Allen-Bradley Drives vs. Mitsubishi: Which Drive System Should Power Your Next Project?

Allen-Bradley Drives Overview

Allen-Bradley drives are available in three categories:

Kinetix Servo Drives

Servo drives are electronic amplifiers designed to provide high-precision control over linear and rotary servo motors’ speed, torque, and position. Allen-BradleyKinetix servo drives are built to simplify machine designs, enhance overall drive system performance, and increase system flexibility. With seamless integration into the Allen-Bradley Logix controller platform, the Kinetix servo drives help extend machine capabilities, simplify and improve control architectures, and reduce development times.

Multi-axis Kinetix Drives

These versatile servo drives deliver optimized operation in a vast array of multi-axis industrial processes requiring high-speed, high-performance, coordinated motion control. They include:

Kinetix 5700 Servo Drives:

High-performanceAllen-Bradley servo drives designed for industrial machines with high-power requirements and large axis counts. They provide a wide power range of 1.6 to 122 kW. They also include dual Ethernet ports that support EtherNet/IP communications with compatible Allen-Bradley Logix controllers. Kinetix 5700 drives support a variety of 200V-class and 400V-class Allen-Bradley servo and induction motors featuring an extensive range of feedback types. The drives also include built-in advanced safety capabilities or hardwired/integrated Safe Torque-Off safety options.

Kinetix 5500 Servo Drives:

They feature an innovative and compact design, providing high performance and increased scalability in a smaller machine footprint and optimized power density. They also support the integrated motion and PLe/SIL 3 certified Safe Torque Off functions over EtherNet/IP. Kinetix 5500 drives can run induction and servo motors in a single-drive platform. They support Allen-Bradley permanent-magnet servo actuators and motors and induction motors featuring open-loop (non-feedback) frequency control. The drives are provided in power ratings of 0.2 to 14.6 kW (continuous output power). They are intended for multi-axis or single-axis applications.

Kinetix 6500 Servo Drives:

Modular, multi-axis safe-speed drives that provide integrated motion capabilities over EtherNet/IP using CIP Sync and CIP Motion technologies from OVDA. They help increase system productivity and improve personnel safety with built-in PL e, Category 4, and SIL CL3 certified Safe Speed Monitoring (SSM) and Safe Torque Off features. Kinetix 6500 has power ratings of 1.8 to 22 kW (continuous output power). It supports Allen-Bradley linear/rotary servo motors and linear servo actuators with single-turn or multi-turn high-resolution encoder feedback or auxiliary feedback.

Single-axis Kinetix Drives:

With a comprehensive range of innovative features and power options, these servo drives bring improved performance and advanced control capabilities to various single-axis industrial processes. They include:

Kinetix 5300 Servo Drives:

They provide simplified, high-performance single-axis servo control with standard inputs, dual Ethernet ports that allow EtherNet/IP communications in various network topologies, hardwired Safe Torque Off, and an extensive power range of 0.05 to 7.5 kW. They are compatible with Kinetix TLP servo motors, Kinetix TLY servo motors, Kinetix MPL, MPF, MPS, and MPM servo motors, Kinetix MP servo actuators with multi-turn or single-turn Hiperface encoder feedback, KinetixLDL/LDC linear motors, and Kinetix LDAT linear thrusters.

Kinetix 350 Servo Drives:

They are designed to provide scalability and high performance in low-complexity motion control applications. They can be used with Allen-Bradley CompactLogixand ControlLogixcontrollers to deliver integrated motion over EtherNet/IP. They are available in power ratings of 0.40 to 3.00 kW (nominal continuous output power). Kinetix 350 drives can operate Kinetix MPL, MPS, MPF, and MPM servo motors, Kinetix MPAR electric cylinders, TL- Series servo motors with incremental encoder or absolute high-resolution feedback, KinetixMPAS linear actuators, and Kinetix MPAI heavy-duty electric cylinders.

