We found 171 posts about Comparison Guides from DO Supply, a global automation parts
reseller focused on hard-to-find and obsolete industrial automation products.
As industrial automation specialists, are you debating if a variable frequency drive (VFD) or a soft starter is best for your process? In modern times, technological advancements have made automation more efficient and cost-effective. You can reduce costs while improving safety and quality with the right choice of motor control products like a soft starter or VFD drives. Having an understanding of their differences will help you choose which one is right for your application. This blog post seeks to explain what each technology means and how it can help streamline current processes in the industry. Read on as we explore this topic and provide insight into where these technologies fit within modern applications. Soft starters and variable frequency drives (VFDs) are two popular technologies used to control electric motors. Both technologies offer better control of motor starting circuits to reduce the stress on mechanical components, minimize torque surges, and lower electricity...
In industrial automation, drive systems are critical components that help machines and equipment run smoothly and efficiently. Allen-Bradley, a Rockwell Automation brand, offers two popular drive systems, the Kinetix and PowerFlex drive systems. Each system has unique features and capabilities that make it suitable for different applications. Allen-Bradley Kinetix drive system is a type of servo drive. It has a particular kind of servo drive that has become popular for its applications in robots, CNC machining, and automation in the industry. The technology behind servos has been extended through the development of servo drives, which are utilized to energize electric servomechanisms. Kinetix drive system uses advanced servo motor technology and feedback systems to provide precise control over the motion of industrial machines. It offers features such as rapid acceleration and deceleration, high torque output, and position feedback, which allow it to achieve high levels of speed and...
Are you an engineer or technician looking to optimize your industrial setup but need clarification on which control system type is best? You’re in luck! Here we will explore the differences between the programmable logic controller (PLC) and industrial PC systems to help you find the perfect solution for your individual needs. We’ll discuss each option’s features, pros, and cons, ranging from cost and scalability to customization capabilities, so you can make a well-informed decision on the most beneficial choice for your specific application. When it comes to industrial applications, a specialized PC system is used rather than a traditional PC. The most significant difference between industrial PCs (IPCs) and regular PCs is their durability and ability to survive in harsh environments. Regular PCs are built for home and office use, where the climate is controlled, and the risk of exposure to shock and vibration is minimal. On the other hand, industrial PCs are like Superman; built to...
The constant quest for better efficiency, durability, and adaptability continues to be a top priority for designers and engineers. One critical aspect of many industrial and commercial applications is the choice of the most suitable drive assembly to transmit power and motion between components. To this end, the age-old debate between chain and belt-driven assemblies continues to spark interest among professionals and enthusiasts alike. This article aims to provide an in-depth and technical comparison of these two types of drive systems, enabling the reader to make an informed decision based on their specific requirements and constraints. Chain and belt-driven assemblies have long been in competition as preferred methods for power transmission in a variety of industries, ranging from automotive and manufacturing to agriculture and household appliances. Despite their seemingly similar function, these two systems are distinctly different in terms of their construction, components, and...
PowerFlex 700 and Powerflex 755 are part of Allen-Bradley’s product line of powerful AC drives that provide flexible control. The Powerflex 700 consists of low-power and high-power AC drives. These AC drives offer superior performance and are easy to use in operations. The PowerFlex AC drives control three-phase induction motors for numerous industrial applications. The applications range from simple speed control to demanding ones, including high torque control. In 2017, Rockwell Automation discontinued PowerFlex 700 AC high-power drives (250-700 Hp). The low-power AC drives are still available from the manufacturer. A new range of AC drives, PowerFlex 755, was introduced to replace the discontinued high-power PowerFlex 700 AC drives. The new AC drives have many features and enhanced performance to improve operations. This guide highlights the different features of PowerFlex 700 AC drives and PowerFlex 755 AC drives and provides an in-depth comparison. Allen Bradley PowerFlex 700...
A contactor is an electrically controlled electromechanical switch, similar to a relay, whose function is to break or make the electrical connection between a connected load and the main power supply. Contactors are used to switch currents ON and OFF in circuits, where the switched current is at a much higher level than the supply current. For example, a 24 Volts electromagnetic coil in a contactor can be used to control a 230 Volts electric motor switch. Applications of contactors include controlling AC and DC electric motors, heating and lighting circuits, thermal evaporators, capacitor banks, automated industrial equipment, and other assorted electrical loads, but without providing protection against overload conditions. They are typically used to control electrical equipment requiring to be turned on and off frequently, such as heaters, lights, and motors. For example, contactors are often used to provide centralized control of extensive lighting installations in retail and office...
The electronic device that captures and regulates the electrical energy sent to the motor is known as a drive. The drive modifies the amount and frequency of energy fed to the motor, which indirectly controls the motor’s speed and torque. Based on the voltage type, the two main categories of drives are; AC drives and DC drives. DC drive is one of the most reliable, efficient, inexpensive, user-friendly, and easy technology to implement. They also have many advantages over AC drives especially for regenerative and higher power applications. They have many industrial uses as they can give us very precise control. While in some applications we can see VFDs and AC drives as an alternative, in applications like cranes, hoists, elevators, spindle drives, winders, paper manufacturing machines, crushers, etc., we still have to use them. Allen Bradley 20F11FD2P1AA0NNNNN PowerFlex 753 Drive DC drive is a speed control system that gives the motor the potential difference to operating it at a...
Allen Bradley MicroLogix 1200 PLC PLCs are programmable controllers that are specially designed for applications in the industry. Before the advent of PLC, the industrial control system was a relay contractor system. However, these relay systems had many disadvantages, such as complicated wiring, longer durations for designing and production, problematic maintenance, fewer functionalities, and a variety of adaptations difficulties. PLCs use programmable storage for storing the instruction set of logic, timings, counting, and mathematical operations. They act as a controller in the industrial PC, adapted for control or production operations like assembly lines, fault diagnosis, robotic applications, and the ones which required great precision. There are many industrial component producers who are designing and manufacturing PLCs globally, and because of that, there is intense marketing competition. Two of the big names in this regard are Allen Bradley and Omron. We will be seeing the...
