Servo Drive delivers up to 750 W of power for DC motors.

Elmo Motion Control, Inc. Mar 19, 2003

Press Release Summary:

Digital, intelligent Harmonica drive consists of trimmerless velocity servo amplifier that provides 1 hp. With 5.3 oz package, unit offers sinusoidal vector control, trapezoidal vector control, trapezoidal six-step, and DC commutation methods. Drive also incorporates power switching technology aligned with CANopen DS-301 protocol. Fully programmable with proprietary programming language, unit allows users to perform drive setup, configuration, tuning, analysis, and drive programming.

Original Press Release:

Elmo Motion Control Launches the HARmonica Servo Drive

Fully digital powerhouse that delivers up to 750 W of power for DC brush and brushless motors

Windsor, Conn., February 5, 2003 - Elmo Motion Control Ltd. has officially launched its super compact and intelligent Harmonica drive, in both the United States and in Europe. The tiny Harmonica packs high intelligence and one horsepower into a 150-gram (5.3-ounce) package. It features sinusoidal vector control, trapezoidal vector control, trapezoidal six-step and DC commutation methods. Integrated in the drive is high-efficiency power switching technology aligned with Elmo's specially fast implementation of the CANopen DS-301 protocol. The Harmonica is fully programmable with Elmo Motion Control's programming language. Using Elmo's Composer setup tool, Harmonica users can perform drive setup, configuration, tuning, analysis and drive programming - quickly and easily.

The basic configuration of Harmonica is a trimmerless velocity servo amplifier. All adjustments to the velocity, current and commutation functions are made via the serial communication line or CANopen, using a PC. Independent control of the magnetic flux and the torque-generating current component in motors is provided by sinusoidal control with advanced phasing algorithms. This is particularly significant for permanent magnet synchronous motors. The Harmonica series' power source is a 12 to 180 VDC line. A 24 VDC power supply serves as both the auxiliary supply and the backup supply, thereby allowing a safe and economical "power backup" feature that is essential for positioning systems.

The Harmonica - with its wide and powerful range of capabilities - was developed to answer customers' needs for highest reliability and enhanced performance, aligned with low footprint requirements for general-use automatic machinery, such as feeders, up- and down-loaders, transportation belts and production lines. It is ideal in applications ranging from semiconductors and electronic production, to materials handling, electronic production and robotics. The device is available in four major models: standard or advanced version, with either the RS-232 or CANopen communication option. It is a pivotal component in an overall solution that brings the cost of an entire operating axis into the $700 range.

At one of its first customer sites, the Harmonica was installed in the moving optical head of a printing inspection unit in order to control the position of the head. The drive's small size and weight were the critical reasons for making it the optimal choice of servo drive. The customer is also using the extensive programming capabilities of the Harmonica to enhance the flexibility of the application. The next stage of the installation is to implement CANopen networking to reduce the complexity of the entire machine.

Further information about the Harmonica digital servo drive - as well as the entire Elmo product range - can be found on Elmo's Internet web site: www.elmomc.com.