We found 286 posts about Drives & Motors from DO Supply, a global automation parts
reseller focused on hard-to-find and obsolete industrial automation products.
When a drive in a system goes down, the clock starts to tick. Every minute of downtime is a minute lost in productivity, money lost, frustrated operators, and production schedules sliding off track. Allen-Bradley understood this issue well and designed its PowerFlex 750 series drives with an interchangeable parts approach. The idea was that instead of scrambling for model-specific replacements, you could swap in components across the 753, 755, and even 755T drives. This isn’t just convenient, but a deliberate choice that turns a maintenance headache into a quick fix. By incorporating so many interchangeable parts into the 750 platform, Allen-Bradley has made it possible to keep more spares on hand, reduce stocking costs, and get machines running faster than it would take to fill out a downtime report. It’s not just a couple of token parts either. The interchangeable parts list for the PowerFlex 750 series is extensive, covering everything from control and power modules to cooling...
When spec’ing out a new automation system with a PowerFlex 755 drive, you will notice a few variations. You have the standard 755 with FORCE technology, or the 755TS with TotalFORCE tech. While it initially sounds very similar, the TotalFORCE tech provides a generational leap in performance, all while utilizing the same hardware that we all know and love. But that brings us to the main question: Do you need TotalFORCE? Buy Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 755 Drives Here Let’s take a moment to go over the offerings we have before answering that question. The PowerFlex 755 has been the go-to VFD for countless installations over the past decade, and for a good reason, too. It’s powerful, reliable, and very modular, making it stick out as one of the most flexible options that AB has to offer. Whether you’re automating a conveyor line, fine-tuning a pump motor, or even lifting a crane, chances are that the 755 has done it. The 755 line covers a wide power spectrum. You’ll find versions for:...
For any power system to run smoothly and efficiently, the voltage and current wave forms should ideally be perfect sinusoids. However, in practical applications, power quality problems like voltage dips, transients, fluctuations, and harmonic distortion occur commonly. The imperfections in the waveforms are represented as the presence of harmonics. Harmonics are the distortions caused by non-linear loads consuming currents that are non-sinusoidal. These distortions significantly reduce the power system efficiency and lead to equipment failures and operational disruptions. Harmonics are sinusoidal waveforms with a frequency that is an integer multiple of the base power system frequency (50 or 60 Hz for most practical applications). These harmonic frequencies overlap onto the base waveform and introduce distortion. This distortion is measured as Total Harmonic Distortion (THD). If not dealt with appropriately, harmonics result in overheating, premature equipment degradation, and...
Finding the right AC Drive size is crucial to your motor-driven application’s health, energy efficiency, and longevity. Whether you are running complicated machinery like a conveyor system, a pump, or a fan, an improper drive can lead to inefficiencies, overheating, or equipment failure. In this article, we will first discuss the motor’s requirements and then the AC drive itself to choose which AC drive would be the best for our use. This article aims to clear the key factors and procedures required to choose the best drive for your needs, guaranteeing a balance between dependability and affordability in commercial and industrial automation systems. Compiling comprehensive information on the motor the AC drive will be controlling is crucial before choosing one. The majority of the essential characteristics are included on the motor nameplate, which is a good place to start when reducing the number of drive options available. Shop Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 755 Series Drives Here Although...
Smart motor controllers (SMCs) are advanced, microprocessor-based soft starters designed to manage and protect AC motors in a variety of industrial applications. They offer a wide array of advanced functionalities beyond solely starting and stopping motors efficiently. These functionalities include comprehensive monitoring, precise speed control, integrated diagnostics, communication and networking capabilities, and advanced motor protection. Prominent smart motor controller brands include Allen-Bradley (from Rockwell Automation), Mitsubishi Electric, Siemens, ABB, Honeywell, Schneider Electric, and Eaton. SMC controllers use diverse operating modes to precisely control motor starting & stopping characteristics, speed, and torque. Common modes of operation include Current Limit Start, Soft Start, Soft Stop, Full Voltage Start, and Selectable Kickstart, alongside specialized control options such as Dual Ramp Start, Preset Slow Speed, Accu-Stop, Smart Motor Braking, Pump Control, and...
