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Charlotte Stonestreet
Managing Editor |
Dependable performance
21 April 2016
ABB introduced two machinery drives at Drives & Controls, designed to help improve application performance while allowing machine builders to provide more added-value for their customers, as well as cutting integration and maintenance costs.

The ABB machinery drive, ACS380, is a robust and compact drive that delivers predictable and precise motor control. It is easy to integrate into machine designs, as the drive is readily customised for industrial fieldbus protocols and can control a broad range of motors.
The simple user interface features an icon-based menu, similar in use to a smart phone, making setting-up the drive straightforward. Adaptive programming provides additional flexibility to meet different machine requirements, and safe torque-off (STO) is built-in as standard. The IP20 drive is available from 0.25 to 7.5 kW, 200 to 240 V (single-phase) and 380 to 480 V (three-phase). The range will be extended in the future. Typical applications include mixers, conveyors, cranes, material handling and other low-power, constant-torque applications in machine building.
The ACS880-M04 is derived from the ABB industrial drive range. It features direct torque control (DTC) which enables high static and dynamic motor speed accuracy, without a motor feedback device.
Integrated safety features reduce the need for additional costly external devices. Safe torque-off (STO) comes as standard and additional features include the plug-in safety functions module and PROFIsafe over Profinet connectivity between drive and PLC.
The adaptive IEC 61131-3 programming capability offers additional flexibility in designing the control logic and integrating the drive with other automation devices. General motion control features improve the precision performance of applications. Optimized for serial machine building, this IP20 drive will is available from 0.37 to 45 kW, 230 to 500 V (three-phase). Typical applications include winders, wire drawing, mixers, extruders, cranes and other high-performance applications in machine building.
The machinery drives are built using an architecture that is uniform across all ABB drives. As such, users only need to learn one drive type to then be familiar with all others. The new ABB machinery drives support a wide range of motors including standard induction, permanent magnet and synchronous reluctance.
The broad range of industrial fieldbus protocols and the optional embedded input/outputs provide excellent connectivity. The advanced assistant control panel is compatible with both drives, providing assistants, visualisations and optional home views. The drives also share the same Drive composer PC tool for drive commissioning and monitoring.
To meet the needs of machine builders, ABB offers programmable logic controllers, human-machine interfaces, various motors and other low-voltage products for a complete machine control solution. These can be programmed using a single software suite called Automation Builder, including Drive composer and other useful tools to design and monitor the machine’s control logic.
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