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Addressing
How
is motor addressing handled on the SmartMotor?
How can a command be sent to a specific motor or group of motors?
Every motor has an address register: upon power up or reset, the
value of this register is zero. The value stored in this register
can be changed by a SADDR# command arriving from the host or from
a command executed from within a stored user program. Valid addresses
range from 0 to 100.
The SmartMotor scans incoming RS232 communications for high order
ASCII bytes (values between 100 - 128). When such a byte is received,
the SmartMotor
evaluates <byte> - 128 to get the address number. If the address
number is 0 or equal to the value of the motor address register,
subsequent commands are accepted. If neither condition is true,
all commands are ignored until an appropriate high order ASCII byte
is received.
Also available are motor unique states of SLEEP and WAKE. In the
SLEEP state, all commands are ignored until a properly addressed
WAKE command arrives. This allows global addressing techniques to
be directed at specific sub-sets of motors in an application.

Braking
Does the SmartMotor have braking capability?
The
SM1720, SM23XX, and SM34XX can be ordered with the BRK option. The SmartMotors Power and control the brake built
onto the backside of the motor.
Can the SmartMotor do dynamic braking?
The
SmartMotor is a full four quadrant servo design: it can brake dynamically
up to the momentary torque/speed limitations of the system.

Communication
What
are the maximum recommended distance between SmartMotor and the
computer/controller for communication through RS232, RS485, AniLink,
and I/O connector?
This question is difficult to answer because so many factors are
involved. In most instances, we quote 30 feet (10 meters) for RS232,
1000 feet for RS485, 10 feet (3 metres) for AniLink, and 3 feet
for I/O connector. (The 10PWR105 used for powering AniLink devices
allows the addition of multiple motors to the network but does not
increase separation.)
I keep getting junk on my screen while polling
with the monitor status window, what's wrong?
There
could be a print statement in your program. Make sure that ECHO
is off. There is a chance that the memory module is corrupt.
What makes the SmartMotor more capable than
other products in handling multi-axis, co-ordinated motion?
Since each SmartMotor incorporates its own integrated closed loop
controller, the Central Host is released of the task of closing
the loop. Instead, the host streams real-time data to each motor
and only deals with error checking and I/O control as needed. This
results in a faster throughput. Abbreviated command sets and efficient,
abbreviated addressing minimizes the data load.
What is the communications rate through the
RS232?
The
SmartMotor is designed for RS232 communications at the following
user select-able baud rates:
38,400 / 19,200
/ 9,600 - Default
/ 4,800 /
2,400
Will the SmartMotor operate with Labview
commands?
Labview
has the ability to communicate
ASCII protocol via RS232 as a driver so the interface is compatible.
The User can readily send down code
strings in SmartMotor compatible commands.
I have a system based on DEVICENET;
how can the SmartMotor be used with such a system?
Background:
DEVICENET is a controller area network (CAN) protocol, high speed communications
link for industrial devices developed in the early 1980's by Allen
Bradley. Many designers choose DEVICENET for its interchangeability
(many vendors and products available), advanced diagnostics,
and its compatibility with distributed power networks.
Animatics
Corp. provides Devicenet Gateway options for the 23 and 34 frame
series SmartMotors.

What host communication relationships will
the SmartMotor support?
The
following common communications relationships are supported by the
SmartMotor:
Host / Slave
Host / Interactive
Host / Independent
Stand-Alone
In a Host / Slave relationship, the PC host transmits
commands over the RS232 one at a time for immediate execution by
the SmartMotor. In this relationship, the host assumes all of the
timing functions for the application. It is also clear that certain
SmartMotor commands don't work in this relationship, for example
the WHILE command.
In
Host / Interactive relationships, the host program and the SmartMotor
program interact. There are two basic sub-categories of this relationship.
In one, the host interacts with a running program through RS232
messaging or I/O level signaling. The SmartMotor may or may not
be sending messages back to the host by similar methods.
In another, the host sends preparatory (program configuration) data
to the SmartMotor, then issues a RUN command. The SmartMotor executes
its independent program, which may or may not include messaging
and host signaling. Upon program termination, the SmartMotor simply
waits for further host instruction. This special category of host
/ slave relationships is called Host / Independent relationships:
Entire programs are downloaded from the host to the SmartMotor.
RUN may be initiated by either the host or by external hardware
input. One main feature of this type of relationship is the relative
autonomy of the individual motors: here the motors may signal the
host at appropriate times, but in general, host intervention is
not expected.

