JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.

Home
Automation Components
Servo Drives

Servo Drives

Servo Drives and servo amplifiers transform a low power command signal from a motion controller into high power current/voltage applied to the servo motor windings to produce torque. A servo motor drive utilizes internal feedback loops for precise control of motor current and may also control velocity.

The terms servo drive and servo amplifier are interchangeable. Digital drives contain some form of processing capability, typically a Digital Signal Processor (DSP).

Servo Drive FAQ

Servo Drive Types:

Analog amplifiers or drives have little to no processing capability and perform all the drive functionality strictly in the analog domain. Due to the additional intelligence available on digital drives, they have more functionality, diagnosis capabilities, and easier configuration compared to analog drives.

Intelligent Drives/Smart Drives are drives that combine a portion, or all, of the motion controller functionality with the high power electronics of a motor drive. Smart drives vary with the amount of control functionality and type of communication interface. There are generally two types: fieldbus based and deterministic bus based.

Fieldbus based intelligent drives contain all the components of a motion controller and are communicated to via a serial port or a fieldbus network. They are typically used for non-coordinated motion control applications. Electromate^® offers a variety of network options for connecting servo drives in a multi-axis configuration. Choosing the right network depends on a variety of factors such as required bandwidth, update rate, performance, and cost. Currently supported network options are: CANopen, EtherCAT®, RS232, RS485, DeviceNet, Profibus, Ethernet/IP, PROFINET, Modbus TCP/IP and SynqNet.

Deterministic bus based intelligent drives typically incorporate the interpolation and control loop into the drive but rely on a motion controller to perform the trajectory generation. The benefits of either intelligent drive topology include all digital communication, detailed diagnostics, reduced cabling, high axes count and short wiring distance between the drive and motor.

Servo drives are used in applications such as robotics, CNC machinery or automated manufacturing. As a servo drives supplier, Electromate supplies industrial servo drives throughout Canada.

Servo Drive We Provide:

Motor Controllers for Electric Vehicles

Fully functional, four-quadrant servo drives designed and built to operate today's modern mobile electric vehicular platforms. Providing high power from battery supplies with multiple operating modes, for either permanent magnet brushed or brushless motors, propels this motor controlling series ahead of all others. Whether for traction / propulsion, steering,

Analog Type Amplifiers

Provides unparalleled benefits in both simplicity and performance. Drive setup and operation is more straightforward than digital drives, while achieving higher bandwidth and faster response times at a lower cost. Analog drive technology has been a staple of servo system solutions since day one, and our years of experience in building the highest quality products has created a solid and continuously improving selection of analog drives.

Digital Type Amplifiers

Provide a wide range of options for servo system solutions. Supports an array of feedback options. Driving single phase, three phase, and closed loop vector motors with the ability to interface with both digital network commands and traditional ±10V analog commands, DP drives offer a versatile blend of cutting edge technology and proven results.

CANopen Amplifiers

CANopen is a robust serial protocol that is low cost and offers enhanced diagnostic and control capabilities with reasonable bandwidth. The average CAN message is 130 bits, so it takes 130μsec per message per node to physically send out a message. Different CAN message types improve on this time, but update rates close to 1KHz are possible.

EtherCAT Amplifiers

EtherCAT is a high-performance Ethernet based deterministic network protocol developed by Beckhoff. EtherCAT is based off 100BaseT physical layer and can send multiple datagrams per EtherCAT packet. Cycle times can reach lower than 1msec.

Extended Environment Amplifiers

Designed to operate under harsh thermal and mechanical extremes. An expanded thermal operating range allows these drives to function in both hot and cold ambient environments, and enhanced protection against shock and vibration provides additional system ruggedness. Extended Environment drives also afford benefits for applications in more docile conditions.

POWERLINK / Modbus TCP / Ethernet Amplifiers

An open standard fieldbus for real-time Ethernet-based motion control created by B&R (Bernecker+Rainer Industrie-Elektronik) designed to give users a single, consistent, and integrated means for handling all communication tasks in modern automation. A POWERLINK network integrates all automation components such as PLCs, sensors, I/O modules, motion controllers, safety controls, and HMI systems.

SynqNet Amplifiers

Feature an all-digital motion control interface built on IEEE 802.3 standards for 100baseT, the physical layer of Ethernet. High communication rates allow this centralized control network to coordinate up to 32 nodes.

Positioning and Speed Controllers for Micro Motors

When more than just speed and torque control is required and recurring positioning processes with complex trajectories have to be executed, use Maxon positioning controllers. Maxon position controllers feature CANopen or EtherCAT connectivity, so setting up a distributed control network is easy. All Maxon Motor speed and position controls are specially designed for DC and EC motors with encoders up to 750 Watt continuous output power.