ATS48 Soft Start Troubleshooting and Introduction

Brian Hughes 13 Comments

The Altistart 48(ATS48) series of soft starters by Square D and Schneider Electric allows for consistent start/stop rates that are independent of motor loads. These devices are more advanced than the standard drives that cannot control the applied motor torque. Featuring contact wiring and control, the soft starter allows for near-seamless integration with existing operations. Many preset parameters are included with the device and they cover a large spectrum of operations. Additional parameters may also be loaded up to meet specific needs. Available power ratings include:

  • 3 – 200 HP @ 208VAC, 60 Hz
  • 5 – 250 HP @ 230VAC, 60 Hz
  • 10 – 500 HP @ 460VAC, 60 Hz
  • 15 – 600 HP @ 575VAC, 60Hz

The ATS48 series features a dual configuration of two motors which allows for a cascaded start/stop in many operations. Using the Torque Control System(TCS) the unit can minimize wear on gears which allows for less time servicing the unit.

The Altistart 48 series takes advantage of the PowerSuite™ software for programming of your drive or soft starter.  With this software, you will be able to monitor and document all of your operations. Configurations are easily saved via hard disk, CD-ROM, flash memory, etc. Using Ethernet technology, the user is able to configure and monitor operations on the go, and a constant feed of information allows for real-time opportunity to modify and adjust configuration files on the fly.

Troubleshooting can be an issue for people when so many different things are going on. It just isn’t feasible to stop operations every time an error occurs. Below is a list of fault codes for the ATS48 Soft Start series that will help determine most issues:

Fault CodeDescription
nLP
rdY		Soft start without run command and:
• Line power not supplied
• Line power supplied
tbSStarting time delay not elapsed
HEAMotor preheating in progress
(Use SUP menu to set up monitoring
parameter. Factory setting: Motor Current.)		Soft start with run command
brLSoft start braking
StbWaiting for a command (RUN or STOP) in
cascade mode
CFF Invalid configuration on power-up
CFI Invalid configuration
CLFLoss of Control Power
EEFInternal memory fault
EtFExternal fault
ErFLine frequency out of tolerance
InFInternal fault
LrFLocked rotor fault
OCFOvercurrent fault
OHFSoft start overheating fault
OLCCurrent overload fault
OLFMotor overload/ground fault
OtFMotor thermal fault detected by PTC probes
PHFLoss of line or motor phase
PIFPhase reversal fault
SLFSerial link fault
StFExcessive starting time
ULFMotor underload fault
USFLack of AC line power on a run command

MRO Electric and Supply carries all models of this unit and has a fast and easy repair service to get your unit fixed and back into your hands as soon as possible.

Struggling with your ATS48 Soft Starter?

MRO Electric provides the insights and assistance you need to troubleshoot efficiently. Our inventory is stocked with the necessary parts, and our experts are on standby to help you minimize downtime.

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Modicon PLC History

Joe Kaminski Leave a comment

Richard E. Morley, also known as Dick, was an American electrical engineer. He was an employee at Bedford and Associates, located in Massachusetts. He is most commonly known for his involvement with the production of the first Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) for General Motors and the Modicon in 1968. General Motors Company, often referred to as GM, is an American multinational corporation that is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan that engineers, manufactures, markets and distributes vehicles and vehicle parts and sells financial services.

Known as an author, educator, influencer and specialized engineer, Morleys’ accomplishments and contributions have earned him numerous awards from families such as ISA (the instrumentation systems and automation society), Inc. Magazine, Franklin Institute, SME (the Society of Manufacturing Engineers), and the Engineering Society of Detroit. SME offers the Richard E. Morley Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award for outstanding technical accomplishments in the manufacturing space by engineers age 35 and younger.

Schneider Electric currently owns the Modicon brand of PLCs. The PLC has been recognized as a major advancement in the automation space and has had an unprecedented impact on the manufacturing community as a whole. PLCs were designed to replace re-wiring and hard-wired control panels with software program changes when production updates were necessary. Before PLCs came about, several relays, drum sequencers, cam timers and closed-loop controllers were used to manufacture vehicles and vehicle parts. Re-wiring the relays and other necessary components was a very in-depth and costly process, but clearly worth the effort. The Modicon 084 PLC was modeled to be programmed in ‘ladder logic’ which had the look of the schematic diagrams of relay logic it was replacing.  This made the transition to PLCs easier for engineers and other professionals in the manufacturing space.  The automotive industry is still one of, if not the largest users of PLCs today. MRO Electric and Supply has new and refurbished Modicon parts available including the Modicon Quantum series. We also offer repair pricing. For more information, please call 800-691-8511 or email sales@mroelectric.com.