Critical product features to the Host / Interactive
relationship are:
The
priority of host communications over the execution stored program
code: This allows the SmartMotor to stop execution of stored code
in an orderly manner, and begin execution of incoming serial code
as soon as the one byte serial buffer is filled. Execution of the
stored program resumes as soon one of the two following conditions
is met:
1.
A valid command is executed
2. An incoming command is determined to be invalid and is dumped.
The non-interrupt-ability of the busy/search (code scan) state of
the SmartMotor. A busy/searching state occurs whenever the SmartMotor
is searching for an address in memory at which it can resume code
execution. This address search occurs during the negative evaluation
of an IF statement. It also occurs during a WHILE statement during
a period after the last executable command of the LOOP block and
the execution of the WHILE's argument expression. The relative freedom of action provided by the SmartMotor's change-on-the-fly
capability. Operational modes and trajectories can be changed on
the fly.
While it is possible for a supervisory host to interrupt the execution
a well-structured stored program, taking direct command of the application
during critical periods, the relative independence of each SmartMotor
relieves the host of the direct processing burden of each axes control,
and reduces the required band-width of the serial communications
channel.
In stand alone applications, the SmartMotor relies entirely on
its EEPROM memory for user program storage. The SmartMotor can handle
I/O from an outside source if desired, can communicate through RS232
or other mechanisms. RS232 communications retain their execution
priority regardless of system design. Multi-axis stand alone applications
which use one SmartMotor as a host platform have been implemented
and are currently operating in the field.
What is the 8-N-1 ASCII protocol mentioned
in the manual?
The
SmartMotor uses an asynchronous serial interface often described
as a "three wire implementation of RS232."
Asynchronous communications require a stable environment: if any
bit of a transmission is lost, there is a high probability that
the remainder of any transmitted message will be misunderstood.
It is therefore necessary to carefully define the structure of the
transmission. A serial bit is a defined period of time, and the
state of the bit can either be a 1 or a 0, depending on the voltage
state of the transmit line during the duration of the serial bit.
When the RS232 is in the idle state (waiting to transmit a message)
it rests in the high (on) state. When a character is to be transmitted
the TxD line is brought low for a carefully defined period of time,
the time period of the start bit is a function of the BAUD rate.
This low state is called the start bit.
Immediately following the start bit are a number of data bits. The
SmartMotor must use 8 data bits, and this is the meaning of the
"8" in the string "8-N-1."

Following the data bits in the is an optional parity
bit. The parity bit used in some transmission schemes to check the
validity of received characters on a byte-by-byte basis. Since this
is an optional process which slows down communications, it is not
implemented in the SmartMotor. The "N" in "8-N-1"
stands for no parity bit. Following the optional parity bit is a
bit called the stop bit. On ancient teletypes and other old machinery,
a delay was required to ensure that the received character could
be handled before the next character arrived. For this reason a
stop bit was added at the end of every transmitted character. Depending
on the delay needed, either one, one-and-a-half or two stop bits
are added. The SmartMotor uses the minimum required period, 1 stop
bit (8-N-1).
Following the above description, the SmartMotor uses 10 bit data
structure to transmit an eight bit ASCII character. The SmartMotor
requires a maximum of one signal change to transmit one bit, and
since the baud rate is defined as the number of signal changes per
second, this means that the data transmission rate is (BAUDRATE)
/10 = characters per second.
| Baud
Rate |
Characters
per Second |
| 2400 |
240 |
| 4800 |
480 |
| 9600 |
960 |
| 19800 |
1980 |
| 38400 |
3840 |
|

