Low-end inverters and servos make their debuts

Published: 08 May, 2007

Rockwell has introduced the smallest and "most cost-effective" member of its PowerFlex family of AC drives. The DIN-rail-mounting 4M model is aimed at applications such as machine-level speed control and covers ratings from 0.2–11kW in three frame sizes, the smallest of which measures 174 x 72 x 136mm.

According to Felix End, Rockwell’s European product manager, the new drives (shown below) will give "powerful volts-per-Hertz motor control in a space-saving package designed for ease of use". All frame sizes can be mounted side-by-side, saving panel space.

Rockwell Powerflex 4m

Time can be saved using feed-through wiring which also makes it simple to retrofit the drives. Built-in RS-485 ports allow the drives to be used in multidrop networks.

At last month’s Hannover Fair, Rockwell was also showing a new low-power range of servo drives with power ratings from 0.3–3kW. The modular Allen-Bradley Kinetix 2000 drives (below) use a simple power rail that serves as a mounting and connection system, speeding design and installation, and minimising wiring and maintenance costs.

Rockwell Kinetix 2000

The servo drives, which have a built-in Sercos fibre optic link, are designed to integrate with Rockwell’s Logix controllers as well as its servo motors and actuators.