MechChem Africa November-December 2024

SEW-EURODRIVE’s automation and synchronisation solutions

MechChem Africa talks to Willem Strydom, Electronics Business Development Manager at SEW-EURODRIVE, about the extended range of drive automation solutions for applications from synchronising the torque and speed of a motor to controlling a multi-axis automatic machine or robot. “O ur MOVI-C ® modular automation system of fers scaleable end-to-end automation solutions for rations are already covered, while any new functions can be added to best suit the needs of client applications,” he assures. All client data is also safely stored via a data exchange function on a memory card in the MOVI-C ® Controller.

a host of application, from controlling the speed and torque of a single drive motor, all the way to synchronising the operation of a multi-axis automatic machine,” begins Wil lem Strydom, the Electronics Business De velopment Manager at SEW-EURODRIVE. With total flexibility in mind, the range typically combines state-of-the-art appli cation-specific control software with cen tralised or decentralised inverter drives and SEW electric motors or gearmotors. “Together, these components form one complete, end-to-end modular automa tion system made up of devices and field units that can be combined to suit almost any motion control requirements and bus topology,” he explains. The range flagship is the MOVI-C Controller module, which Strydom says is typically mounted in a control panel and connected to one of three different ranges of decentralised units: “These can be used to control MOVIDRIVE ® modular and MOVIDRIVE ® system application invert ers, along with decentralised peripherals such as MOVIGEAR ® mechatronic drives and SEW’s MOVIMOT ® units, which can all be connected to each other and/or to the MOVI-C ® CONTROLLER – via EtherCAT ® / SBusPLUS – for the delivery of real-time control of machines or processes, he explains. The MOVI-C ® controller is programmed with setpoints for the connected decen tralised inverters, taking care of tasks such as application specific synchronous functions and motion. “We have over 100 predefined MOVIKIT ® software modules that have been purpose developed for use on systems such as pumping and HVAC systems, hoists, conveyors and packag ing machines,” says Strydom, adding that graphical editors make the implementa tion of MOVI-C technology for a host of motion control applications quick and easy. “A large number of mechanical configu

From a flexibility point of view, the drive-inverters can be panel mounted or field mounted near the point of use. “The MOVIMOT, for example, has the inverter drive clipped directly onto the motor, but exactly the same technology is used if panel-mounted electronics are preferred. Both inverters and integrated drive mod ules, such as MOVIMOT and MOVIGEAR,

are available with different levels of in gress protection (IP) – IP 65 for dust and gentle wash downs; and IP 69k versions where pressure wash ingress protection is required – for food-grade cleanliness, for example. “Across the range, the inverter drive and the software underpinning the ap-

26 ¦ MechChem Africa • November-December 2024