Keeping it simple, making it powerful

A number of unique features make Rockwell's new Kinetix 6000 multi-axis servo drive the latest piece of automation hardware to stand above current offerings in the very competitive drives market. Reduced installation time, reduced wiring time and typically twice the bandwidth of rival products place the drive in a competitive position to take on what is a saturated market when it comes to available technology. Increasingly ease of use and ease of installation are playing a greater role in the selection procedure of many design engineers. This product range goes a along way to satisfying some of those needs. Straight from the off the drive offers an immediate advantage. With its unique PLC rack style it cuts down on preparation by only requiring 5 mounting holes as opposed to a typical 32 for an eight-axis system. Once established the modules are then simply clipped onto the rack and all the power and communication connections are created, thanks to a built-in rail. The modules themselves, at a svelte 200 or 300mm deep, typically require 50% less panel space, and the rack-style mounting ensures that none of the high voltage parts are exposed. The company has also ensured that a good earth connection is created as the modules are attached. This helps to eliminate RF noise problems that can be a major issue with many servo systems. Addressing the fact that many multi-axis systems require inordinate amounts of wiring, Rockwell has worked with Phoenix Contact to create a novel termination plug. This can be wired up with all the necessary power and feedback cables and then simply plugged and secured into the front of the unit. The connector has a low profile (in order to fit into a 200mm-deep panel), no specialist tools are required and it offers a full 360° shield once assembled. The Kinetix 6000 uses a SERCOS digital interface to connect with the Logix controller. By using this fibre optic, real-time, deterministic network the number of wires associated with traditional servo drives is removed. Programming is by means of an IEC61131-3 language in ladder, function block or structured text, and instead of having separate languages for the drive and the controller, Kinetix uses the same programming environment throughout. Rockwell claims exceptional performance from the unit. It has a velocity bandwidth of more than 400Hz and a current loop bandwidth of more than 1,300Hz – twice that of a typical rival system. The response speed of the unit is approaching the mechanical limits of the machinery in applications which include sorting conveyers, carton making, wrapping, bottling, labelling and case packing, all of which demand multiple axis control and high accuracy.