Lenze-AC Tech announces the release of the NEMA 4X Terminal Cover with Speed Potentiometer.

This Lenze-AC Tech product can replace most Hitachi Variable Frequency Drive models SJ200, L100 and L200 series products.

In addition, the following AC Tech-Lenze SMV new HP Ratings are also availabe in NEMA 4X. These models are available in the Indoor Version Only (without disconnect or filters):

15HP & 20HP (200/240V, 3ph input)

15HP, 20HP, 25HP & 30HP (400/480V, 3ph input)

15HP, 20HP, 25HP & 30HP (600V, 3ph input)

 Other options for the SMVector include:

Removable Keypad Options Additional Form C Relay Output Module Additional I/O Module (includes 1 Form C relay and 2 Digital Inputs) EtherNet/IP, CANOpen, PROFIBUS DP, DeviceNet and Modbus Communication Options.

The most technically advanced inverter drive continutes Lenze AC Tech’s tradition of innovative compact drive design. The performance and flexibility make the SMV an attractive solution for a broad range of AC Motor applications and with several communications protocols available, networking drives and components into a system solution can be done now and in the future.

The SMVector with intregal Disconnect is available in a rugged in a Nema 4X (IP65) indoor enclosure ideal for many industries ideal for food / beverage, waste water, chemical metering and processing, pharmaceuticals and more. The intregal disconnect switch offers the ability to isolate the motor for maintenance and supervising. Also, the disconnect switch handle is lockable and is made of red and yellow materials for high visibility.

The power ranges for the SMVector in Nema 4X with Intregal Disconnect include:

120/240V 1PH input up to 1.5HP (1.1Kw)

200/240V 1 or 3PH input up to 3.0HP (2.2kW)

200/240V 3PH input up to 30HP (22kW)

400/480V 3PH input up to 30HP (22kW)

480/600V 3PH input up to 30HP (22kW)

The SMVector Series can be used with 3-phase AC induction motors and is available in NEMA 1 (IP31) , NEMA 4X (IP65)  and NEMA 4X (IP65) with an integral disconnect switch. Filtered input versions of the SMV are available in NEMA 4X (IP65) models for compliance with the CE EMC directive.

Programmable digital and analog I/O allow the drive to be configured for many application specific tasks such as multiple preset speeds, electronic braking and motor jogging to name a few. Like all Lenze – AC Tech sub-micro drives, the SMVector uses EPM memory memory technology for fast and efficient programming.

Type 4X (IP65) enclosures are available for either indoor use, suitable for most indoor industrial environments; or indoor/outdoor use that offers UV protection and has higher impact strength at low temperatures.

It is no secret that the Lenze/AC Tech SMVector Series offers a wide array of functionality for an extremely competitive price. This year, Precision Electric has found it also to be the most reliable and handy drive for most applications. For this reason, the SMVector has been designated Precision Electric’s 2009 online Product of the Year.

The SMVector Series drives are unique in that every product is standard with either a Nema 1, Nema 4, or Nema 4x enclosure. The competitive price margin and standardized Nema enclosed chassis, as well as being a Sensorless Vector drive are a few of the reasons this product line has proven to be so successful. In fact, the SMVector series drive has been so successful that even the manufacturer has increased its’ product pricing and even with the price increase Precision Electric still maintains competitive pricing on all versions of Lenze/AC Tech’s SMVector drive.

The AC Tech/Lenze SMVector product has been designed for diversified applications such as mills, lathes, grinders, mixers, and other applications where high starting torque and/or full torque at full RPM is present. The SMVector drive is available in multiple Horsepower ranging from 0.33HP up to 30HP in Nema 1 Chassis, 0.33HP up to 10HP in Nema 4, and Nema 4x enclosures. Within a few months AC Tech and the Lenze group have announced that the SMVector will also be available up to 15HP in Nema 4 and Nema 4X enclosures.

About a week ago, I was given the opportunity to work on a startup with a customer who works in the world of automated foaming. As with any other job, the preliminary overview of the project is often where the scope of the project is determined. One of the most critical things a customer can possess is documentation to their machines, it reduced both the time and effort required on the engineering side of the startup.

In this particular case, however, all of the documentation was written in the Swedish language. The drive itself had extensive documentation in the form of manuals that were written in English, but there were no actual machine documents written in English.

The customer had taken the liberty to do a good chunk of translation regarding the essential documents, but as you know, even documentation written in the English language can be hard to understand if you weren’t one of the original engineers.

On projects such as these, I typically like to spend a day or two with my head completely in the program – in this case with the Google Translator at my side. The two most fundamental aspects I was looking for? The homing sequence and the foam gun sequence (as they desired changes to the way the gun operates).

