Application Notes - with IPM Motion Studio 2.1

APN.001. Getting started using Technosoft Intelligent Drives

For new users of an intelligent drive, starting to implement a motion control application can be a quite complex task. You need to know how to hook-up the components of the motion system, to configure them (motor, sensors and drive), test their functionality, identify parameters and tune controllers. Finally, executing a simple movement will validate the basic system functionality and will allow you to focus on implementing your real motion application.

APN.002. Start/Stop motion using two I/Os

A basic task needed in some applications is to execute a motion with an imposed speed, starting from the moment when a digital input line of the drive ("Start") is changing its status, until the moment when another digital input line ("Stop") is changing its status.

APN.003. How to combine motion sequences driven by events

Motion applications often require combining different types of motions, to concatenate different motion modes (as starting in a speed control mode and - at a given moment of time, or when reaching a given motion parameter value, or when an input line changes its status - continue with a position profile motion). Also interesting is the execution of a motion with trapezoidal speed profile, having different start and stop accelerations.

APN.004. Implementation of over-current protections

During its operation, the current in the drive must be limited to a given value, which will protect it against failure. Depending on motion cycle patterns, this limit can be imposed so that, after a programmed time limit, a protection is triggered, and specific action can be taken.
   

APN.005. Using limit switches and external on-line reference

In some applications, the host sends a speed reference to the drive, and the motor moves with the reference speed, in a speed control loop. Reaching a position limit switch imposes the stop of the motor, until the host will send a speed reference in the opposite direction. Also, the drive ENABLE input needs to be used to activate / deactivate the motion.

APN.006. Using limit switches and external analog reference

In some applications, a speed reference is imposed to the drive using an external analog signal, and the motor moves at the reference speed, in a speed control loop. Reaching a position limit switch imposes the stop of the motor, until the speed reference value changes its sign. The same must operate at system start, if the motor is already in a limit switch position. Also, external input lines status can be tested, in order to completely activate / deactivate the motion.

APN.007. Starting the PMSM motor without initial pole lock

When controlled in sinusoidal mode, the brushless motor initial position needs to be known. If the motor has an encoder and also Hall sensors, it can start in a controlled direction, without the need to perform an open loop pole lock movement.

APN.007s. Microstepping in open loop

Driving a step motor in open loop control mode with the IPS/IDS stepper drives can be done in full step, half step or microstep mode. Tuning the current loop and setting the parameters of the drive to configure the full, half or microstep operating mode are described in this note. Also, in high-speed applications, the IPS/IDS stepper drives can enter a specific driving regime (rectangular mode) in which the digital current loop is opened to allow full voltage on motor phases. Guidelines for secure operation in that regime are also presented.

APN.008. Temperature control on a thermal probe without a PLC

A thermal probe measures the temperature of an enclosure yielding 0 to 5V analogue signal. The temperature reference signal is also in the 0 to 5V range. An electro valve actuated by a low cost step motor regulates the heat flow. A compact size solution to replace the existing PLC, sequencer and step amplifier structure is requested.

APN.009. Using digital I/Os to select a pre-programmed motion

In some cases, it is useful to be able to select between several pre-programmed applications, eventually by using some input lines of the drive. Once a selection is done, the application can start. Applications like motion with limit switches detection, cyclic positioning motions, positioning with position and speed references imposed from analog inputs, are included as examples.

APN.010. Using encoder index, captures and homing inputs

As incremental encoders do not provide absolute position information, using the index signal of the encoder can provide such absolute position information. Also, as this provides only absolute position of the motor over one motor shaft rotation, it is often required to move the motor until a home input is detected by the drive, allowing the setting of the absolute position information to a given value.

APN.011. Getting started with RS-485 serial communication

Using a drive in the RS-485 mode requires some specific operations, mainly related to the drive configuration (setting RS-485 mode, axis ID, launching the AUTORUN mode) and setup of the IPM Motion Studio environment and of the user project.

APN.012. Execute motion with different speed levels using 3 I/Os

Another basic task needed in some applications is to execute a motion with several different speed levels, when certain combinations of digital inputs are read from the I/O interface. This application note explains how to configure a new project/application under the ‘IPM Motion Studio’ to select the desired speed level using I/O inputs.

APN.013. Implementation of speed control on a brushless motor without encoder using Hall sensors

With brushless motors, the control of the motor speed when only Hall sensors are installed on the motor does not yield very good performance, mainly at low speed values. In some cases, computing the motor speed from the time length of Hall sensor pulses leads to better results than the classical method of counting the pulses.

APN.014. Implementing a gearing operation in multiple-axis structures

In some applications you may want to drive one, two, or even more motors according to a reference given externally. The reference can be sent from another drive, or it can be directly generated by another motor. In any case the drive/motor that gives the reference (position) is called “master” and the drives that receive it are called “slaves”. This mode is known as “electronic gearing".

APN.015. Implementing CAM profiles in multiple-axis structures

In some applications you may want to drive one, two, or even more motors according to a reference which is given externally. The reference can be sent from another drive, or it can be directly generated by another motor. The drive/motor that gives the reference (position) is called “master” and the drives that receive it are called “slaves”. If the slaves also have a table with values for their positioning according to the master position, then they are in the “electronic camming” mode.

APN.016. How to use a second analog input (REF2)

In some IM23x-IS based applications you may need to use two analog references: REF and REF2. REF2 can be used as a general-purpose 10-bit analog input. This Application Note explains: how to configure new project/application under the 'IPM Motion Studio' for using REF2 as a general-purpose input; how to use the REF2 signal to generate a simple speed profile; how to run this application.

APN.018. How to select the braking resistor

On braking, the energy of the moving system flows back to the drive. In some applications the DC-bus capacitors (if present) are only able to take up a small amount of this energy, the rest has to be converted to heat by a resistor. This application note will help you to select the braking resistor. Applications that require dissipative braking can be very different. You’ll find here some guidelines that are generally applicable.