Encoder
How do I get encoder outputs A+, A-, B+,
and B-?
Use
the chip DS26LS31 that converts the encoder A and B signals to differentials.
The output signal from the encoder goes through a 74LS04 chip.
What kind of encoder is used with the motor?
The
SmartMotor uses an Hewlett Packard HEDS incremental encoder which
can read position to an accuracy of 2000 counts per revolution for
the SM1720 and SM23XX and 4000 counts per revolution for the SM34XX
and above.
What does dual encoder capability mean?
Dual
encoder capability means that the SmartMotor can accept and read
an A-B signal from an external encoder. This capability allows the
user program running on the SmartMotor to follow and react to an
independent axis.
Can an external encoder input information
to the motor to govern position?
External
encoder data can be input through the I/O channels A and B while
the SmartMotor is in the following or camming mode. The CTR command
keeps track of external encoder position.
In case of a power shut down, can the encoder
continue to read position?
Yes,
by ordering the motors with the -DE" (Drive Enable) option, the
control power to the CPU can be maintained while the drive power
is dropped via E-Stop or Power Loss. Control Power can be from 16
to 48VDC.
Note:
The –DE Option is not available on the SM1720 or SM2315 series motors.
What is the encoder index mark?
Our
quadrature encoders feature two physical tracks, which generate
three signals. One track generates two of the signals, A and B.
These signals are phased in quadrature and carry both position and
direction information.
The second track generates the third signal; this signal changes
state only once per revolution, and defines a unique point in the
rotation. The mark on the second track which generates the state
change is called the index mark. The index signal is often used
to define a home position when used in conjunction with an external
switch wired to one of the I/O. See the I and RI commands for details
about how the SmartMotor handles its index signal in software.

Hardware
How much current does the SmartMotor electronics
consume?
The
electronics consume about 70 to 90 mA. The motor can also supply
approximately 150 mA which may be used to drive limit switches and/or
user I/O's.
What is a 'skewed rotor' design?
The
rotor is the component of the SmartMotor that rotates inside the
stator coil. The rotor is surrounded by a permanent magnetic. Electric
currents in the stator coil create a changing magnetic field. This
magnetic field reacts with the magnet field around the rotor and
causes the rotor to turn. The stator contains a number of coils.
In a simple design of motor, the rotor will rotate in such a way
that its magnet tries to stay in alignment with the field generated
in the stator coils. At slower speeds, the rotor turns in small
steps or jerks, not with a smooth uniform motion. This effect is
known as torque ripple.
By building the rotor with a twist, or making a skewed
rotor design, the permanent magnet is twisted around the rotor shaft.
This causes a corresponding twisting of the magnetic field. The
field of any one rotor-magnet is now spread just beyond one of the stator coils. The result is a much smoother rotation and considerable reduction
in torque ripple.
How long does it
take to boot up or power up a SmartMotor?
It
takes about 40-60ms for the motor to power up from 0 to 5 volts.
It takes 100 ms for the hardware to reset.
What is backlash?
Backlash
is defined as the amount of freeplay between the motor shaft and
the load. It is determined by measuring the amount of angular movement
on the shaft which produces no movement on the load across a variety
of conditions.

