass, and use a machined track - with racks to both rails - which can be mounted on mid-level pedestals or on a customer-supplied beam. Depending on the thickness of steel plate being processed and the type of plasma unit that is fitted, HS 4000 machines offer cutting speeds of 50 to 16,000 mm per minute.

HS 4000 plasma cutters are four axis systems, with rack and pinion drives to both the transverse axes and the synchronized longitudinal axis. The fourth axis controls the height of the cutting torch above the steel plate. Each of the four axes is powered by a Baldor BSM series AC brushless servomotor, driven by a Baldor MicroFlex 500 watt digital servo drive. The servo drives are controlled by a 4-axis version of Baldor's NextMove ESB-2 machine controller. According to Techserv's Technical Director, Mike Cowley, "We elected to use exclusively Baldor motion control products for the HS 4000 primarily because the combination works so well at providing the extremely high level of positioning accuracy that we require. In this particular case, the servomotors are fitted with BiSS encoders, which provide completely unambiguous absolute position data whenever they are polled by the controller".

Mike Cowley also points out that Baldor's multitasking Mint programming language is very easy to use, "This helped speed the development of our motion control programs, and the fact that the language uses the same API (Application Programming Interface) naming conventions as ActiveX commands further simplified integration with the front-end control PC. We found the HTA (hold to analogue) command to be especially useful, because it allows us to handle the plasma height sense function entirely within the NextMove controller, in real-time."

Overall control of each plasma cutter is handled by an on-board industrial-grade PC. Designed specifically for shape-cutting machines, this PC features a 15-inch touch-sensitive full color HMI, and employs graphical shape representation to ensure ease of use. The software runs under Windows XP and provides real-time control of all the cutting machine's advanced motion functions, including contouring, as well as its Kaliburn Proline 2200 plasma unit. The software also controls the torch height system on the HS 4000, monitoring the arc voltage and automatically adjusting the torch-to-work distance to provide optimum cutting performance and to ensure machine safety.

Baldor Technical Datasheets

Baldor TCP/IP-Compatible Drives Simplify Development of Advanced Crane Simulator

PC-controlled 3-axis motion platform adds further realism to training experience

Fort Smith, AR, February 1, 2010 - A three-axis motion platform based on Baldor Electric Company's Ethernet-compatible drives is helping to further increase the realism of crane training experience by physically moving a simulator system's replica operator cabin in synchronism with computer-generated images. The specialist machine manufacturer Electropneumatics & Hydraulics developed the motion platform for the leading training solutions and services supplier Applied Research International (ARI).

Based in New Delhi, India, ARI produces a comprehensive range of simulators for marine and allied applications. Its products include a wide variety of offshore, quay-side and gantry crane simulators to provide safe, cost-effective operational training for container movement and bulk handling operations. ARI's simulators emulate the visual, behavioral and operational characteristics of their real-world counterparts to create a fully immersive environment in which the trainee can gain true hands-on experience. A typical crane simulator comprises a modular PC-based control system, a replica operator cabin and seat, a high fidelity audio-visual system, and an instructor station equipped with CCTV for monitoring the actions of the trainee.

When ARI decided to add an optional motion platform to its line of crane simulators, it approached Electropneumatics & Hydraulics for assistance. This company - whose headquarters and manufacturing facility at Chakan, near Pune - was founded in 1972, and has acquired an enviable reputation for its electromechanical machine design and manufacturing capabilities. Electropneumatics & Hydraulics specializes in the production of metalforming equipment, such as hydraulic presses and tube bending machines, and also designs and builds special-purpose machinery including different levels of automation with total indigenous content and capability.

Electropneumatics & Hydraulics chose to base the motion platform for the crane simulator on Baldor's Powerlink- and Ethernet-compatible drives and servomotors. According to the company's Technical Director, Ashley Rasquinha, "Baldor's MicroFlex e100 AC servo drives are very cost-effective for this type of application, because they can be controlled via TCP/IP direct from the simulator's host PC, without the need for additional hardware."

The three-axis motion platform provides X, Y and Z movement of the replica operator cabin, synchronized to the computer-generated images being presented to the trainee. Since it is designed to emulate the movement of a real-life gantry crane very accurately, the platform's drive axes are only required to handle relatively simple motion control tasks such as point-to-point moves and homing sequences, and do not require interpolation. As a consequence, the MicroFlex e100 servo drives can be used in their basic Ethernet mode, without any additional complexity of real-time control.