Modicon PLC History

The Modicon PLC Timeline

A few years later, in the 1970’s, dialogue between PLCs came about. Introduced as the first industrial communications network, Modbus was based on a Slave/Master architecture that used messaging to communicate between Modbus nodes. All and all, a lacking standardization made PLC communications a nightmare.

In the  1980’s, General Electric made an effort to regiment the interconnection of devices from several manufacturers with MAP (manufacturing automation protocol). PLC programming software was also created to operate on personal as well as professional computers in order to remove the need for dedicated programming terminals or handheld programmers.

As years have gone on, PLCs have evolved as technology evolves. Nowadays, they include process, motion, and distributed control systems, as well as complex networking. Equivalent to an average, run-of-the-mill desktop computer, PLCs have capacities for data handling storage and impressive processing power.

Benefits of Upgrading Your HMI to LCD Technology

Mike Funari Leave a comment

Human Machine Interfaces, or HMI’s, are used extensively throughout the world to control and monitor automated machinery.  These devices provide touchpad and visual interaction to control manufacturing processes and perform daily tasks.  One of the most recognized HMI devices is the Automated Teller Machine (ATM).  These ATM devices intuitively interface with users through a keypad and monitor to readily transact bank deposits and dispense cash withdrawals.  They provide reliable 24-hour access to our daily banking needs.

siemens

Various HMI devices are common throughout industry.  Many older HMI devices contain the original Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) monitor technology.  This older technology burdens the users and owner with several disadvantages:

  1. High Energy Consumption – The CRT technology is not considered energy efficient.  It requires more power to operate than the newer LCD technology.  CRT screens consume 3 – 4 times the energy when compared to the LCD screens.
  2. Expensive to maintain – CRT repairs are becoming more specialized and expensive as the workforce transitions to the newer technologies.
  3. Obsolete Components – CRT technology is outdated and beyond its life cycle.  Components required to support repair are becoming obsolete and expensive if available.
  4. Avoid costly new operator interface packages – MRO upgrades to LCD technology maintain the interface packages with your existing equipment (frames, communication connections, power sources, etc.).  Updated HMI’s from MRO are plug-n-play.
  5. Better Reliability – Heat generated by the CRT technology often shortens the life of the electrical circuit components.  CRT monitors tend to have a life of 18,000 to 20,000 hours.  LCD monitors provide more than 100,000 hours life.
  6. Clarity of Picture, Crisp Image – LCD’s make the screen burn often associated with CRT’s a thing of the past.  LCD image display is much clearer for the operator and will not fade.

MRO provides an HMI service to update your old CRT displays to LCD technology and new keypads.  This approach is a low-cost upgrade to superior technology with no risks. Visit our repair page, call us, or email us for an instant quote on fixing, swapping, or purchasing your new HMI device.

Our top HMI manufacturers include:

Kawasaki E3/E7/E9 Controllers

Joe Kaminski Leave a comment

Being a leader of the robotics industry for over 50 years, Kawasaki has developed one of the most complete lines of e-controllers on the market. All of these controllers are suited with a wide array of features including:

  • High powered CPU performence
  • Large, easy to use LCD Display
  • Optimized key layout
  • Easily accessible safety switches

The E76/77 family of controllers are very compact and used for smaller robot arms. One of these arms are the RS003N Robot, which has a maximum payload of 3kg and has horizontal and vertical reaches of 620mm and 967mm, respectively. The controllers with these robots specialize in assembly and material handling applications.

The E9 family of robotic teach pedants are also built very compact, however these devices are typically used in medium-duty applications. Unlike the other two families of controllers, the E9 family features an open structure system with a direct cooling system. However, like the E7 and E3 families, the enclosed structure with indirect cooling is an available option. The E9 family takes full advantage of the digital servo drive powering it to have a maximum payload capacity of 40kg.

E30/32/33/34 controllers at their base are very alike the E76/77 controllers but with more power. These devices are not as compact as the previous devices we have discussed, however the reason being they are highly expandable and are easier to maintain. Features such as Kawasaki’s K-Logic sequencer software allow the addition of up to 16 total controllable axes. The E3 family of Kawasaki e-controllers are able to handle the following maximum payloads:

  • E30 – 145 kg
  • E32 – 180 kg
  • E33 – 195 kg
  • E34 – 180 kg

If you are interested in learning how to purchase the robot arm, the controller, or any other part/device that goes into an industrial robotic set-up, please call MRO Electric and Supply at (800)691-8511 or email us at sales@mroelectric.com and we will help you get what you need.

