AMP (Applied Motion Products Inc.) has launched EtherCAT® communications versions of its innovative StepSERVO™ closed loop stepper technology products. Available with full support from Mclennan, AMP’s
European distribution partner, the range covers three EtherCAT network intelligent drives with continuous output current of 3, 5 and 10 Amps together with 14 matched StepSERVO stepper motors from NEMA size 11 to 34. This combination offers automation systems and machine builders an unprecedented range of high performance intelligent drives with greater torque, acceleration, and throughput than traditional step motor systems and also enables highly precise axis synchronisation through EtherCAT – the leading real-time communications network for industrial Ethernet.
AMP’s new SS-EC series drives support CANopen over EtherCAT (CoE) with CiA operating modes that include profile velocity, torque and position as well as profile cyclic synchronous position, and cyclic synchronous velocity. The drives also include AMP’s Q-programming for stored program execution which may be managed over EtherCAT. A complement of digital and analogue IO as well as dual-port Ethernet allows flexible machine control interaction whilst a mini USB port is available for software configuration. The EtherCAT+StepSERVO drives run from 24 to 70 VDC and a full complement of optional interfacing cables and connectors form part of the range.
AMP’s stepSERVO™ technology brings closed-loop servo control to compatible stepper motors. Typical peak-torque performance for the 34 frame version is over 8 Nm – up to 50% more than the equivalent sized motor operating open loop. As well as being quieter and more efficient than open loop steppers, further benefits are stall-free performance and zero lost motion through missed steps. At the other end of the range the diminutive size 11 StepSERVO offers an extremely compact footprint for small machine applications with much enhanced dynamic performance (almost 90 mNm peak torque for the smallest model). Precise positioning is made possible with the larger motors’ encoder resolution of 5,000 counts/rev and 20,000 steps/rev quadrature, whilst the smaller motors offer 1,024 lines and 4,096 counts.
Comprehensive details of AMP’s stepSERVO technology is included in a white paper , available for download from Mclennan’s website which also covers information on the new EtherCAT network drives.
