Control Techniques develops Mentor MP drive

The Mentor MP, a DC drive, is the result of several years of research and development from Control Techniques and offers the same flexible control platform as the AC drive Unidrive SP.

Control Techniques has invested heavily in the development of the Mentor MP, which plays a part in promoting sustainable technology.

DC motors are efficient and offer years of service, providing good performance in a range of industrial processes and applications.

Retaining an existing DC motor and upgrading the drive makes good environmental and investment sense to any customer's upgrade project.

It provides the opportunity to enhance the overall system performance and reliability while minimising problematic re-engineering and installation work.

Mentor MP is ROHS compliant and is designed with today's and future requirements in mind.

Its full system integration flexibility offers three option module slots and a built-in field controller.

Product manager Richard Smith said: 'The simulation and modelling technology used to develop Mentor MP wasn't available a few years ago.

'We have been able to investigate and test thoroughly all aspects of the design prior to launch.

Galvanic isolation between power and control is a standard feature in AC drives and, in the case of power-side failure, protects the control circuits and customer connected equipment.

Other DC drives feature a form of isolation that rely on impedance-only isolation, which has limitations.

Mentor MP doesn't, its technology achieves galvanic isolation without compromising performance or reliability.

Each Mentor MP has three universal option module slots offering users the choice from any combination of the 18 option modules available.

These option modules are common across AC, DC and servo drive ranges from Control Techniques and include functionality extensions such as additional feedback options and expanded I/O and onboard programmable control.

The range of optional fieldbus connectivity includes Profibus-DP, Interbus-S, Devicenet, Canopen and various Ethernet protocols such as Modbus TCP/IP, Ethernet/IP and Ethercat.

Communications gateway solutions can also be implemented within the drive by installing two or three fieldbus option modules.

The number of option modules will increase as Control Techniques develops further solutions for its complete range of drives.

The Mentor MP's standard built-in field controller is all most users will ever need, but an external field controller option, the FXMP25, can provide field forcing for high dynamic applications.

Another feature allows reverse jogging control with two-quadrant drives for lower-cost systems that do not require fast reversal.

In addition, Mentor MP has a field controller mode that allows it to act as a field control for larger DC motors, where the field current can be greater than the capacity of the FXMP25.

Mentor MP uses a suite of software tools, developed to support the programming and drive configuration of its AC drive ranges.

For example CT Soft, used for drive configuration, includes a configuration wizard allowing existing Mentor users to transfer drive settings from an existing Mentor II drive to the Mentor MP.

Syptlite, used already by AC drive users, can be used for IEC language ladder programming onboard the drive.

Mentor MP offers the capability to link multiple AC, DC and servo drives together with I/O, controlling PCs and operator interfaces by using CTnet to create a distributed control system.

Each drive can house a programmable option module called SM Applications, which is programmed using Syptpro, an IEC61131-3 style programming tool with function block, ladder logic and structured text language capability.

This on-board configuration can often eliminate a standalone controller and reduce system cost.

Further option modules can be used to connect with I/O, fieldbus or Ethernet protocols for control and monitoring.

SM Applications modules can also be loaded with existing application-specific software such as crane control, winder/rewinder, flying shear and other commonly used automation functions.

The Mentor MP covers output current ranges from 25A to 1850A with a single module approach - 7400A when paralleled - and is available in 12- and 24-pulse configurations providing low harmonics.

Optional keypads are offered as high-brightness LED or multi-language LCD with plain text versions and a range of 18 plug-in option modules including SM-Ethercat, SM-Register and SM-Applications can provide extra control, functionality and communication.

Smartcard technology provides parameter, PLC and motion program storage in addition to drive parameter cloning.

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