Posted to News on 5th Feb 2009, 09:27
Elmo Duo controller integrates twin Whistle servo drives
Inmoco is introducing the new Duo controller from Elmo Motion Control. This unit provides an integrated device for servo control, integrating two Elmo Whistle miniature servo drives into a single package. This integration enables the Duo to provide high dynamics and increased precision for dual-axis automated applications such as robots, feeders and production lines.
A flexible controller, the Duo operates in current, velocity, position and advanced position modes with permanent-magnet synchronous brushless motors, DC brush motors, linear motors or voice coils. As an added operational benefit, the controller can also commutate using vector control.
The two Whistle miniature servo drives integrated into the Duo combine Elmo's proprietary FASST (Fast And Soft Switching Technology) power management technology with excellent thermal management, allowing for high levels of power density: 35W/cm3; a figure claimed to be over five times greater than that of competitive units.
Also key to the operation of the high-performing Duo is SimplIQ. This Elmo-developed technology provides on-the-fly gain scheduling for current and velocity, with PIP controllers for velocity and position. It also features advanced positioning motion control modes, with PTP, PT, PVT, ECAM/follower and dual-loop configurations available, and supports the widest range of feedback options including digital Halls, incremental, encoder, incremental encoder and Halls, resolver, interpolated analogue encoder, analogue Halls, tachometer and position potentiometer. In addition, in common with all Elmo's SimplIQ-based products, the Duo has programmable opto-isolated digital I/O and built-in protection features.
Third-generation programming structure
With motion commands, event-triggered programming, event-capturing interrupts and memory for storing user programs, the Duo offers OEMs the benefits of a third-generation programming structure. Using the Composer programming software, drive setup, configuration, tuning and analysis are all performed quickly and easily to aid integration into machines.
Operating using a single DC power supply, the Duo comes in two different models, supporting either 60V DC or 100V DC, with a continuous current of up to 15A. Both of these models provide high levels of operating efficiency. At an input voltage of 85V DC (for the 100V DC unit) and output current of 15A, the dissipated power is less than 16W (typically it is less than 10W) with an output power of 1470W. This equates to an operating efficiency of 99 per cent.
