We found 80 posts about Maintenance from DO Supply, a global automation parts
reseller focused on hard-to-find and obsolete industrial automation products.
In many different businesses, crating is a crucial step in storing and transporting goods. The procedure is placing goods into crates, which are wooden or plastic boxes used for storage or transportation. Crates are available in various sizes and can be tailored to fulfill certain needs, such as weight capacity, toughness, or temperature resistance. Items may be protected from harm during storage or transportation using proper crating techniques, assuring their safe arrival at their destination. The organization and effectiveness of the shipping and storage process may be enhanced by using crates, which can also simplify material handling procedures. Crates are a typical and efficient technique to safeguard products during travel and guarantee their safe delivery, whether for local or international shipment. Customized attachments, known as specialized tool heads, can be fitted to various industrial machinery to improve functionality. These tool heads may be adjusted for various...
A Variable Frequency Drive(VFD) is a power conversion electronic device used to control the speed of an AC induction motor, by converting a fixed frequency, fixed AC supply voltage to a variable frequency AC voltage input to the motor. And since the frequency is directly proportional to RPM (Revolutions per Minute), the RPM speed of the AC induction motor can be controlled by regulating the frequency and voltage of its input power. For example, if a motor-driven process requires more speed, then the VFD will increase the frequency of the input voltage to the motor and vice versa. AC induction motors are often designed as fixed frequency electrical devices, operating at 60 Hz (Hertz) or 50 Hz depending on the supply frequency of a given national grid. But the input frequency and voltage to a VFD-equipped AC motor can be adjusted by the VFD circuit to regulate motor speed. Before the advent of VFDs, variable motor speeds were obtained by running the motor at full speed and using...
VFD is a motor control device used in electromechanical systems, which drives an electric motor and controls its speed and torque by changing the frequency and voltage of the power supply. The modern VFD drives are capable of integrating networks and diagnostic capabilities for better control performance and more productivity. So, we can say that the three main reasons for choosing VFDs as a controller in an application is saving energy, intelligent motor control, and reducing the peak current drawn. They are commonly used in fans, pumps, and compressors and account for 75 percent of all the drivers operating worldwide. VFDs can perform the following functions: It is a power conversion device that converts the fixed voltage and frequency to variable voltage and frequency, which can control the output of the AC motors. They are often known as speed controllers of the motor. These variable frequency drivers can also control the torque of the motor and keep it constant by maintaining the...
The term HVAC is an acronym that stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning; it broadly describes systems that provide heating and cooling to commercial and residential buildings for environmental comfort. A typical HVAC system includes Heating equipment, Ventilation equipment, and Air-Conditioning or Cooling equipment; the functions of these three elements are interrelated, particularly when providing thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality. For example, the Heating element, which may be a boiler or furnace, includes a piping system for the heat-carrying fluid or ductwork in case of a forced air system. The Ventilation element (either natural or forced) uses fresh outdoor air to provide high-quality indoor air through a process called ventilation–a process of exchanging or replacing air within a designated space. This process also involves the removal of dust and smoke particles, moisture, airborne bacteria, heat, odors, carbon dioxide, and other unwanted gases...
A typical Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV) is generally made of a combination of Zinc Oxide and other types of metal oxides such as Cobalt, Bismuth, and Manganese oxides. The metal oxide substance is arranged between two metal electrodes or plates with no polarity (no positive or negative sides) to interact with each other; so, the two leads of the MOV can be connected in any direction since they conduct electric current in both directions. The Zinc Oxide arrangement gives the MOV similar Volt-Ampere characteristics (V-I characteristics) as a Zener diode. Such that when a moderate or small voltage is supplied across the MOV’s electrodes, only a small amount of current will flow through due to the high resistance of the MOV. If a large voltage is applied across the MOV, its resistance value will decrease significantly and a large amount of current will flow through it. If the flowing current rises to a particular point, known as the breaker point (break over voltage), the zinc oxide...
