Within Festo's modular drive system, pneumatic, servo-pneumatic and electrical options can all be combined, demonstrating total compatibility between all components and technologies. Particularly in the case of the electrical drives, a number of new features have been inspired by the company's 'plug and work' philosophy, with the result being an open-ended choice of variants with no limits.
A modular system is only as good as the number of variants and possible combinations that it offers. Festo offers suitable components that are matched to one another, from a single source. The strength of the plug and work concept is shown particularly clearly by the way in which electrical drive components can be combined, even leaving the user a choice of toothed-belt or spindle axes.
There are many new additions to Festo electrical drive technology. Transmission rates of up to 12 MBaud are now possible with the SEC-AC servomotor controller, which is available as a Profibus DP slave. This is a significant enhancement to the previous multipin variant. The new servomotor also comes with an electrically isolated interface, diagnostic output that can be evaluated by a PLC and an integrated bus terminator resistor. A cost-effective solution is available in the form of the SEC-ST controller combined with 2-phase stepper motors, as well as being compatible with the 24 V power supply available in control cabinets. All that is required to commission the SEC-ST controller is a master with a pulse and direction output (5 V), such as is supplied by an SPC-200 controller equipped with a stepped motor card.
Distributed intelligence is provided by a 2-phase stepper motor (MTRE-ST-42) with integrated power electronics. To save space, the controller is integrated into the motor. DIP-switches can be used to define step resolutions (down to 1/10 steps) and phase currents of 0,3 to 1,2 A with power supplies of 24 to 48 V. The cost savings are said to be in the order of 30% - when compared with the usual motor and external power electronics.
The company's MTR-AC servomotor is suitable for the high quality positioning systems and is designed for operation with the electrical boom arm axis DGEA, all DGE electrical drives, as well as with the SEC controller. If high speeds or working strokes over 5 m are required, the DGE-RF electrical toothed belt axis with internal roller guides is a solution that offers both quiet running and high resistance to external environmental influences.
The picture shows the dynamic and easily compatible DGE-RF electrical drive with internal roller guide which offers quiet running as well as high resistance to external influences.
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