ABB has launched its smallest drive

Citation

(1998), "ABB has launched its smallest drive", Industrial Robot, Vol. 25 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.1998.04925bad.006

ABB has launched its smallest drive

ABB has launched its smallest drive

ABB Drives has launched its first micro drive, taking the power rating of its extensive AC drives range from 2.2kW down to 0.37kW, in 200V and 240V single phase and three phase.

Simple operation, accurate speed control, easy installation and fast commissioning are features of the low cost ACS 100. Measuring 80mm wide, the drive is the only one in its class with a detachable front mounted control panel.

Control panel

The six pushbutton, "matchbox" size removable control panel is of particular advantage to those installing many small drives with the same settings, as the panel can copy parameters from one ACS 100 and paste them into as many other ACS 100s as required. Users only need to purchase one ACS 100 drive with a control panel to programme all their micro drives.

The control panel's cost accounts for up to 20 per cent of the drive, giving significant cost savings, in addition to fast set up and guaranteed data accuracy.

ABB's smallest drive

The detachable panel can be mounted on the cabinet door, giving panel builders and OEMs more flexibility with their system designs.

"In the simplest of applications, the control panel is not needed at all. This brings short installation times, easy commissioning and the need for little, if any, training," says Tuomo Merentie, sales and marketing director at ABB Industry, Helsinki. "The standard unit is simply installed and, using the default settings, the user can begin operation."

With a switch, five ramp times and the supply frequency (50 or 60Hz) can be chosen. Should the application requirements change, a control panel can be purchased and the features/parameters of the base unit can be further expanded.

The IP20 rated ACS 100 is also the only micro drive to offer three alternative mounting arrangements: DIN rail, flange and wall-mounted.

Flange mounting

Of particular interest to OEMs and panel builders is the flange mounted arrangement. The drives can be densely packed into panels with the heatsinks in a ventilation duct.

Typically, two-thirds of drives losses are dissipated through the heatsink. Thus with flange mounting, the electronics are inside and the cooling is undertaken outside, thereby increasing the reliability of the electronics. Also the absence of a cooling fan provides a quieter drive with longer mean time between failures (MTBF).

The drive is also rated for operation up to 50°C ambient, which together with the flange arrangement, allows the drive to be integrated into machinery or used in warmer environments. The drive has been designed for 400,000 hours MTBF, ensuring long periods between services or replacement.

The flexibility of the ACS 100 I/Os allows a simple and direct PNP and NPN interface with any PLC, without any relays. This provides a cost efficient interface for applications such as building services and material handling and gives OEMs the flexibility to use small drives in other configurations. The drive accepts 0-20mA and O10V analogue signals, making it easy to apply to analogue control systems.

Applications

Typical applications for the drives are material handling conveyors, pumps, fans and mixers. ABB also expects the drive to be popular among one-off users including hobbyists and academic institutions owing to its simple use.

The range is designed to meet the requirements of machine builders, electrical contractors and panel builders, who often just want a basic motor speed controller that can fit into small spaces.

For more information contact Tuomo Merentie, Sales and Marketing Director, ABB Industry Oy, Drive Products and Systems, PO Box 184, FIN-00381, Helsinki, Finland. Tel: +358 (0)10 222 2890; Fax: +358 (0)10 222 2211.