Each axis is driven by a Baldor BSM 3-phase servomotor equipped with an incremental encoder for position and velocity feedback, controlled by a dedicated MicroFlex e100 servo drive. All three drives are housed in a separate floor-standing control cabinet, and are connected via a D-Link 10/100 Mbps Ethernet switch to the simulator's host PC.

Baldor Technical Datasheets

New Literature Available from Baldor

Due to our newly formed partnership with Baldor, we are offering the following brochures to get you better acquainted with Baldor's wide range of motion control products:

AC Drives Solutions

Baldor V*S range of industrial AC drives defines quality, reliability and performance. Utilizing easy-to-use interfaces and intuitive programming, V*S High Performance Drives, Pump and Fan Drives and Microdrives have the capability to meet any application need.

AC Servo Drives

Baldor offers a wide choice of cost effective and easy to use servo drives. Whether your needs call for control of speed or torque, preset point-to-point moves, or a fully programmable single axis positioned/drive, then Baldor has the answer.

AC Servo Motors and Servo Rated Gearheads

Ever since the beginning in 1983, Baldor has been supplying reliable servo motor solutions to worldwide applications. Baldor goes beyond the industry standard with innovations such as extra high insulated stator design for protection, superior bearings to provide four times greater life, and premium high temperature moisture resistance and multi-coated copper wire to cope with large current spikes.

DC Servo Motors and Drives

Baldor’s DC high performance servo motors were designed rugged to meet demanding requirements of industrial motion control. They can be supplied with many electrical and mechanical options so the design fits your application.

Honeycomb Dual Axis Linear Motors

Baldor has engineered a new, unique, lower cost, Dual Axis linear base with stepper motor to provide exceptional durability and reliability for hundreds of millions of cycles. Direct coupling to the load greatly improves a machine’s accuracy. Dual Axis linear stepper motors provide up to 134N (30 lbs.) of static force. Additionally, the design incorporates a high attractive force up to 1780N (400 lbs.) to allow face up or inverted mounting.

Linear Motors and Stages

Baldor provides the widest range of industrial linear motors, linear stages and controls. Linear motors provide direct-coupled motion and eliminate mechanical transmission devices. The rugged mechanical design provides accurate motion and precision positioning for hundreds of millions of cycles.

Mint Automation Software and Applications

Mint is Baldor’s high speed compiled BASIC programming language for motion and machine control. Mint provides multitasking capability for motion, I/O, HMI and communication tasks. Including the modern BASIC programming functionality makes it simple to write and develop modular programs that are easily understood by others, easily maintained, and easily re-used across different applications.

Motion Control Solutions

Baldor motion control products are at the heart of automation, bringing reliability and flexibility to today’s machines. Baldor’s comprehensive motion control range includes rotary AC and DC servo motors, linear motors, servo drives, multi-axis motion controllers, and inverter and vector drives.

Motion Product Accessories

Baldor HMI panels, cables, power supplies and filters complete the total solution for your motion control applications. Baldor operator panels are fully programmable, removing the burden from the motion controller. Text panels are available with simple programmable graphic display and keypad for data entry. A range of touch screens from 3.8” to 12.1” are available with full graphics capabilities in color and monochrome.

NextMove Multi-Axis Motion Controllers

With today’s automation applications demanding increasing speed and flexibility to stay ahead, finding a control solution to meet those demands can be difficult. Utilizing a high performance processor core coupled with the power, flexibility and ease of use of its Mint programming language, Baldor’s NextMove range of motion controllers can take on the most demanding of multi-axis applications.

Real Time Ethernet Motion Solutions

Baldor’s e100 control products provide a cutting edge solution to machine control. The e100 family includes compact single phase drives, three phase AC drives with DC bus energy sharing and Baldor’s Mint motion control technology. Combined with real-time Ethernet, they provide a platform for implementing a wide variety of machine control applications.

Servo, Linear & Motion Control Products

Baldor offers one of the broadest selections of motion control products in the industry today. Products include rotary AC and DC servo motors, linear motors, servo drives and multi-axis motion controllers. Baldor motion controllers and intelligent servo drives are programmed in the powerful but easy to use motion language, Mint.

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Baldor Technical Datasheets

Baldor/Reliance Stock Product Catalog

Baldor/Reliance large motors are trusted to get the job done! Designed and built for superior reliability, energy savings and rugged performance, Baldor/Reliance is the preferred choice. With ratings to 1500 Hp delivered from stock and the shortest lead-times available for custom motors to 15,000 Hp, no application is too tough for Baldor/Reliance motors.

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Baldor Technical Datasheets