Maintaining and troubleshooting the SMC 2 soft starter is essential for ensuring reliable motor control and maximizing equipment lifespan. This comprehensive guide covers both foundational and advanced diagnostic techniques to help technicians and engineers keep their systems running at peak performance. From interpreting fault codes and verifying configuration settings to analyzing SCR gate signals and evaluating load imbalances, each section provides practical insights and technical depth. Whether you’re performing routine maintenance or addressing complex operational issues, these strategies will help you minimize downtime, enhance safety, and extend the life of your motor control system. Buy SMC 2 Soft Starters Here To help technicians quickly diagnose operational issues, the SMC 2 soft starter displays fault codes. These codes are crucial for identifying issues like overload, phase loss, shorted SCRs, and undervoltage. A motor with an overload fault is consuming too much current...
Reliability, efficiency, and accuracy are necessary in today’s rapidly changing industrial environment. With intelligent control that improves all facets of operation, smart motor controllers, or SMCs, are revolutionizing the management of motors from initial energization to total shutdown. SMCs offer unparalleled versatility and protection, whether your goal is tighter energy efficiency, more seamless starting, or real-time diagnostics. To provide better performance and higher cost savings across the whole equipment lifespan, this article examines how SMCs transform motor control by increasing safety, lowering maintenance, ad seamlessly integrating with contemporary automation systems. Shop for Allen-Bradley SMCs Here Conventional motor starters instantaneously give full voltage, which sometimes causes excessive wear and mechanical stress. Soft start and soft stop capabilities of SMCs transform this procedure. These lessen the strain on mechanical parts like gears, belts, and pumps...
The evolution from traditional motor starters to smart motor controllers (SMCs) marks a significant technological leap in modern industrial applications. While conventional starters rely on electromechanical components for basic motor control, smart motor controllers integrate advanced technologies such as power electronics, real-time data logging, predictive analytics, and IoT connectivity. These innovations enable SMCs to provide precise, adaptive control over motor speed, torque, and energy consumption while minimizing downtime and maintenance costs. This article explores the key differences between smart motor controllers and traditional starters, focusing on aspects like power electronics, adaptability to load changes, starting current management, feedback mechanisms, and diagnostic capabilities. Understanding these distinctions highlights the benefits of SMCs in optimizing performance, reliability, and energy efficiency in today’s automated industrial systems. One of the primary...
Imagine starting a 500-hp motor by flipping a switch, just like you would with a desk lamp. Sounds a bit reckless, right? After all, all of that power and torque is going to slam on, and who knows what damage that can cause? This is where smart motor controllers and soft starters come in. Yes, they’re different tools, but they’re designed to handle motor startup without damaging components or blowing fuses. But for those who haven’t been in the industry long enough, the difference between them might not be clear. So, how do they differ, and when should you reach for one over the other? A soft starter does exactly what it sounds like: it starts the motor, just.. gently. So instead of slamming full voltage into the motor the second it kicks on, it gradually ramps up to that desired voltage. This limits the inrush current, smooths out acceleration, and reduces mechanical strain on any couplings, belts, and gears. From a more technical standpoint, soft starters operate by controlling the...
Let’s talk entry motion control, specifically the Kinetix 3 and 300. When designing a smaller automation task, it’s easy to assume that the Kinetix 3 and 300 are basically the same. After all, they’re both marketed as entry-level, low-axis drives to run small motors, but there’s more to it than that. One thrives as a standalone drive while the other belongs in coordinated motion with Logix integration and Ethernet/IP. So, which one would best fit your machine or budget? That’s the question we’re looking to resolve today, so let’s break down the differences between these brother drives and help you answer that question. The Kinetix 3 is a lightweight drive designed for simpler automation tasks that require a single axis of motion. Its main selling points are that you don’t need a full PLC network to run it and that it is plug-and-play, with automatic motor recognition for L-Series rotary motors, TL-Series linear actuators, and LDL-Series and LDC-Series linear motors. This makes it very...