Limit
Switch
I see there are two limit switch inputs.
How are home switches typically implemented? Using one of the limits?
How do you recommend implementing abort/emergency kill switches?
You
can use the limit switches to trigger the motor to execute its 'home'
subroutine. Similarly, one of the limit switches can be set up as
a 'kill' or safety switch. By setting a software command to read
the status of this switch, the motor will execute a stop in response
to a change of state of the switch. Think that, typically, if the
state goes to '0', or ground, you can get a fail-safe kill switch
arrangement.
How can I stop the shaft without powering
down the controller using a limit switch?
There
are two function states controlling the behavior of the SmartMotor
during limit switch activation. F=0 allows the shaft to run free
upon a limit switch hit. F=1 is equivalent to issuing an X command
upon a limit switch hit.
Neither command causes the controller to power down: there is no
loss of position data or program execution upon such an event.
I am using normally closed induction
proximity switches.
Can I stop the motor when the limit input sees a +5V signal?
Since All I/O at the connector is 5VDC TTL Level, only 5VDC or Dry contact switches should be used.
There are various ways to use limit switch inputs.
They can be set to Active High asserted or Active Low asserted depending on Firmware revision.
Version 4.76 firmware and above default to Active High only.
Note: 24VDC converters are available for the motor I/O connector as well.
Please consult the factory for more detail.
How do your limit switches work?
When
a limit switch is asserted (dragged to ground), the limit switch
inputs interrupt the SmartMotor processor, causing motion to cease.
Depending on the state of the F= command, the SmartMotor will either
free the motor shaft, or command the current trajectory to come
to rest and servo in place at a position determined by the current
acceleration rate (A=).
If my ball screw application runs into a
hardstop, what will happen?
If
the SmartMotor is operating in position or velocity mode, when the
axis run into a hardstop, the current position error will begin
to rise. As the PID filter senses a rise in the current position
error, and as the error is sustained over time, the PWM command
will grow, resulting in more output torque. The output torque will
continue to grow until the effective current maximum, set by the
AMPS command, is reached. Once this limit is achieved, torque will
remain constant until the current position error exceeds the error
limit (E=), at which time the motor off flag will be set, and the
drive will shut down (sending output torque to zero). The controller
will continue to run following a position error event. Error handling
routines based on the Bo (motor off) bit can be implemented in the
stored user program.

Miscellaneous
How is the SmartMotor in terms of electrical
noise and EMI?
SmartMotors
are fully enclosed and are constructed with a minimum of internal
inter-connects. There are no internal wires, we use header pins
to connect between stacked circuit boards. The result is an electrically
quiet motor. We have a CE rating and meet the stringent requirements
of the German TUV standard. (We have been tested
and passed by TUV, but we are waiting for our certificate before
we can officially use their designation.)
Does the SmartMotor have a cleanroom rating?
Animatics
has not submitted the SmartMotor for cleanroom compliance testing
with any outside testing agency: We therefore cannot make any specific
claims about clean room category compliance.
However, since the SmartMotor is based on a brushless DC servo
motor and a low-noise emission PWM amplifier, the SmartMotor is
generally suitable for clean room service in all categories. In
fact, the bulk of our current sales go to OEM companies manufacturing
semiconductor handling and processing equipment; the end-use of
almost all of our production is in the high-category clean rooms
of semiconductor fabs, world-wide.
The cost of machine footprint is extremely important in cleanroom
applications; the "all-in-one" integrated construction
of the SmartMotor is widely considered a critical advantage by
many clean room equipment designers. Several of our customers are
manufacturing machines which would not be practical if they had
to provide footprint for separate controllers, amplifiers, and feedback
devices, not to mention the cabling required to integrate these
separate devices. To extend this idea, an article in December '97
edition of Control Engineering cited Animatics as the only manufacturer
of such an integrated servo motion control package.
What is the PWM switching frequency in the
motor?
Depending
on the motor, (SM42XX and SM56XX) 16kHz, (SM1720, SM23XX, and SM34XX
Ver. 3.4) 25kHz, and (SM1720, SM23XX, SM34XX Ver. 4.0 and above)
33kHz.
Is the SmartMotor explosion proof?
The
current SmartMotor design is not explosion proof. An explosion
proof version of the motor is technically possible, consult an Animatics
Applications Engineer for details.
What is the maximum number of revolutions
that the SmartMotor can count?
The
SM23XX can count 1,073,741 revolutions in each direction.
(+/-31 bits or 2,147,483,648 counts / 2000 counts/ revolution =
1,073,741 revolutions)