Drive or Electric Drive is an electromechanical system that necessarily uses an electric motor or a prime mover. In this system, the motion of the electric motor is controlled to make it applicable and useful for some applications in the realm of industry, automotive, domestic use, hospitals, etc. In an electric drive system, energy conversion is controlled. Motor, control systems and power converter (power electronics) are major components of electric drive. The selection or construction of various drive components varies depending upon the application and environment where the system is to be used. DC bus is part of the power electronics part of the drive. Its stability and voltage control are crucial to gaining good results for the drive system. The Drive system is a complex electrical system. As mentioned earlier, the following are its major components Electric Motor Controller Power Converter or Power Electronics Section These three components are complex systems in themselves...
In industrial automation, the term “drive” is often associated with motor drives, which are types of motor controllers described using various terms such as Variable Speed Drives (VSDs), Adjustable Speed Drives (ASDs), Inverter Drives, Adjustable Frequency Drives (AFD), Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs), AC Drives, Variable-Voltage Drives, …etc. However, even though these terms are used interchangeably, they have different meanings depending on the technique used to control the motor speed and the drive’s application. For example, a Variable Speed Drive is a more generic term that applies to electronic or mechanical devices which control either motor speed or the speed of motor-driven equipment like compressors, fans, pumps, etc. Whereas, a VFD is a device that uses power electronics to vary the frequency of the input voltage to a motor, thereby controlling the motor speed. On the other hand, an Adjustable Speed Drive is also a more generic term that applies to both electrical and...
Allen Bradley MPL Servo Motors A servo motor is a linear or rotary actuator that allows for precise control of linear or angular position, acceleration, and velocity. A typical servo motor system consists of a suitable electric motor coupled to a sensor for position feedback. The motors’ control circuit, which includes the position sensor, provides feedback on the real-time position of the motor shaft. With this feedback, the servo motor can rotate with great precision. But for a servo motor system to be complete, it also requires a servo drive that uses the position feedback sensor to precisely turn the servo motor at some specific angles or distances. Simply put, a servo motor is just a simple electric motor that runs through a servo mechanism. Servo motors are broadly categorized as AC-powered or DC-powered. But there are many other classifications depending on the operating characteristics and gear arrangement of the servo motor in question. The different types of gear...
A Variable Frequency Drive (VFD), also known as a Variable-Speed Drive (VSD), Adjustable-Frequency Drive (AFD), Frequency Converter (FC), Adjustable Speed Drive (ASD), Microdrive, AC drive, or an Inverter driver, is an electronic controller used to regulate the rotational speed of induction or synchronous electric motors. The VFD controls motor speed by varying the frequency of the supply voltage being used to power that motor. To practically execute this, a typical VFD system consists of four main components; namely, the Rectifier Circuit unit, DC Bus and Filter unit, Inverter Circuit unit, and the control unit. These four units function together to adjust the AC frequency of the voltage supplied to a connected motor, thereby controlling the motor’s RPM (motor speed in revolutions per minute). First, the VFD takes in fixed frequency AC voltage into the rectifier section, which consists of diodes (4 or 6) or thyristors that convert the input AC voltage into unfiltered DC voltage. This...
Programmable Logic Controllers are ruggedized computers, specially designed and built to operate reliably under harsh industrial environments. A typical PLC system consists of a processor (CPU), programmable memory, power supply, a user-defined program, I/O modules with associated circuitry, and so on. The programmable memory stores a series of instructions that enable the PLC to perform various control functions like arithmetic computation, relay logic, timing, counting, and sequencing. Essentially, these control functions are used to monitor and control either individual machines or complex electro-mechanical processes through the PLC inputs and outputs. As the PLC processor reads the inputs, the PLC processes them through the stored user-defined program and generates outputs that are sent out as control commands to field output devices. The I/O modules in the PLC system provide digital or analog electronic connections to field input and output devices. In this modern era, PLCs are...