Standalone Kinetix Servo Drives

They enhance motion performance for low-power applications while reducing machine complexity and accelerating time to value. They include:

Kinetix 5100 Servo Drives:

They incorporate multiple control modes that support various low-power, high-speed motion control applications. They also offer an extended power range of 0.40 to 15.0 kW, dual-port EtherNet/IP connectivity, PL d/SIL 2/Cat 3 hardwired Safe Torque Off, as well as a flexible control architecture for analog/digital I/O control, explicit messaging with Allen-Bradley PLCs, or Pulse Train Output (PTO). Kinetix 5100 drives support standalone, Logix-controlled, or Micro800 applications, providing a cost-effective servo solution for OEMs building small-sized machines. The drives are compatible with Kinetix TLY/TL (B-Series) servo motors, Kinetix LDL/LDC linear motors, Kinetix MP servo actuators and motors with multi-turn or single-turn Hiperface encoder feedback, and Kinetix LDAT linear thrusters.

Kinetix 300 Servo Drives:

They provide an economical single-axis servo solution for low-complexity motion control applications. They are intended to connect and work with CompactLogix controllers to support integrated motion over EtherNet/IP or MicroLogixcontrollers to provide component motion functionality. Kinetix 300 drives have power ratings of 0.40 to 3.00 kW. They support Kinetix MPL, MPS, MPF, and MPM servo motors, Kinetix MPAR electric cylinders, TL-Series servo motors, Kinetix MPAS linear actuators, Kinetix LDL/LDC linear motors, Kinetix MPAI heavy-duty electric cylinders, and Kinetix LDAT linear thrusters.

PowerFlex Variable Frequency Drives

Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs), commonly referred to as AC drives, are motor controllers that control the torque and speed of electric motors, usually squirrel cage induction motors, by regulating the motors’ supply voltage and input frequency. Allen-Bradley AC drives are widely utilized in diverse industrial applications to control fans, conveyor systems, compressors, pumps, etc., providing process optimization and energy-saving benefits.

Available Allen-Bradley AC drives are classified as follows:

Compact-class Low Voltage PowerFlex Drives

They provide a simple and cost-effective motion control solution for non-complex system integration or machine-level control. They are primarily designed for panel space optimization, application versatility, and ease of use. They include:

PowerFlex 527 VFDs:

They are intended to work solely with Allen-Bradley Logix Programmable Automation Controllers and are programmed using motion instructions shared by Kinetix servo drives. They feature a built-in EtherNet/IP dual port, power ratings of 0.4 to 22 kW (0.5 to 30 Hp), and a hardwired or integrated PLe Cat 3/ SIL 3 certified Safe Torque Off feature. PowerFlex 527 drives are suitable for applications requiring simple speed regulation for induction motors powering pumps, in-feed & out-feed conveyor systems, and fans.

PowerFlex 40P Drives:

They provide closed-loop motor control with integral RS-485 and CIP (Common Industrial Protocol) communications and a PLd Category 3/ SIL2 Safe Torque-Off safety option, all in a compact and economical design. They are available in power ratings of 0.4 to 11 kW (0.5 to 15 Hp) and are designed to meet end-user and global OEM demands for ease of use, space savings, and application flexibility. Typical applications include fiber-spinning machines, smart conveyors, diverters, and packaging machines.

Medium Voltage PowerFlex Drives

They are primarily designed to control large electric motors used in mining, oil & gas, utility, marine, and other heavy industries. They include:

PowerFlex 7000 Drives:

These are high-performance AC drives with power regeneration capabilities. They are available in an expansive power range of 200 to 34,000 Hp (150 to 25,350 kW) with an output voltage rating of 2.4 to 6.6 kV AC. They provide soft-starting, variable torque, speed, direction, and stopping control for standard synchronous and induction AC motors. They also support EtherNet/IP networking, allowing seamless connection to the Allen-Bradley Logix control platform.

PowerFlex 6000T Drives:

These AC drives provide high-accuracy direction, torque, and speed control for permanent magnet and induction motors rated from 2.3 to 11 kV. They feature TotalFORCE technology (which provides adaptive motor control), integral EtherNet/IP communications, multiple motor control modes, a RealSine solution (which helps reduce input harmonics), and support for common industrial communication protocols. PowerFlex 6000T drives are perfect for non-regenerative motor control applications rated from 150 to 15,000 Hp (100 to 11,000 kW). Such applications include fans, mills, compressors, and conveyors.

