Drives

[Arp16736]

I was wondering what software if any is needed to hook up a Powerflex 40 drive to ControlLogix. An analog card was used. Could I have done it another way. This application is being implemented on a packaging line.

[NorwichUK]

Really depends on what you need to do with it.

If you don't ever need to change the speed once you've found the optimum, then you can just use digital IO to start / stop the drive at the preset frequency.

If you need to change the speed depending on your process, you could use Presets stored in the drive and just select them by IO.

If you need continuous speed changes, or speeds that are a result of a calculation or operator input, then you either need:-

Analog card

Comms interface.

If you just have the one drive and need control of the speed, I would say that the analog is probably the easiest and cheapest way to go and has the fastest response if you need to perform precise ramps controled from the PLC.

The comms is the most flexible, but you will need:-

a comms card in the chassis

a comms adapter on the drive

depending on the comms chosen (Ethernet, DeviceNet etc) you may need network software to configure it (RSNetworx for DeviceNet etc).

So - if only one drive and not a PLC wizzard, analog is a simple way if thats what you've got.

FYI, RSLogix since version 16 has had the PowerFlex40 Ethernet templates embedded into it, with access to go online and write / save the drive setup within the .ACD file. I must admit that I haven't had a good experience of this to date - despite assurances that all the bugs related to this were fixed in V16.03.

An unofficial quote from the people who know about these things is to make sure you have drive explorer or drive executive as a back up to the RSLogix Ethernet templates for the powerflex comms if you chose to go that way. Maybe its all fixed now with V17?

[fordtt]

Analog control works very well the caveat to this is analog is all you have.  By adding a 22-Comm-x module (ethernet, controlnet, devicenet) you also get feedback on the drive as well as gain start/stop control.  Using analog for speed you'll still have to use the digital inputs to start/stop the drive.  Either start/stop manully from an operator station or use isolated output cards and start/stop it from the Controllogix.