In industrial applications, an electrical panel is basically a service box that connects the main power line to an electrical device and distributes electric currents to various other circuits within the system. In an industrial setting, you don’t simply plug a PLC controller into a wall socket, instead, an electrical panel is used. A PLC panel is simply an electrical control panel consisting of electrical components which use electric power to control a variety of mechanical functions of industrial machinery or equipment. In order for industrial machinery and equipment to accomplish their various process goals, they require user-defined functions and well-organized control. Thus, electrical control panels like the PLC panel are used to perform these functions within manufacturing machinery. Any electrical control panel you’ll ever come across will always consist of two main categories: panel structure and electrical components. Similarly, a PLC panel consists of a special stainless...
Trace Width mil cm mm µm inch Trace Length mil cm mm µm inch Trace Thickness oz/ft2 mil cm mm µm inch Ambient Temperature °C °K °F Results Resistance (R) Ω Structure of a PCB Trace A Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is a laminated structure of insulating and conductive layers sandwiched together. PCBs are used for two complementary functions. The first is to mechanically affix electronic components in their designated locations on the outer layers through soldering. The second is to electrically connect the components using tracks, signal traces, or conductive pathways in a controlled manner often known as a PCB design. PCBs are widely employed in the manufacturing of electronic components and appliances. In electronics, a circuit trace or signal trace on an Integrated Circuit(IC) or a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is comparable to a wire of conducting signals. Each trace is etched from copper sheets laminated onto an insulating (non-conductive) substrate. It thus comprises a flat, narrow...
Supply Voltage Volts (V) V Capacitance Farad (F) milliFarad (mF) microFarad (µF) nanoFarad (nF) picoFarad (pF) Series Resistance Ohms (Ω) Ω Results Energy (E) Time Constant (τ) Parallel-Plate Capacitor When it comes to electronic devices and electric circuits, energy is typically stored in either batteries or capacitors. Batteries store electrical energy in chemicals, and they are the most common. Capacitors on the other hand possess the ability to store electrical energy in the form of an electric charge, they are less common. Essentially, a capacitor is a two-terminal electrical device, which consists of two conductors with a spacing distance(d) between them. The spacing between the two electrical conductors can be a vacuum or it could be filled with a good insulating material called dielectric. Often, you’ll come across the term “capacitance” which is defined as the ability of a capacitor to store electrical charge. In its basic form, a typical capacitor is made up of two...
Output Power MilliWatts (mW) Watt (W) Decibel-milliwatt (dBm) Decibel-watt (dBW) Gain Linear Linear Distance Feet (ft) Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Centimeters (cm) Miles (mi) Yards (yd) Inches (in) Results Power Density 96.05Watts/m2 Power density is the rate of energy flow per unit mass, area or volume. Most often, it is defined as the time rate of energy transfer per unit volume. The International System of Units (SI) for power density are Watts per cubic meter ( W / m 3 ) . Other common metric units include: Watts per square meter ( W / m 2 ) , Watts per kilogram ( W / kg ) , Horsepower per cubic inch ( hp in 3 ) . While power density is not commonly used as a form of measurement as energy density, it is still a useful performance parameter for most energy systems. For example, in energy transformers including fuel cells, batteries, power supply units, motors etc., power density is measured in terms of volume, often referred to as volume power density, expressed as W/m 3 . Hence...
Resistor 1 Ohms (Ω) Ohms (Ω) Resistor 2 Ohms (Ω) Ohms (Ω) Add Results Equivalent Resistance Resistance is defined as the measure of opposition to charge flow (current flow) in an electrical circuit. It is measured in ohms and symbolized by (Ω)-a Greek letter omega. Naturally, all materials oppose current flow to some extent, and they are classified as either conductors or insulators. Conductors are materials that have very little resistance to electrons flow, they include aluminum, silver, gold, copper, and many more. Insulators, on the other hand, are materials that present very high resistance to electrons flow; examples are rubber, plastic, wood, and glass. Basically, a resistor is an ohmic device that limits the flow of current in a circuit. Most electrical circuits consist of more than one resistor. The relationship between voltage, resistance, and current in an electrical circuit with resistors is given by Ohm’s Law. Ohm’s law is expressed as: I = V/R , where I is the circuit...