Peripherals
What is the "AniLink Network"? -
As mentioned in the SmartMotor brochure:
The
AniLink Network is a network management system for the Smart Motor
peripherals. The AniLink network allows the SmartMotor to control
up to sixteen daisy-chained external devices (eight of the DIO-family,
and eight of the AIO-family). These devices extend the system functionality
of the SmartMotor controller. AniLink is only meant for a single
motor to talk to its own peripherals. AniLink cannot be used to
control a motor or to communicate between two or more motors.
What network protocol are you using for the
AniLink network?
At speed does it run?
The
Anilink Network does not run on a protocol, the system is specific
to Animatics motors and peripherals. The network is designed for
transmission over short distances (inches) across circuit boards.
The simple system does not require expensive chip sets to communicate
between devices. Devices read data byte by byte according to the
clock cycles in the processors.
What is the EEPROM?
The
EEPROM (electronically erasable programmable read only memory) is
used in the SmartMotor to store user programs. A unique feature
of an EEPROM is its ability to permanently store data. This allows
the memory module on the SM to be removed, and a new program inserted,
even with the SmartMotor under power. The EEPROM can store up to
8 KB of program data, programs are stored in ASCII. A 32 KB chip
will soon be available.
What are the options for networking SmartMotors?
Daisy-Chain
You
can daisy-chain up to 100 SmartMotors using a single RS232 port. Motor addressing is
accomplished by command in the initialization segment of the stored
user program. Commands are passed from the host to the first motor
over the RS232, then are repeated from on motor to the next until
they arrive back at the host.
Multi-Drop
Using
the optional RS485 converter, you can build a star configuration
network with all motors in parallel. The RS-485 communication protocol
is less susceptible to common mode noise than RS232.
In what applications is the I/O connector
necessary?
I/O
connector is used in almost all applications where the SmartMotor
is expected to interact directly with its application or environment.
Common
uses for the I/O connector are:
Program
Start Button
Program
Stop Button
Emergency
Stop Button
I/O
signaling from application
Encoder
following signal transmission
Step-and-Direction
signal transmission
Monitoring of SmartMotor position by external device

Power
Supply
What is the maximum input voltage for a SmartMotor
running off a DC power supply?
The
voltage input for the SmartMotor ranges from 20VDC to 48V DC maximum.
Any voltage above 48 VDC will reduce the life of the SmartMotor
and possibly damage it, especially if the application allows the
motor to be back driven.
(In this mode, the load is driving the motor, which acts as a generator,
and induces a voltage in the stator windings).
Will one power supply drive three motors?
It
is necessary to match the power supply to the combined peak and
rms power demand of all three motors. Power supplies are generally
sized according to the procedure for sizing multiple motors. Account
for IR losses in the supply and saturation.
What is the cable length limit between a
power supply and SmartMotor?
The
limit is dependent on wire resistance, which limits the current
and voltage to the motor. These resistive losses affect both acceleration
and steady state velocity. There are minor acceleration issues and
cases where the motor will not reach torque or speed. The length
depends on the application. For more information, contact the applications
engineer.
What kind of power supply do you recommend
for the SmartMotor?
Linear Unregulated power supplies are preferred
over regulated power supplies for durability in high-demand motion
control applications. Regulated Power supplies typically cannot absorb
high peak demands as are often demanded by servo motors.
Can multiple SmartMotor operate from a single
DC power supply?
Many
SmartMotors can operate from a single power supply if the combined
power demand (both peak and RMS) of all the motors does not exceed
the capacity of the supply. The normal rules for sizing power supplies
apply to sizing for multiple motors, be sure to account for line
drops and demand saturation. In applications with multiple power
supplies, remember that all power supplies must share a common ground
configured to avoid ground loops and supporting the communications
circuitry.

