Lawrence Equipment headquartered outside of Los Angeles CA, designs and manufactures state-of-the art flat bread and fried snack equipment used in single small scale and multi-national large scale operations throughout the United States and Europe. The company’s tagline – “The edge on automation” summarizes their commitment to advanced technology and superb customer service.

As part of their continuous improvement program, Lawrence Equipment searched for the most efficient automation solution for their Mega Series Press. With a capacity of up to 3,000 dozen, 6” diameter tortillas, chapati, roti or wraps per hour, the Mega Series press is designed for large wholesale and supermarket production. In the demanding and competitive market of food processing equipment, machine yield, quality and uptime are non-negotiable. Customers from across the globe rely on the performance of Lawrence Equipment’s high-end presses. When designing the Mega Series, the Lawrence engineering team focused on specifying components that provide value, improve ease-of-use and ensure dependability. They especially appreciated the PositionServo’s outstanding programmability and flexibility as well as the expert support provided globally by Lenze – AC Tech.

With the PositionServo, servo-actuated indexing is now a standard feature of the Mega Series press; It accurately arranges the array of dough balls on a Teflon mesh conveyor belt with the exact speed, acceleration and distance so they are fed continuously and evenly into the oven. The servo drive monitors feedback signals from the motor and continually adjusts for deviation from expected behavior. Also, PositionServo drive parameters are stored in the drive’s EPM (Electronic Programmable Module), allowing Lawrence Equipment engineers to create programs once and then simply copy them in seconds, saving time and avoiding errors. According to Lawrence Equipment, since the inclusion of the PositionServo in the Mega Series Press it has contributed to a significant increase in throughput. Lawrence Equipment is currently considering  incorporating the 940 PositionServo across all its machine platforms.

PositionServo Benefits

• Superior Performance

• Quick, Intuitive Programming

• Removable Memory (EPM)

• Seamless Integration Into System

• Global Support

• Multiple Communication Options

• Outstanding Value

• Product Availability

Lenze – AC Tech has worked closely with a specialist ultrasonic engineering company to solve the problem of making the perfect sliced sausage quickly and with minimal waste. A traditional cured continental sausage is difficult to cut very finely in an automated process because of the adhesive qualities of the meat, when a slice is made with a normal blade it tends to stick to the blade surface after the cut is complete.

The ultrasonic company, more used to sieving and sorting fine powders than chopping sausages has applied it’s high frequency vibration technology to ensure the slices drop away from the blade neatly into the correct place each time. The challenge was to integrate this high-end technology into a slicing machine and still meet the low-cost demands of the food processing industry.

The solution was simple, using a 4 amp PositionServo 940 with encoder feedback to control the position of the blade; the knife could be reciprocated in minimal time and with maximum speed and accuracy. Driving through a precise Lenze MCS servo motor and gearbox combination and a cogged belt drive, the thickness of the slices can be controlled along the entire length of the sausage.

The PositionServo is controlled via a Lenze drive PLC unit and an HMI, in this case a 4” Lenze LCD grey scale touchscreen display. By using an smd drive to power the conventional AC motor that actuates the blade, the machine can be operated with domestic 110 – 240 V supply and still supply a super cost effective combination. Using CANopen to link all the machine control components also allowed minimal wiring to be used and resulted in a highly compact machine that is easy to program and very easy to use.

Features:

Integrated servo, inverter, gearbox

and HMI solution

Complete component compatibility

High speed accurate position control

Precise automation within a low budget

CANopen compatibility

Easy to use

KVAL, a highly specialized manufacturer of door cutting machinery was searching for a better servo drive to improve the cost and performance of its milling machines. A local automation distributor introduced them to the Lenze-AC Tech PositionServo. The challenge was to find a cost competitive drive that would fit the existing profile and yet work with legacy servomotors and resolver feedback.

The solution was found in the PositionServo 941 designed specifically for resolver feedback. The PositionServo 941 was fitted directly to an existing machine and tested immediately in ‘torque mode’. The drive performed beautifully from the first application of power and led to substantial orders soon after. KVAL is recognized as a leader in the design and manufacturing of precision-engineered door machining and millwork equipment. Increased competitiveness within the millwork industry has forced many smaller companies to become more specialized. As a result, KVAL had to alter the design and configuration of many of its machines, the ease-of-use and programming of the PositionServo 941 meant that it was a simple solution to varying machine requirements.

Compatibility with the existing machine set-up was very important and since Lenze-AC Tech PositionServo products are designed to work effectively with the widest range of motors, feedback and machine control systems, it was no problem to fit in with components from three other manufacturers. Cost is an inevitable pressure for any machine manufacturer and KVAL is no different, the fact that the PositionServo provides solid precision performance, but without a price premium sealed the deal.

PositionServo Benefits:

• Works with existing servo motors

• Easy programming

• Resolver or encoder feedback

• Solid technical support

• Rugged performance in harsh environments

• Tight positioning control with

scalable emulated encoder output

Lenze-AC Tech announces the release of Additional I/O Modules for SMVector NEMA 1 and NEMA 4X Inverters.

Available for the NEMA 1 and 4X SMVector models, the Additional I/O Modules are available in two configurations (ESVZAL0, ESVZAL1). The modules supplement the standard I/O functions by providing 1 programmable form C relay output (ESVZAL0) or 1 programmable form C relay output and 2 programmable digital inputs (ESVZAL1).

