ABB MicroFlex e100 and e150 servo drives

ABB has enhanced its ranges of servomotor drives for the Ethernet-based motion control systems market with variants that can substantially increase the speed of machinery and automation systems while also reducing bill-of-materials costs.

Due to a redesign of the drives’ power stage, the latest iteration of ABB’s MicroFlex e100 and e150 servo motor drives can now deliver peak current levels that are three times the continuous rated current, and sustain that peak output for up to 3 s. This provides the torque to substantially increase the speed of moves and machine cycle times. In some cases, ABB expects that the generous 3 s overcurrent capability will allow motion system builders to use a smaller size of drive - reducing system building costs dramatically and potentially the footprint of systems as well.

A higher overcurrent capability can be particularly relevant for system builders employing new generations of high-performance servo motors with neodymium magnets, as these tend to offer a peak current capability that is at least three times the continuous rated current level. The 3 s overcurrent capability of the drives may then be exploited to increase the acceleration of movements.

MicroFlex e150 drives are compatible with real-time EtherCAT, plus EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP and TCP/IP protocols. MicroFlex e100 drives are compatible with the real-time Ethernet Powerlink protocol, plus EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP and TCP/IP.