High-Power Standard Voltage PowerFlex Drives

They avail a broad set of application-specific control parameters and standard features. They are intended for motion control applications requiring torque, speed, and/or motor position control. They include:

PowerFlex 700L Drives:

They offer great performance, vector control, application flexibility, and high-power capabilities in a liquid-cooled, fully regenerative power structure. They are available in cabinet mount and panel mount versions, with power ratings of 445 to 860 kW (600  to  1150 Hp). They support PLd Cat 3/ SIL2 certified Safe Torque Off safety option and a variety of CIP communications, including EtherNet/IP, ControlNet, and DeviceNet.

PowerFlex 753 Drives:

They are available with built-in I/O as standard andPLe Cat 3/ SIL3 certified Safe Torque Off and PLe Cat 4/ SIL3 certified Safe Speed Monitor safety options. They also support an EtherNet/IP dual-port option module, which offers flexible, low-cost methods for fully leveraging EtherNet/IP networks. They provide power ratings in the range of 0.37 to 250 kW (0.5 to 335 Hp).

PowerFlex DC Drives

DC drives are electronic devices that control the speed of DC motors by regulating the supply voltage or current to the motors. They facilitate soft-starting, speed regulation, reversing direction, and motor stopping.

Allen-Bradley PowerFlex DC drives are intended for new or retrofit DC motor applications rated up to 6000 Hp (4000 kW). They are available in power ratings of 1.2 to 1044 kW (1.5 to 1400 Hp) and engineered DC solutions rated up to 4000 kW (6000 Hp). They offer digital control for high-precision motor speed and input current regulation, comprehensive diagnostics, simplified drive programming, and regenerative and non-regenerative operations. Typical applications include coating, extrusion, drawing, and finishing operations.

The standard PowerFlex DC drive hardware comprises an armature converter, a regulated field converter for economy or field weakening motion control applications, an advanced regulator featuring embedded DPI functionality, and an open type of enclosure. The standard drive I/O incorporates a DC tachometer, three analog inputs, eight digital inputs, two analog outputs, encoder capability, and four digital outputs. The drives also support optional feedback and I/O modules.

Mitsubishi Drives Overview

Mitsubishi drives are available in two categories:

AC Servos-MELSERVO

This is a Mitsubishi Electric product line of servo systems that includes a variety of single-axis and multi-axis servo amplifiers or servo drives. Available Mitsubishi servo drives include:

MELSERVO-J5 Series:

MR-J5 servo drives provide high-speed, high-precision control of Mitsubishi MR-J5 servo motors. They are available in single-axis, three-axis, and dual-axis configurations and have power capacities of up to 7.0 kW with 200V AC input and up to 3.5 kW with 400V AC input. They have built-in servo functions that automatically tune a drive axis, predict failures, support safety sub-functions, suppress vibrations, and allow for easy troubleshooting and maintenance. Essentially,MR-J5 servo drives offer superior performance, functional safety, predictive maintenance capabilities, and Ethernet-basedCC-Link IE TSN connectivity, featuring large-capacity, high-speed communications (up to 1 Gbps).

MELSERVO-JE Series:

MR-JE are reliable and easy-to-use servo drives available in 200V AC input class and up to 3.0 kW. They are designed to operate Mitsubishi HG-Series 200V-class AC motors. They include a network amplifier that supports both Modbus RTU and high-speed, full-duplex SSCNETIII/H optical network or a general-purpose communication interface that accepts analog and Pulse Train modules. The drives also feature an integrated positioning function, an absolute motor position detection system, and advanced one-touch servo gains tuning.