The I/O module does not add to the overall size of the SMVector inverter as it fits right into the SMVector inverter terminal cover allowing for easy field installation. SMVector inverters that are fitted with an additional I/O module option will no longer have the capability of accommodating an optional communication module. “The additional I/O module is great for applications requiring a relay and/or more digital inputs.” says Steve Dextraze, Inverter Product Manager at Lenze-AC Tech. “The two extra digital inputs are just that – supplementary – and allow the drive to be configured for several application specific tasks such as multiple preset speeds, electronic braking and motor jogging.”

The SMVector inverter drive provides all the features required by demanding applications, including four modes of operation – V/Hz, Enhanced V/Hz, Vector Speed, and Torque – plus high starting torque, auto-tuning, advanced low-speed control and dynamic speed regulation. The SMVector is designed to be truly a global product, with an input voltage ranging from 120VAC 1-phase to 600 VAC, 3-phase, plus the Electronic Programming Module or EPM, a removable chip that is the drive’s memory and allows a customer to program multiple drives in just seconds.

Lenze-AC Tech develops, manufactures, markets and supports a complete range of motion control solutions, including servo drives and motors, clutches and brakes, gears and gear motors and variable frequency AC motor drives. Lenze-AC Tech’s portfolio of AC Drive products extends from some of the world’s smallest sub-micro drives up through large, 500 HP.

For three years running, Lenze-AC Tech products have been recognized by Plant Engineering. In 2006, the SMVector Nema1 familyof AC drives and in 2007, the SMVector Nema 4x family of AC drives were both chosen by a panel of industry experts as a finalist for the Plant Engineering magazine Product of the Year Award.

In 2009 the PositionServo with MotionView set-up and Configuration tool embedded within the drive (eliminating the need for external software) so impressed the Plant Engineering Magazine’s readers that they voted it the winner in the servo product category.

Criteria for finalists
Product of the Year is a prestigious award bestowed by Plant Engineering magazine. The recipients are manufacturers who have come up with the best ideas to make plant operation better and smarter.

The process
Plant Engineering subscribers who have buy/specify responsibilities are invited to cast an electronic vote to choose the finalists. The votes are then tabulated to pick gold, silver and bronze winners in each category.

Lenze-AC Tech announces the release of EtherNet/IP as an optional communication protocol for the SMVector Drive. According to Mike Bailey, Product Sales Manager at Lenze-AC Tech, the SMVector AC Drive can seamlessly operate on an EtherNet/IP network with the addition of a simple plug-in communication module. “Other network protocols are also available as option modules including CANopen, DeviceNet, Profibus and Modbus RS-485,” states Bailey.

EtherNet/IP is a member of the DeviceNet and ControlNet family of Common Industrial Protocols (CIP) developed by Allen-Bradley (Rockwell Automation – ROK). As a member of the CIP family, EtherNet/IP can utilize the same set of pre-defined common objects, thus making communication between devices from different manufacturers much easier.

According to Lenze-AC Tech company officials, Lenze-AC Tech worked together with Allen-Bradley engineers to ensure complete product compatibility. “We first added EtherNet/IP to our PositionServo Drive and since then, our customers have been looking for EtherNet/IP for their AC Drive Solutions,” says Bailey, and he adds, “Allen-Bradley remains the largest implementer of EtherNet/IP, with most applications in the packaging and automotive markets; providing Allen-Bradley compatibility and multiple communication options for all of our products allows our customers to choose the fieldbus that best fits their automation application as well as their physical network.” Bailey explains that EtherNet/IP is a popular industrial network solution because it can support a nearly unlimited amount of nodes, can be used on a single point connection for configuration and control and permits devices to send and receive messages simultaneously.

Variable frequency inverters are used for electronic speed control of AC induction motors. The needs of the market are wide and varied, and we offer a broad range of standard products for everything from simple speed control to complex; each with a wide range of functionality, small physical size and exceptional performance. Our drives are reliable, flexible to apply, easy to commission, and meet the highest standards of quality. Lenze-AC Tech provide solutions to fulfill nearly any inverter requirement in the power range between 0.25 and 400 kW.

SMV Standard Enclosure

• NEMA 1 (IP31)
• 120V – 600V
• 0.33 to 30HP ( 0.25 – 22kW)
• Open-loop Vector, V/Hz

Washdown Enclosure

• NEMA 4X (IP65)
• 120V – 600V
• 0.33 to 30HP ( 0.25 – 22kW)
• Open-loop Vector, V/Hz

Integral Disconnect

• NEMA 4X (IP65)
• Integral Motor & Drive Disconnect
• 0.33 to 10HP ( 0.25 – 7.5kW)
• Open-loop Vector, V/Hz

MC Series

• 120-590V
• 00.25 to 150 Hp (0.18-110kW)
• NEMA 1 (IP31), NEMA 4(X) (IP65), NEMA 12 (IP54)
• V/Hz

MCH Series

• 200-590V
• 1.0 to 250 Hp (0.75-185kW)
• NEMA 1 (IP31), NEMA 4(X) (IP65), NEMA 12 (IP54)
• V/Hz

Lenze – AC Tech offers many other products including but not limited to servo drives, gearmotor drives, and more. To learn more about additional Lenze – AC Tech products please contact us.

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.