3HAC028357-001

ABB Robotics 3HAC028357-001 Teach Pendant

Joe Kaminski Leave a comment

The 3HAC028357-001 is a modern ABB Robotics Teach Pendant designed to be used with the IRC5 Industrial Robot Control, one of the most popular robotics controls on the market. Also known as the “FlexPendant”, the 3HAC028357-001 is characterized by its clean, color touch screen-based design and 3D joystick for intuitive interaction.

The 3HAC028357-001 TPU (or teach pendant unit) is a hand held operator unit used to perform many of the tasks involved when operating a robot system: running programs, jogging the manipulator, modifying robot programs and so on.

The FlexPendant is designed for continuous operation in harsh industrial environment. Its touch screen is easy to clean and resistant to water, oil and accidental welding splashes.

ABB FlexPendant

The 3HAC028357-001 replaces the legacy 3HAC023195-001 teach pendant.

The standard cost for a new ABB 3HAC028357-001 direct from the manufacturer or authorized distributor is typically in the $6000-7,000 range. MRO Electric is able to supply these pendants at a much lower price point, and we warranty all of our robotics parts for 12 months.

If you would like a free quote on a replacement ABB 3HAC028357-001, please email us at sales@mroelectric.com or call 800-691-8511.

Motoman Teach Pendants And More

Brian Hughes 2 Comments

Yaskawa Motoman, an American subsidiary of Yaskawa Electric Corporation, was founded in 1989 and since then have been able to get over 380,000 industrial robots, 10 million servos, and 18 million drives into automation systems around the world. Robots are the wave of the future and Yaskawa Motoman is at the top of this market. Using an automated robotic system in your work space will allow you to free up many other costs and resources that may not have been available before.  The key to efficiency is simplicity and using  Motoman Teach Pendants to give instructions to your robot makes that possible.

Teach Pendants are non-tethered devices that allow your robot to be controlled remotely. These devices are crucial for industrial robotics as they are not only used for assigning operations but they are able to edit commands, emergency stop commands, and even view past operations. Motoman Teach Pendants are split between the older models(ERC, XRC, MRC) and the newer models(DX and NX Series’).

MRC

The older models such as the MRC, which came out in 1994, were able to increase the workload of an industrial robot by up to 300%. This was also the first time ever that a single teach pendant was able to control two robots at the same time. Four years later when the XRC model was released, it was a huge improvement as Motoman was able to add control of more axes and even up its synchronous control of two robots to four industrial robots.

nx100

Later in 2004, the NX series of controllers was released. These devices featured Windows CE with a high-power processor, back-lit color touchscreen, built-in ethernet, and a huge amount of memory. A single teach pendant can control up to 36 axes and 4 separate robots. It’s Advanced Robot Motion control allows for the most accurate results. For information about the DX series, please visit one of our previous blog posts featuring the DX200 controller and Yaskawa’s new ArcWorld project.

Looking inside the ArcWorld 6000 and DX200 Controller

Brian Hughes Leave a comment

Yaskawa’s ArcWorld 6000 line of robotic welding systems offer the most cost efficient and powerful solution to your welding needs. ArcWorlds are pre-built, easy to install, and ready to run immediately after installation. The units can configured with multiple robots, a heavy duty positioner or servo controlled external axes. The 6000 line can handle payloads from 755 kg to 1255 kg over a 2 or 3 meter span.  There are many other cool benefits to running the ArcWorld over a traditional welding system:

  • All controllers and power sources are installed and shipped on the frame for minimal setup
  • The world class MA1440 arc used for welding can be combined with multiple robots to cut cycle time by 15%
  • Twist locking connectors for all cabling
  • Fully compliant with most recent robot safety standards (ANSI/RIA R15.06-2012)
  • A standard workcell is only documented and supported by Yaskawa Motoman

arcworld 6000

The RM2-Series Positioners are are powered with three AC servo motor drives and have a payload capacity of 1555 on each side. With a 6.5 second rapid indexing time, the positioners have a part length between 3000mm and 3500mm. Convenient slip ring built for  the fixture of utilites such as Ethernet and DeviceNet. The positioner uses MotoMount mounting technology inside of the Yaskawa ArcWorld Unit.

Typically used inside of the ArcWorld 6000 line is the DX200 controller. These controllers can coordinate motion between 8 robots with up to 72 axes. Its Advanced Robot Motion control gives the ArcWorld unit the ability to use the arc’s at their peak performance with pinpoint precision. DX200 controllers are available with Cat 3 Functional Safety Unit. Maintenance is hardly necessary as these controllers efficiently use energy and use top of the line prevention methods for most types of failures. Contact Yaskawa Motoman right now to inquiry on price options for different ArcWorld models and make your automation system perform at its best.

dx200