The Advanced Kollmorgen Drive (AKD) is Ethernet-based and delivers high performance with flexibility, scalability and power range for most application requirements, including basic torque and velocity applications, indexing, multi-axis programmable motion via the company's complete machine automation solution: Kollmorgen Automation Suite.

AKD allows machine builders to standardize on a single drive family with a common graphical user interface across the power range for high machine performance, throughput and accuracy across applications, all while minimizing engineering time and costs associated with stocking, understanding and programming multiple types of drives.

"AKD is specifically designed with the versatility, communications and power that OEMs need to expand machine performance and increase integration speeds," says Josh Inman, product manager for Kollmorgen North America. "The AKD facilitates true plug-and-play operation with standard Kollmorgen servomotors and linear positioners to get an optimized, high performance system up and running quickly, in less space and time and for less cost than lower performing options. Multiple Ethernet connectivity options available from the base hardware support a variety of open and closed protocols, without the need for separate option cards. And a broad power range in a smaller, compact design enables machine builders to use these robust drives with a single interface."

The AKD is available for 120/240 VAC or 480 VAC operation with a power range of 3 to 24 Arms continuous current, 9 to 48 Arms peak. Coming later in 2010 is a power range up to 96 Arms continuous and 192 Arms peak.

The AKD is capable of supporting various feedback devices and Ethernet Motion buses from the base hardware without separate option cards, including Smart Feedback Devices, Endat, BiSS, Analog Sine/Cos encoders, incremental encoders, HIPERFACE and resolvers. Supported Ethernet Motion buses include EtherCAT CANopen and Modbus/TCP.

Patented Autotuning algorithms automatically adjust all gains, including patent-pending observers. This functionality also brings immediate, adaptive responses to dynamic loads with precise control. Autotuning can also help overcome imperfect mechanical designs to help machine builders solve difficult scenarios by compensating for compliant transmissions and couplings that typically take away from a machine's intended performance.

The GUI features a six-channel real-time software oscilloscope for quick commissioning and diagnosis. A multi-function Bode plot helps users evaluate performance while Auto-complete functionality of programmable commands saves looking up parameter names. Machine performance data is sent immediately by one-click capture and sharing of program plots and parameter settings.

According to Inman, "Because AKD makes it so easy to monitor system performance and share system information, there is virtually no effort required to get a Kollmorgen motor and drive system up and running-and the user friendly interface across the power range makes commissioning and general interactions a truly intuitive process."