SERVOsoft News

SERVOsoft® v4.4 released with Auxiliary Power Modules, Backup Power Mode, Kinetic Buffer, and so much more!

May 1, 2022

SERVOsoft v4.4 is released adding Auxiliary Power Modules, Backup Power Mode, Kinetic Buffer, Supply Peak Power Optimization for Energy Storage Modules (ESMs), and significant improvements to View Only mode. There are of course, many improvements throughout, including the new concept of 3 Operating Modes - Normal, Max-Stop and Backup Power.

 

Auxiliary Power Modules

Auxiliary Power Modules (APM) are connected to the DC Bus, and supply DC power to another power group's DC bus, referred to as the "Sub Power Group". APMs can be a pass through extension of the DC Bus, or a step down to a lower DC Bus voltage. Multiple APMs can be connected to create multiple Sub Power Groups, at the same or different voltage levels.

The image to the right shows the APM in PG1.Ax2 powering the DC bus of PG2.

 

Operating Modes
Normal, Max-Stop & Backup Power

Formalized the concept of Operating Modes. Normal Mode is the standard sequence for long-run continuous operation. While Normal Mode can be used to define any sequence, there are specific scenarios that are best handled by Max-Stop Mode and Backup Power Mode. For example, Max-Stop Mode is focused on rated Max-Stop values (where for example, gearboxes have 2x T2Max) to bring the machine to standstill and does not consider the continuous/thermal conditions. Backup Power Mode considers the loss of mains supply power starting at a certain time in the sequence for a duration.

 

Kinetic Buffer

A Kinetic Buffer (KB) axis (PRO version), is used to store energy mechanically in a rotating disc, also known as a Flywheel. This energy can be used during a mains power loss to feed the DC bus with energy for a machine to finish its cycle and come to a controlled stop. During a mains power loss, the KB can also be used to absorb energy in a rapid braking event.

 

 

 

 

 

Supply Peak Power
Optimization for ESMs

Supply Peak Power Optimization adds support for optimizing supply peak power with Energy Storage Modules (ESMs) on the DC Bus.

Supply Peak Power Optimization is a PRO version feature for Shared Bus Power Groups. It is located on the Power and Energy Profiles form.

Supply Peak Power Optimization minimizes the Supply Peak Power in Shared Bus applications by finding the best balance of energy storage while optimizing two parameters - Infeed Peak Power Factor [Ppf] and Target Bus Voltage [Vt]. In the ideal case, the Supply Peak Power [Pmax] is reduced to a low constant power over the entire cycle as shown in the chart to the right.

This is a common solution in the servo press industry, using a lot of bus storage, combined with managing the infeed supply power to reduce and smooth the mains supply. To see this powerful feature in action, see the tutorial Supply Peak Power Optimization of a Servo Press.

 

Sequence Shaft Loads add X2 & Y2 Offsets

X2 & Y2 offsets added to the Sequence Shaft Loads, where together with the Fr and Fa values are used to calculate the tilting moment at the adjacent gearbox output stage. Allows for much more detailed tilting moment calculations for sizing gearbox output stage bearings

 

 

 

 

 

Gearbox Sizing adds Resonance Frequency Analysis & Strain Wave Gear Type

Added support for resonance frequency as part of gearbox sizing rules, system check and sequence profiles for analysis. Also added a new gearbox type - Strain Wave Gear.

 

Project View Only Mode

Project View Only Mode gets big improvements providing access to a lot more performance information. Performance charts now viewable in "View Only Mode" for Power Groups, Motors, Transformations, Gearbox, Gearbox Shaft Loads, Actuators and Mechanisms. This allows users with less capable versions to view more detailed performance data from projects created by Advanced and Pro versions. Further, this change allows vendors to better support their customers when using their Pro version to better size/optimize a customer's Manufacturer version project, that can then share with their customer.

 

Other New Enhancements

  • Add Edit Rotary Motor form
    • Added support to generate AM parameters and curves based on nameplate data and Mn & nN
  • Power vs Time form
    • Display "Bus Voltage" profile when no Energy Storage Solution
  • Move form
    • Added "Motoring at standstill" checkbox
      • Provides the option to specify the mechanism is "Motoring", meaning that it is applying the Thrust/Torque/Force, and therefore, the efficiency is [1/n]
      • When unchecked, the mechanism efficiency is [n]
  • Manufacturer, Lite & Education Versions
    • Move form:
      • Now quickly Insert, Append, Duplicate a segment/move directly in the Move form
    • Transformation form
      • Name a manually defined transformation (coupling, gear, belt & pulley)
  • Education Version
    • When opening a project using products not in the local database, now product data can be imported into the local database. This is helpful for professors / teaching assitants/ others who create sample projects using different product data, so then those projects can be handled properly so the students can work with them.
  • Vendors tables
    • Now allow up to 2000 characters in the [Address] field, to allow multiple office locations
    • Added support for Product Zone variables - Z1, Z2, Z3, etc. - where one zone can be defined by one or more other zones.
      • Eg. "Z3: Z1, Z2, 826", which means the countries in Z1 and Z2 as well as the UK.
      • Note that the ProductZones supported since v4.0 - v4.3 are also supported for backwards compatibility. Only when "Z" is used, is v4.4 format assumed.
  • For more details, see the Help: What's New in v4.4


Database

The SERVOsoft® database continues to grow with frequent updates, and now contains over 150,000+ products! Click here for a summary of the current products in the database.

If you are a vendor and want to add your products to the SERVOsoft® database and/or are interested in the Manufacturer Promotion Version, please contact us.