Drives and Controls Magazine
Home
Menu
SPS IPC Drives 2014 exclusive show report
Published:  03 January, 2015

system (below) is aimed at installations where motors run without controls or where the controls are on the motor. It provides a simple star wiring system for up to four 400V AC motors drawing up to 10A per phase. It uses S-coded M12 sockets and doesn’t need fuses.

Another innovation from Weidmüller is a system for making power, data and signal connections to switchgear and control cabinets, which is said to occupy half the space of existing systems. The modular IP65-protected FrontCom Vario system integrates multiple functions in a single space-saving frame.

The German electrical specialist Wöhner was showing several new arrivals, including a modular busbar system based on 185mm spacings which allows components to be mounted quickly without drilling or special tools. The 185Power system Power is fed via modules with terminals, inline fuse-switch disconnectors (using a new ventilation and insulation concept), or adapters and MCCBs (up to 1.6kA).

Wöhner was also demonstrating a busbar adapter for Siemens’ 3VA circuit-breakers up to 160A for its 30Compact range, as well as adapters for 18mm-wide devices, such as MCBs, for its 60mm system.

MECHANICAL AND LINEAR

The US electric linear actuator specialist Exlar launched a new model in its FT series of rod-style, rollerscrew-driven actuators which offer high thrusts and speeds and a compact size, making them a rival to hydraulic cylinders. The new FT45 model has a continuous force rating of 44.5kN and offers several enhancements including IP65 protection.

Kollmorgen launched a range of hygienic IP69K linear actuators designed to offer an alternative to pneumatics in food, pharmaceutical and packaging applications. The actuators (below) combine Kollmorgen’s AKMH stainless-steel servomotors with stainless-steel actuators and cover a thrust range from 0.89–20kN in four sizes, with feed rates of 1m/s. They use single-cable connections to servo controls.

Kollmorgen has also extended its direct-drive range with a series of maintenance-free, iron-core linear motors offering high power densities. The ICXH motors can deliver continuous feed forces from 175–5,341N  (with a peak of more than 12kN) at speeds from less than 1µm/s to more than 5m/s. Acceleration is 3–10G. Cogging is said to be minimised.

New from Kübler is a special stainless-steel bellows coupling for its Sendix SIL shaft encoders, designed to ensure safe and reliable connections between motors and encoders. Described as a world first, the coupling incorporates a pair of internal clamps that grip the encoder shaft if the spring element is damaged or becomes loose. 

Linak has developed an integrated electronics system for its linear actuators that offers various feedback and adjustment options, protects the actuator and application, monitors temperatures, and controls the actuator’s power output. The iFlex system comes in four versions: basic, with preconfigured parameters; advanced, which allows users to configure variables such as speed, stroke and current limits; parallel, which allows up to seven slave actuators to be controlled by a master actuator; and bus communication, which supports Modbus RTU, RS-485 or Linak’s own LINbus.

Linak was demonstrating a compact actuator incorporating iFlex. The 55.3mm-wide LA25 can deliver forces of up to 2.5kN and stroke lengths from 20–300mm. The robust actuator is protected to IP69K.

Wittenstein was previewing a new generation of servo actuators ahead of their launch in 2015. They are a similar size to its previous devices but deliver up to twice as much power and up to 80% more torque, with almost no increase in the current drawn. The actuators (below) will be available in several sizes for torque levels from 60–2,000Nm, and preferred ratios from 1=10 to 1=100.

Wittenstein has also