Reliability
What do the reliability studies look like
for the SmartMotor?
The
SmartMotor MTBF has been calculated at over 100,000 hours using
MILSPEC 17 methods. Motors are currently under long term test for
verification. The SmartMotor is designed and manufactured for industrial
environments where reliability and durability are critical. The
SmartMotor's reliability is a function of:
1. Total system integration
2. Animatics' 18 years experience in design and mfg of servo motion
control products
3. Extraordinary quality of components used
Is the MTBF value a theoretical or real achieved
value ?
MTBF
can be statistically calculated from the sum of the theoretical
component lifetimes of the elements of the SmartMotor, amplifier,
controller etc. SEMI E10-96 is an industry standard that defines
how to do this, as is the method described in MIL-HDBK-217. However,
we have also conducted accelerated aging tests to produce data that
confirms our MTBF value.
In situations where high loads, or high temperatures are experienced,
we recommend increasing the motor size. This allows the motor to
perform at the required level without operating above the temperature
range of the electronics. Of course, operating at a temperature
comparable to the recommended temperature for the electronics increases
the MTBF of the system.

Software
What kind of software do you use to control
the SmartMotor?
We
supply a host terminal development system for the SmartMotor for
Windows or DOS. This program acts as an RS232 translator for host-to-slave
interaction, and as an integrated development environment for the
writing and testing stored user programs.
What host options are available for the SmartMotor?
Can the SmartMotor receive commands from other software
packages or devices other than a PC?
Since
the SmartMotor receives commands in ASCII, any host which can transmit
the appropriate ASCII strings can communicate with the SmartMotor.
A number of customers have used PC programs other than SMI or TERM
as a host terminal program. LabView, Think&Do, Wonderware and
PROCOMM are commonly used. Each program has unique advantages for
particular applications.
Several customers have written their own host terminal programs
on a variety of hardware platforms: PC, Mac, Next, Sun (Unix) and
SGI (Unix) . The SmartMotor has also been integrated to accept
ASCII commands from a variety of PLC's and bar code readers.
Can I download program comments and headers
with my SmartMotor program?
Comments
can be placed in you user source (.src) file using the (') character
to the left of any comment. However, comments and headers represent
illegal character strings within the SmartMotor processor, and should
not be downloaded to the SmartMotor's memory.
Does the SmartMotor operate on fixed point
or floating point math?
The
SmartMotor processor is a 32-bit signed integer machine. We can
help you produce code allowing your operator to interface in standard
decimal units for both input and output.

Speed
I have a SmartMotor servo, but I cannot
reach anything near the maximum speed, even with no load on the
motor?
Check
the voltage supply! The motor needs a voltage supply equal to the
desired speed multiplied by the voltage constant (rpm x Kv). If
the supply voltage is too low, the motor will not attain its maximum
theoretical speed. The maximum speed will be (supply voltage/Kv).

Temperature
What´s the maximum and minimum temperature
for the SmartMotor electronics?
The
maximum temperature is 70 degrees C. This is a standard industry
temperature limit for CMOS components. Although almost half the
components in the SmartMotor servo are rated above 70 degrees C
(100 to 150 degrees C), microprocessors are very vulnerable to higher
temperatures. Temperatures above 70 degrees C may reduce the reliability
of circuit components and could corrupt data held in registers or
in the processor.
The SmartMotor is limited to 70 degrees C by an electronic thermostat.
This can be disabled to allow the system to run at higher temperatures,
but system lifetime is reduced.