MELSERVO-J4 Series:

MR-J4 servo drives leverage cutting-edge servo technology to provide high-speed, high-functionality, highly flexible, and accurate motion control solutions. They are available in up to 55 kW with 100/200/400V AC input or up to 30W with 24/48V DC input. They offer one-touch servo gains tuning in multi-axis and single-axis drive configurations. The MR-J4 series supports a range of industrial communication protocols, including CC-LinkIE Field (1 Gbps), EtherCAT, PROFINET, and EtherNet/IP. EtherNet/IP connectivity provides exceptional compatibility with CompactLogixand ControlLogix Allen-Bradley controllers. MR-J4 servo drives are compatible with TM-RFM Series Mitsubishi direct drive motors, LM-Series Mitsubishi linear servo motors, and HG-Series Mitsubishi servo motors.

Inverters-FREQROL

The Inverters-FREQROL comprehensive line of Mitsubishi drive products and motion control solutions offers a wide choice of innovative, high-performance, easy-to-use, highly flexible, and ultra-reliable Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) that deliver unmatched motor control functionality. Available Mitsubishi VFD Series include:

FR-A800 Series:

This is Mitsubishi Electric’s most superior and capable AC drive solution. It is designed to offer high accuracy, multi-purpose performance, and system flexibility with a host of embedded functions that simplify application specifications and implementation. The drive series also features high-speed processing, optimum excitation control, and advanced AC motor control algorithms, including Real Sensorless Vector (RSV) control for interior permanent magnet (IPM) motors and standard induction motors. FR-A800 power ratings vary from ½ to 1,500 Horsepower, providing the flexibility to address simple component motion applications or large-capacity motor control systems. Loaded with exceptional built-in functionality, including machine safety and network connectivity, FR-A800 AC drives can easily adapt to simple tasks like pump and fan control or complex and more demanding applications like gantry hoisting systems, load-sharing conveyors, and multi-axis coordinated motion.

FR-D700 Series:

This AC drive series is designed to provide maximum drive performance in a highly compact package. It features safety drive capability, an inbuilt dynamic braking circuit, 150% drive overload capability, bookshelf-style mounting, and integral MODBUS RTU communications that allow seamless integration into compatible control systems. FR-D700 drives are renowned for their excellent reliability and durability, backed by a 5-year warranty. They can handle a comprehensive range of motor control applications, including pressing machines, conveyor systems, textile machines, pumps, wire drawing machines, fans, lifts, machine tools, and industrial washing machines.

FR-E800 Series:

Designed to reduce footprint, save energy, and minimize overall costs, the FR-E800 Series combines quality, top-level performance, and AI-based diagnostic capabilities in a compact footprint. With dual overload rating for normal duty (ND) and light duty (LD), this AC drive series can control three-phase AC motors rated up to 10 Hp/7.5 kW (with provisions for future expansion) at 600V, 400V, and 200V AC input. The FR-E800 multi-purpose drive includes built-in RS-485 communications, PLC function (MELSEC 2K Step), corrosion alert system, and dual-port Ethernet protocols that support various open networks, includingCC-Link IE TSN, Modbus/TCP, CC-LinkIE Field, EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, and BACnet/IP. It also incorporates an auto-tune feature for Mitsubishi/non-Mitsubishi IE3/IE4 induction and permanent magnet motors.

FR-F800-E Series:

This VFD series is primarily designed for fan and pump control. It combines accuracy, high-performance, and reliability with built-in 100Mbps CC-Link IE Field, Ethernet TCP/IP, and Modbus TCP/IP connectivity, enhancing system flexibility, parameter adjustments, remote monitoring, and integration into existing networks. For instance, the CC-Link IE Field connectivity allows fast and reliable connections to Mitsubishi Electric servo motors, PLCs, and robots. The FR-F800-E drives are also optimized for maximal energy savings.

Here at DO Supply we understand that picking the right drive the first time around is critical. Thats why we have a dedicated team of technicians and sales experts to help guide you to the perfect drive for your need. Whether it is Allen Bradly or Mitsubishi, we carry numerous drives that are ready to be packed up and sent to your work place ASAP. Not only that, but all new items come with our 2-year DO Supply warranty Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns, or even check out this indepth guide on the Kinetix 2000 series drives here.