When it comes to cooling off hot circuit boards and electrical components, there are many different ways to do it, but two stick out the most: air and water cooling. To water cool or not to water cool, that is a question often considered by engineers and even PC building enthusiasts alike. However, one of the differences between building a pc and integrating an automation system is the availability of parts. Now, you can walk into a Best Buy and pick up a water block for a gaming rig. But what if you need to cool a 1200-amp variable frequency drive? This is where Allen-Bradley’s LiquiFlo series enters the scene, and where we at DO Supply can help you find the hardware that’s otherwise hiding in plain sight. The LiquiFlo series of drives seems to be an enigma in Allen-Bradley’s lineup, so much so that they don’t even have much about them on their website. The story behind them is that a company called Reliance Electric, founded in 1904, was pioneering electric motor and automation...
Electric drives are employed in industrial automation, robotics, and motor control systems. They are responsible for regulating the speed and torque characteristics of motors. The drives are majorly categorized as AC drives (Alternating Current drives) and DC drives (Direct Current drives). The choice of drive for your application depends on various factors, mainly motor type, speed requirements, efficiency, maintenance demands, and cost consideration. An AC drive is also referred to as a VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) and is used to control the speed of AC motors, 3-phase induction motors, in particular. There are two stages for an AC drive operation: Rectification of incoming AC supply into DC using a rectifier circuit. Inversion of the DC back to AC using an inverter circuit at a frequency desired for speed control. Shop for PowerFlex AC Drives Here AC drives are used to control Induction and Synchronous Motors, which are commonly used in the industry. These drives are available to...
Smart motor controllers have evolved from simple starters to intelligent, data-driven devices that are pivotal in modern industrial automation. Yet, many businesses still under-utilize these powerful tools, missing out on opportunities to enhance performance, reduce costs, and improve system reliability. Fully leveraging your smart motor controller means more than just powering motors—it’s about unlocking advanced features like real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, remote access, energy optimization, and seamless integration with other systems. When used to their full potential, these controllers provide actionable insights, streamline maintenance efforts, and significantly reduce downtime. From automated diagnostics to improved energy efficiency and predictive maintenance, smart motor controllers can revolutionize how your operation functions. This article explores the key functionalities that are often overlooked and shows you how to maximize the value of your investment. If...
Automated processes and motion control come in all different shapes and sizes. Ranging from a Pepsi bottling plant pushing out thousands of bottles per minute to tracking solar panel direction on a roof. Sure, the latter isn’t as exciting as watching bottles whiz across a factory on predetermined routes to be palletized by yet another automatic machine. Still, it doesn’t make it any less important. Small-scale, entry-level automation systems are needed everywhere, from electronics assembly to laboratory automation equipment. This is where drives, like the Kinetix 3, shine the brightest. This article highlights the factors that go into choosing a Kinetix 3 rather than its technical specifications. If you want to read about that specifically, we have an article for you here . The number one most important consideration for any move is cost. Budgets are a law of life, and the Kinetix 3 aims to offer a small package packed with necessary features at a price that won’t bring tears to your...
The Allen-Bradley 1336 PLUS II AC drive series offers a complete line of compact, high-performance Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) that are renowned as a highly dependable AC drive technology in a variety of industrial applications, even after being officially discontinued several years ago. Available in power ratings ranging from 0.5 to 600 horsepower (0.37 to 448 kW) and three voltage ranges: 200 to 240V AC, 380 to 480V AC, and 500 to 600V AC, these drives help provide a single motor speed control solution for different application requirements and motor sizes. This article examines why the 1336 PLUS II drive series continues to be a preferred motion control solution for various industrial applications despite its obsolete status. The Allen-Bradley 1336 PLUS II drives are essentially microprocessor-based, high-performance PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) AC drives that are designed to provide precise motor speed and torque control using Sensorless Vector Control (SVC) and/or selectable...