This is the order of operations I took, and it may help some of you out in the future:

1. Gather all of the documentation specific to the job.
2. Gather the requirements of what the customer desires and write them down.
3. Gather all of the tools that will help you break the language barrier (human translators or robot ones)
4. Dig out the I/O list if it is included in the documentation (if it is not, build the list yourself manually)
5. Translate that list to the proper language
6. Cross reference your I/O list to your documentation to seek out a homing sequence in the program
7. Use this as your starting point, as your homing sequence is typically the building block of your program.
8. Next, target the section of the program (referencing the I/O related to it) the customer wants changes too or is having issue with.

This is an excellent starting point for any troubleshooting of PLCs or Motion Controllers outside of your language barrier.  After two days of research and properly building my own documentation – I was able to get the machine running (not without headaches of course) in about one 8 hour day.

Even though the documentation was in a completely different language, this job would have taken weeks had there been no documentation at all – this truly is a testament to the importance of having documentations for your systems – even if that documentation is in a completely different language.

Craig Chamberlin

Sample Servo Motors and Drives

Precision Electric often expands it’s services when customers demand it. With the wide array of Servo Motors and Drives in the market – a substantial need for the repair of these devices has been generated. There have always been two primary issues with Servo Motors and Drives:

1. Servo Motors and Drive Combinations are Proprietary
2. Original Equipment Manufacturers Retire Older Series Drives and Motors with Newer
3. The Cost of Servo Motor and Drive Combinations are Extremely High

We have worked extensively with a wide array of Servo Motors and Drives, and are proud to announce we can repair from most of, if not all of, the major manufacturers in the industrial market today.  Using our proprietary software, we can re-align the servo as necessary to ensure the rewinding of the motor retains it’s full accuracy.  Our electronics department has over 15 years in Drive repair, and can find components and parts for the toughest to repair of drives – and we can do it all at only a fraction of the cost of buying a new one.

One more thing that is important to note – the components built into servo motor and drive combinations often are cheaply made – so parts that are put back into the motors and drives during our repair often exceed the quality control of the Original Manufacturer.  What does this mean?  It means that the product you receive back from us is likely better in quality than the original equipment itself.

These services are available to our customers nationwide.  All that is necessary is arranging for direct shipment to our 31,000 square foot facility.  The urgency can be labeled as rush, where we will work on it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until completed to standard repair, where we turn over your product in a reasonable time to save you money.

Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding this service – as always, questions can be asked at the community forum as well.

Our Servo Motor and Drive Repair Brochure

Today’s video is an overview of the NEMA 1 AC Tech SMVector series variable speed drive features, functions and specifications. The NEMA 1 AC Tech SMVector series variable speed drive comes equipped with a large amount of functionality including volts / hertz mode, vector mode, sensorless vector mode and advanced volts per hertz mode. There are a large number of built in features for current and line voltage protections as well as certifications for safety regulations such as UL.

In this video we give you a simplified answer to the question “What is a Variable Frequency Drive”

In the video we use an AC Tech SMVector series drive for an example. Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) are electronic devices used to control the speed of an Alternating Current Motor (AC Motor).

Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) are also commonly known as adjustable frequency drives, adjustable speed drives, AC drives and inverters. Variable Frequency Drives have a wide range of application use and operate as load controls within these applications that may accomplish up to a 50% reduction in energy cost.

Thanks for viewing and remember that we sell and service both VFDs and electric motors. You can always call us with any questions at 574-256-1000 or check out our website vfddistrbuting.com for product manuals, frequently asked questions and our Ebay Store.

In this video we go step by step in showing you how to land 120 volts onto your SMVector variable frequency drive. Ensure you are qualified to handle this electrical equipment before working on it. This process is both easy and painless. The tools you will need are a phillips head screwdriver, wire strippers, your power source leads, wire crimpers, terminal ends and of course, your Variable Frequency Drive (VFD). Feel free to ask us any questions you may have and don’t forget we both service and sell this equipment – you can contact us by telephone at 574.256.1000

Thank you all for stopping by.  Today we are going to show you how to access the terminal strip on your AC Tech SMVector Series Variable Frequency Drive (VFD).  This is a basic introduction to the drive itself and for those of you who have not worked with this product before.  You will find doing this is both easy and intuitive – and remember, if you have any additional questions feel free to let us know.  Do not forget, larger drives than the one depicted in this video will have a slightly different layout, but the concept will be the same.

For those of you who are familiar or unfamiliar with Lenze / AC Techs SMVector series drive they have come a long way since their conception. All AC Tech products are manufactured in Uxbridge Massachusettes. Today we discuss how to read the nameplate data off of the drive. It is not as complicated as most might think. This is a great way to determine what voltage inputs, frequencies, phases are required and how to determine whether the Variable Frequency Drive itself is an adequate enough size for the motor you want to connect to it. Enjoy!