Timing
How fast are the Analog to Digital pins on
the SmartMotor read and converted?
The
acquisition time is 25 to 30 microseconds and the conversion time
is about the same.
The literature mentions "4kHz 32-bit
motion".
Does this mean a position update loop of 250usec (1/4kHz)?
Yes,
a position update every 1/4000 seconds.
What is the best time resolution that you
can get trying to synchronize motors over the network?
Your
literature indicates that you can synchronize the motors via hardware
(presumably the I/O port). Can you provide me details on how this
is done? I am still curious about what performance can be attained
over the network, so could you also ask your software people what
the latency is when synchronizing motors via the network.
At its most basic, we can synchronize motors by hardware.
In this mode, a motor will wait for a signal from a limit switch,
another motor or external source before commencing a position change.
This is perhaps the slowest method because movements are timed according
to 'mechanical' events. Our network options are possible with series
(RS232) or parallel (RS485) configurations. In RS232, each motor
receives its commands preceded by that motor's unique address. A
command for a specific motor must travel through the each motor
that lies between the controller and the specific motor before it
is 'seen' by the target. Each motor takes approximately 0.25 milliseconds
to receive and re-transmit a command. The command for the target
motor will be delayed according to the number of motors between
it and the controller, and the number of other commands coming down
the network. If the network may carry commands to and from other
devices and the motor has to wait while this traffic passes before
it can receive and read its instructions.
Response rate is a real differentiator of servomotors
and an indicator of the capability of the on-board processors. In
a worse case scenario long instructions and low baud rate, we take
5ms to read, receive and process an instruction. With typical faster
baud rates and command lengths, the time can come down to 1 ms.
Using RS485 mode, the motors are connected in parallel to the network
and all motors read instructions simultaneously. A motor will ignore
an instruction unless it is addressed to that specific motor.
How long does it take until a command is
executed?
Depending
on the PID tuning values, execution time is around 0.3 milliseconds.
The time taken for RS232 commands to pass along a set of SmartMotors
in series is as follows:
The time for the SmartMotor controller to process a 14 character
command, at 107 micro seconds per character is 1.5 ms.
The process time can be 1 to 6 servo cycles.
The servo rate is 4 kHz, 6 servo cycles in 1.5 ms.
Latency, the time for an incoming signal to be read, processed and
retransmitted as an output to the next motor on the RS232 is 2
to 3 ms.
How long does it take to transition out of
Mode Follow to Position or Velocity Mode?
Transition
time to Position and Velocity Mode is around 5.4 ms and 6.2 ms,
respectively.

Torque
How long can a SmartMotor supply its peak
torque?
The
SmartMotor can supply peak torque until the heat generated from
the maximum current in the stator winding raises the temperature
of the electronics above 70 degrees C. This time will depend on
the ambient temperature and way the application allows the motor
to disperse heat. If a motor is fan cooled, in cold air, or bolted
to a large metal surface (which aids cooling from heat conduction
and radiation) the motor will sustain peak torque for longer periods.
A general answer is that the motor could supply peak torque for
10 seconds every minute. If it runs longer, more heat is generated
which raises the temperature of the microchip and electronics. Then
the motor must run at a lower power output, or stop, until it has
cooled.
How will the torque-speed curve change with
a lower input voltage?
The
downward slope of the curve will remain the same, just shifted to
the left by the ratio of the input voltage and torque-speed curve
voltage.
What do you mean by peak torque and continuous
torque in your brochure?
Peak
torque was measured using a dynamometer by attaching the SmartMotor
face place to a 10" x 10" x _ " Al plate at room
temperature. A pulley, attached to the shaft, connected to an adjustable
brake and data was collected across a number of velocities.
The continuous ratings were the highest torque/speed SOAC readings
found for continuous operation.
The published peak torque values will cause a SmartMotor starting
from room temperature to shut down within 30 to 45 seconds. Normal
de-rating techniques must be applied when considering any applications
temperature and loading requirements. Note that the continuous operation
specifications appear lower than those that would be calculated
for a standard BLDC servomotor given our motors specifications and
thermal capacitance. Thermal loading of system by the drive circuits
account for these losses.
Is there a formula to relate torque speed
characteristics when a SmartMotor is used with a power supply delivering
less than 45V?
There
is a complex relationship between the torque-speed curves and the
applied voltage. You can predict the peak torque at a given speed
by the formula:
Torque = Maximum current x Torque constant
Maximum current = the unit's current limit or max motor coil current,
whichever is lower. For the SM17 and 23s, the unit current limit
is 12.5A, while that for the SM34 is 40A. The RTC is 3A.
The max coil current is calculated as follows:
max coil current = (bus voltage - back EMF)
coil resistance
(where back EMF = motor voltage constant x RPM)
The continuous torque is a function of heat dissipation. Bus
voltage has a negligible effect, as long as it is within the specified
operating range.

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