The e100 drive family from Baldor Electric Company has been reengineered to be compatible with at least three industrial Ethernet standards: EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP and Powerlink, as well as standard TCP/IP networks and Baldor's Mint system building environment.

The drive offers system builders a choice of servomotor, closed-loop vector or V/Hz motor control modes. Baldor's e100 single- and three-phase drives were previously only compatible with the real-time Powerlink Ethernet standard, TCP/IP and Baldor's Mint. The addition of the EtherNet/IP and Modbus TCP networks extend the applications potential of the drives in PLC-controlled applications.

The MicroFlex e100 and MotiFlex drives feature wizard application software that removes the complexity of drive setup. The three-phase drives are energy efficient with a DC bus system that can share regenerated power with other axes. Other features include universal encoder feedback input and programmable notch filters to eliminate mechanical resonance effects. Baldor now supports all the Ethernet networks on its NextMove e100 motion system and machine controller. This combines network control capability with control facilities for up to seven analog or stepper drives, which can be used as a standalone or in conjunction with PLC or PC hosts.

"Our new drives support multiple standards, out-of-the-box, at no extra cost and without any need for plug-in cards," says David Greensmith, Baldor product manager. "They provide system builders with a universal drive platform that can be used in many different ways to suit different customers and applications-from standalone motion control systems to networked systems hosted by PLCs or other devices."