The 90-30 series of programmable logic controllers (PLCs) by General Electric (GE) was launched in 1991. This series has been serving automation control requirements of the industry for many years. This series provided flexibility and modularity, making it the primary choice for field professionals. In comparison, the RX3i is a programmable automation controller system, abbreviated as PACSystem, a new and upgraded series of automation controllers that provides a shift towards a more holistic vision of automation. This series is founded on the core abilities of the 90-30 series while providing even further sophisticated capabilities and versatility. Emerson has acquired Intelligent Platforms (Automation Control Systems) from GE which these automation controllers are part. The 90-30 series offers 10 CPU models for standard and high performances applications. The number of discrete I/O ranges from 160 to 4096, the total number of Analog I/O ranges from 62 In/32 Out up to 2048 In/ 512...
Allen Bradley TLY & TL Servo Motor TL-A220P-HJ32AA For applications where precision, accuracy, and control of rotation are required, servo motors have been used for a long. Servo motors are those kinds of electromechanical tools that have provided the convenience of feedback based on which the user can monitor the movement of the motor degree by degree. According to the user’s application, different servo motors are available: continuous rotation, linear rotation, and positional rotation servo motors. TL series servo motors are low inertia servo motors, which means they can control the load’s velocity very well and help control the load’s acceleration and deceleration. The low inertia feature in these servo motors helps them to preserve their state of uniform motion or state of rest longer. These types of servo motors come with different types of frame sizes. The frames are of metric and NEMA standards to make mounting of these motors easy and compact according to the desired...
The term HIM stands for Human Interface Module. It’s basically a user interface that enables human operators to engage and interact with a drive, machine, or a system. HIMs are commonly used in the industrial context, and you’ll often come across them in industrial environments alongside AC drives or Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs). They allow factory operators to start and stop process cycles, adjust operating set points, and perform other necessary functions required to control and interact with industrial drives. HIMs are also software-based, so they replace physical and hard-wired controls with software control parameters, allowing easier adjustment of drive operating parameters. Thus, with a HIM you can upload individual sets of parameters for your host drive and any other peripherals connected into the HIM. Other functions include: Accepting input data obtained from human operators Processing the input data Data logging Real-time information display of the operating conditions...
VersaView and PanelView are Allen-Bradley operator interfaces from Rockwell Automation, with similar functionalities as Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs). These graphic operator terminals combine HMI software and hardware to allow users to interact with a controller and the system being controlled. An HMI terminal can vary from a physical control panel with indicator lights and keypad buttons to an industrial PC (IPC) with color graphic displays and which runs a dedicated software. The Allen-Bradley PanelView and VersaView are both popular operator terminals in a variety of industrial control applications requiring the display of information graphically, real-time monitoring, and control of various industrial processes. They enable operators to understand the status of a controller fast enough, so as to make informed control decisions regarding the machine or process being controlled. Allen-Bradley PanelView Terminal Allen-Bradley PanelView terminals provide rugged, graphical interface...
The term VFD stands for Variable Frequency Drive. It is a type of motor controller which drives an electric motor by varying the frequency and voltage supplied to that motor. Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) are also known as AC Drives, Inverters, Variable/Adjustable Speed Drives, Inverters, Variable-Voltage Drives, Microdrives, Frequency Converters, or Variable Frequency Inverters (VFIs). Frequency, given in Hertz (Hz), is directly related to motor speed in revolutions per minute (RPM). Thus, by adjusting the input frequency the motor speed can be varied accordingly. For example, the higher the supply frequency, the more RPMs the motor will exhibit. VFDs are best suited for applications in which an electric motor is not required to run at full speed, as they can ramp down the supply voltage and frequency to meet the requirements of the motor’s load. In case there is a change in the application’s motor speed requirements, the VFD can be set to ramp up or turn down the motor speed as...
An MP-Series Low-Inertia Servo Motor (Cat. No. MPL-B320P-MJ22AA) MPL servo motors are a family of MP-Series™ low-inertia rotary servo motors, from Rockwell Automation under Allen-Bradley Bulletin MPL. They are compact and highly dynamic brushless servo motors consisting of premium permanent magnets. They feature multi-turn or single-turn high resolution encoders, and they are available with 24 Volts DC brakes. The MPL units use innovative design characteristics and advanced winding technology to reduce motor size while delivering considerably higher torque. They thus leverage their high torque-to-size ratio to provide high-performance motion systems, which require servo motors with quicker acceleration and excellent torque performance. The MP-Series™ low-inertia servo motors are typically used with PowerFlex drives and Kinetix drives from Allen-Bradley. The Allen-Bradley® MPL servo motors feature two input voltage classes: 400V-class and 200V-class. They are available in nine (9)...
Allen Bradley PowerFlex4 The Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 4 is a series of compact Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs), which provide powerful and precise motor speed control. These drives are programmed for Volts-per-Hertz (V/Hz) operation mode, as the default motor control setting. They are designed for ease of use and optimal flexibility, with a space-saving design. In addition, PowerFlex 4 drives provide users with intuitive interface devices including an integrated keypad with control keys and a local potentiometer. Moreover, the PowerFlex 4 drives are an economical speed control alternative for a variety of industrial applications including fans, conveyors, machine tools, pumps, and material handling systems. Essentially, PowerFlex 4 drives are designed to meet the demands of global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and end-users for simplicity, cost efficiency, and space savings. They are the smallest and most cost-effective members of the compact, Allen-Bradley PowerFlex®...