blueServo drives cost 25% less despite strong specification

Frank Essmann of Metronix says: "Downwards price pressure is here to stay, and with this brand new drive family we began the design project with a goal of reducing hardware costs by approximately 25 per cent compared with current European drive ranges. We looked at the problem from all angles, and as a result the new drives have some interesting features that help lower costs. Metronix is also known for its customisation and private label capability, and this too was part of the specification - allowing us to offer exciting possibilities to OEMs with this technology."

blueServo single-phase and three-phase drives

Metronix is launching the new blueServo range with an initial choice of six packaged, panel-mounting single-phase and three-phase drives offering continuous output power ratings from 0.5 to 6kVA. The hardware feature set chosen for the new drives is a combination of the most commonly required features by Metronix's broad customer base, along with some new capability.

The use of real-time Ethernet communications protocols is a major trend in the industry, and to meet this demand the blueServo drives feature embedded universal Ethernet capability. This enables the drives to be used in automation systems employing EtherCAT, Profinet, Sercos III or Ethernet/IP protocols, for example, in addition to the commonly used CANopen network interface.

Servo drive encoder interfaces

A broad encoder interfacing capability is another major element of the blueServo drive family. Metronix blueServo drives can be connected to resolvers, analogue/digital incremental encoders, and single/multiturn absolute encoders such as those using HIPERFACE or EnDat protocols. The drives also support the digital HIPERFACE DSL interface - which allows automation engineers to cut system building costs substantially by using only a single cable connection between the drive and motor.

Integrated functional safety

Enhanced machine safety is another important trend, and Metronix has included support for Safe Torque Off (STO) functional safety in the new drives. This is designed to meet Category 4/PLe according to EN 13849-1, which is the maximum rating achievable for single-axis safety in this category. Further features include an integral line filter and brake resistors - a typical characteristic of Metronix drives - allowing blueServo drives to offer a standalone and ready-to-use option for many common automation applications. A Windows-based software tool for parameterising and analysing the new drives is additionally available.

Partitioned design results in lower cost

A key element of the new drive design is its low cost, which has been achieved by several factors. These include a carefully selected feature set that satisfies a large proportion of applications, and the implementation of these features directly in the embedded system rather than by means of more versatile, but more expensive techniques such as expansion slots - as used on some of Metronix's existing drive families. Metronix also increased the flexibility of the drive - without increasing costs - by partitioning the electronics design across two boards to reduce printed circuit layers and allow single-sided component mounting, and assembly/manufacture using simple processes. The two-board design serves to support Metronix's large custom drive business. One common request for example is to integrate an OEM's application-specific drive control electronics with Metronix's power stage; this is easily accommodated with the carefully partitioned blueServo design.

Frank Essmann adds: "With blueServo we have created a drive that is designed and built to the most demanding professional standards, yet is also extremely price competitive. We believe that machine and automation builders can rely on it to help make their future generations of equipment as price-competitive as equipment sourced from any world region - including low-wage-cost economies."

Metronix will deliver engineering development samples of blueServo in Q1, 2014, and plans to start volume production of the new range towards the end of Q2, 2014. For further information go to www.metronix.de.