Technology
EP7047-1032 provides two basic modes of operation.
- In standard mode all unipolar and bipolar stepper motors that comply with the specifications of EP7047-1032 can be controlled. Two currents with sine/cosine curve are provided. The current is clocked with 64 kHz and resolved with up to 64-fold microstepping to achieve a smooth current.
- Extended mode is based on field-oriented control. This mode can only be used for stepper motors from Beckhoff. The current is not only provided, but controlled in a comprehensive manner. Typical stepper motor problems such as pronounced resonance are therefore finally a thing of the past. Furthermore, the current is adjusted depending on the load, thereby enabling considerable energy savings and lower thermal loads at the stepper motor.
Realisation of more demanding positioning tasks
More demanding positioning tasks can be realised via the TwinCAT automation software from Beckhoff. Like other axes, EP7047-1032 is integrated via the TwinCAT System Manager and can be used like standard servo axes. Special stepper motor features, such as speed reduction in the event of large following errors, are automatically taken into account via the stepper motor axis option. The effort for changing from a servomotor to a stepper motor - and back - is no greater than changing from one fieldbus to another one under TwinCAT.
The output stages of EP7047-1032 have an overload protection in the form of an overtemperature warning and switch-off. Together with short circuit detection, diagnostic data are accessible in the process image of the controller. In addition, this status is displayed by LEDs, along with other information. The output stage is switched on via an Enable-Bit. The motor current can be set and reduced via a parameter value.
Optimum adaptation to the motor and the implementation of energy-saving features require minimum programming effort. Since all data are set in the form of parameters in the CoE register, it is easily possible to replace an EtherCAT device or store certain parameters for transfer to the next project. It is therefore no longer necessary to transfer certain potentiometer settings or to document DIP switch settings.