SERVOsoft

v4 Revision Log

SERVOsoft® v3 Revision Log

Feb 18, 2018Version 3.3.518

Enhancements:

  • Update Program Wizard:
    • Added support for Major version upgrades, so users can upgrade to v4 directly from the Program Update Wizard.
  • Help:
    • Rotary Mechanism page:
      • Improved images and descriptions to further clarify the Incline Angle and Start Position

Fixes:

  • Gear Motor Torque vs Speed charts:
    • Fixed the Crosshairs right-click snap to nearest point when zoomed in on 2nd Y Stack motor chart
Oct 30, 2017Version 3.3.515

Enhancements:

  • Linear Motor Force vs Speed form:
    • Now display the Rated Max and Cont force values for total number of motors when NumPrimaryParts > 1. Previously, always displayed the rated values for 1 motor.
  • Main form on Linear Motor view:
    • Now display the Rated Max and Cont force values for total number of motors when NumPrimaryParts > 1. Previously, always displayed the rated values for 1 motor.
  • Language Translations:
    • Extensive updates of Spanish language phrase

Fixes:

  • System Check:
    • For the Gearbox Rated Max Output Torque check, the Margin values were incorrect when a gearbox has increasing rated values as speed increases. Now the check does not assume that the rated max torque is at 0 rpm.
Sep 10, 2017Version 3.3.511

Enhancements:

  • WIBU CodeMeter Runtime:
    • Upgraded to CodeMeter v6.50b, which addresses a critical fix to v6.50a
    • Prior to this release, SERVOsoft was packaged with v6.40b
    • CodeMeter v6.50a was never included with SERVOsoft
    • Other programs that use CodeMeter such as B&R Automation Studio are installing v6.50a, which then causes SERVOsoft to crash
    • Installing this release, or simply installing CodeMeter v6.50b separately solves this problem
  • Control Techniques feature set:
    • Changed the license request email address to "servosoft.activation.cta@mail.nidec.com"
    • Changed the tech support email address to "techsupport.cta@mail.nidec.com"
  • Print Report:
    • Added Page Size selection in Print Config before the report is generated for the first time
    • Added better fault handling, making it more resilient on various machine configurations

Fixes:

  • Print Report:
    • Fixed issue where print report would crash on some machines, not giving any error message. The cause was due to certain printers not supporting letter size (8.5 x 11 in), which is the default page set on installation.
Aug 27, 2017Version 3.3.509

Enhancements:

  • Import Sequence:
    • When importing data from a spreadsheet, now set TAB delimiter as the default for spreadsheets
  • Gearbox Pinion Database:
    • Added the "APGS%" option to the GBP_Model filter drop down list Added GearboxPinionDatabase222.jpg and GearboxPinionDatabase223.jpg product images

Fixes:

  • Linear Actuators:
    • The Linear Actuator Efficiency value from the database was not always being used in all calculations. Sometimes the default value of 85% was used by mistake.
  • Gear Motors Performance Charts:
    • The motor power profiles in the charts were too low by the factor of the gearbox ratio
  • Print Report:
    • When click the "View PDF" button, if the user tries to save and overwrite an existing file and that file is already in use, previously the Main form Error Flag would be set. Now the user gets an error message saying the file is already in use by another process.
  • Rotary Mechanism form:
    • Added input check to ensure Incline Angle is between 0deg and 90deg
  • Database Utility:
    • The import process would stall when importing from a source SDF database file which included "RacksPinionsFeedForce" data to be updated
    • An error would occur when importing a spreadsheet where a grouped row was collapsed
Mar 26, 2017Version 3.3.507

Enhancements:

  • Control Technique feature set:
    • Added new "Control Techniques Leroy Somer" logo for Main form and Print Report
  • Pumps:
    • Better handling of M, Q, & L formula when improper characters are used such as 'nonbreaking spaces'

Fixes:

  • Export Sequence:
    • When exporting a Pressure & Flow sequence for a Servo Pump, the Distance, Velocity, Accel and Jerk columns were also included at the end.
  • Dual Conveyor Mechanism form:
    • When using the Inertia & Mass calculator for Idlers 3 & 4, the Mass value was not being captured and stored.
  • Optimizer:
    • Sometimes when the Optimizer is running and the user minimizes all forms, the Optimizer form will not come back if the user clicks on it in the taskbar until the optimization run is competed. Now it will show immediately when clicked in the Windows Taskbar.
  • Sequence form:
    • Fixed 'Copy > Paste + Reverse Direction' for Segments. Reverse direction was not properly handling Segments.
  • Print Report:
    • On some machines in some locales, the numeric text that is right justified would sometimes push onto the cell right border.
Jan 24, 2017Version 3.3.505

Enhancements:

  • Performance Improvements:
    • All Database forms with 1000+ records now load 2x faster than the previous version. Now a database form with 50,000 records will load in under 5 seconds. Previously this would take 10+ seconds.
  • Database Utility:
    • Added data inspection of temperature and elevation curves, to ensure minimum requirements of non-repeating temp/elev values. Applies to Motors, Gearboxes, Drives, Infeed Modules and Bleeder Modules, all of which, have temperature and elevation de-rating curves.
    • Added support for opening Excel 2016 spreadsheets. Previously supported up to Excel 2013 spreadsheets.

Fixes:

  • Gearbox Sizing Rules:
    • Gearbox Speed Load Factor (nLF) was not applied to the duty cycle speed values. When the speed load factor, nLF > 1.0, this could result in no gearbox rated nominal torque when the application mean speed is greater than the max rated nominal speed.
  • EXLAR version:
    • When a project was opened with a Gear Motor, a warning message would appear stating that "The Gear Motor feature is not available or limited in the EXLAR version". The Gear Motor feature is part of the EXLAR version, and the message should not appear.
  • Supply Power form:
    • Opening the Supply Power form would trigger a Main form error flag. Applies only to the Education, Lite and Advanced versions.
  • Main form:
    • Handle very old projects (v2.8 and earlier) where the supply voltage and phases were not supported)
Nov 14, 2016Version 3.3.503

Enhancements:

  • Added SERVOsoft MOOG feature set
  • Added Moog product data to the database in v3.3.33 Nov 14, 2016 including motors, drives, infeed modules and bleeder modules
  • Main form:
    • Under the 'Help' menu, moved 'Request quote for SERVOsoft' to under the 'ControlEng on the web' item
  • Print Report:
    • For most promotion versions, added company urls at bottom right of each page.
      Previously was "www.controleng.ca"

Fixes:

  • Gearbox Shaft Loads:
    • Now apply the Stober Temperature Factor, fT, to the gearbox shaft load rated speed.
      Previously no factor was applied.
Oct 6, 2016Version 3.3.445

Enhancements:

  • Upgraded to CodeMeter Runtime v6.30d:
    • Helps prevent ACT licenses from "breaking" when Windows 10 users get the Windows 10 Anniversary update, released Fall 2016
  • System Check:
    • Added display of mean speed in Servo Pump continuous pressure exceeded message

Fixes:

  • Optimizer:
    • Added check to ensure no more than 200 segments. If more than 200 segments, the user is informed the Optimizer supports up to 200 segments
  • Rack & Pinion Performance Force vs Speed chart:
    • Corrected synchronization of both X scales - Load and Pinion velocities.
  • Print Report:
    • Corrected synchronization of both X scales - Load and Pinion velocities - for the Rack & Pinion Performance Force vs Speed chart
  • Main form Wizard:
    • Fixed icon and text in the Pump dropdown list
  • Bill of Material:
    • The Coupling was listed as its own item for a Motor Coupling Pump. However, the Model for a Motor Coupling Pump defines all its components, and therefore, does not need a separate BOM item for the Coupling.
Aug 12, 2016Version 3.3.444

Enhancements:

  • Performance Improvements:
    • All Database forms now load 0.5s faster than the previous version
    • The Drive & Motor database, which loads 2 products listings, now loads up to 1.0s faster than the previous version
  • Combined Products database form: Default filter now requires the Type and Vendor filters. This prevents the automatic loading of over 100,000 records.
  • Upgraded to CodeMeter Runtime v6.30

Fixes:

  • Move form:
    • The 'Distance/speed' and 'Time/speed' radio buttons where partially covered when the 'Spanish' language was selected
  • Asynchronous Motor Model:
    • An error would occur in the AM model converting from mechanical (torque and speed) to electrical (voltage and current) when the next load torque at the motor was exactly 0Nm. This would result in "empty" power charts as the electrical model would struggle to calculate.
  • Database forms:
    • Corrected German translation for "Please select a record first"
  • System Check:
    • Corrected units for the message "Gearbox max input speed could be exceeded if available motor max speed is applied", where "Nm" was displayed and the units should have been "rpm"
  • Optimizer form:
    • "Apply" and "Cancel" buttons would be cut off when Text Size = 125%, even when screen resolution was 1920 pixels wide
  • Print Report:
    • Corrected the display of the gear motor mean output speed, which was displaying the rated mean output speed instead.
Apr 19, 2016Version 3.3.442

Enhancements:

  • Overall Performance:
    • Performance improvements ranging from 10% to 200% faster depending on the application
  • System Check:
    • Added new message "Gearbox max output torque could be exceeded if motor brake holding torque is applied when in motion.", which occurs when in Max-Stop mode and the motor brake holding torque is applied when the axis is in motion, and Tbr x i > T2MaxStop.
  • Import Sequence:
    • Improved handling of spreadsheets
      • Properly handle spreadsheets with formulae
      • Load spreadsheets faster
      • Added support to select columns
  • Winder Centre Driven:
    • Now ensure Roller Radius does not exceed the Roller Max Radius.
  • Winder Surface Driven:
    • Now ensure Core Radius does not exceed the Roller Max Radius.

Fixes:

  • Power & Energy Profiles form:
    • When bus power = 0W at the very first sample in the power calculations, the "DC Bus Stored Energy” from the end of the cycle was being reset at the start of the second iteration. And so in this specific case, at Time=0s and Bus Power = 0W, "DC Bus Stored Energy" was shown as 0J even when the cycle ended with energy on the DC bus.
  • Sequence form:
    • Corrected 'Duplicate and Reverse' for Poly1-7 as the Jerk Start and End values should not have been multiplied by -1
  • Conveyor mechanism:
    • Fixed the 'Belt tensile force' calculation when there is little or no preload force
  • Import Sequence form:
    • Now prevent the user importing an empty sequence, as this would trigger an error and set the Main form error flag
  • Gearbox Shaft Loads form:
    • Now display the rated nominal shaft load (F2RN, F2RA & M2KN) at mean speed. Previously, the F2RN, F2RA & M2KN rated values were displayed at 0 rpm.
  • Manage Axes:
    • Fixed bug when opening a source project with more axes than the existing project. This would trigger the Main form error flag.
    • Fixed bug when opening a source project using axis types and features not enabled in the user's license. This would trigger the Main form error flag.
Feb 15, 2016Version 3.3.440

Enhancements:

  • Added new Drive Type:
    • 16 = Infeed / Triple Inverter / IntExtBleeder
  • Using improved German translations for the following phrases:
    • Apply defaults to => Als Standard verwenden für
    • Speed at max torque => Geschw. bei max. Drehmoment
    • Mean speed => Mittlere Geschwindigkeit

Fixes:

  • Save Project:
    • Fixed the saving of Gear Motor product data in the project file. Previously, for Gear Motors, which are the combination of a Motor & Gearbox, the Motor product data was not being encrypted and saved properly in the project file.
  • Coupling Database:
    • When the user would delete the currently selected Coupling, then click 'Cancel', the Coupling Database transformation type still remains in the Main form showing a Coupling Database, even though the product data is no longer in the database.
  • Gearbox Database:
    • When the user would delete the currently selected Gearbox, then click 'Cancel', the Gearbox Database transformation type still remains in the Main form showing a Gearbox Database, even though the product data is no longer in the database.
  • EXLAR version:
    • The selection of 'Gear Motors' and 'Drive Gear Motors' was not possible. 'Gearbox not found' and 'Gear Motor not found' messages would occur.
Dec 24, 2015Version 3.3.438

Enhancements:

  • System Check:
    • Added the warning message "Gearbox max input speed could be exceeded if available motor max speed is applied" when the available motor max speed exceeds the gearbox max input speed.
    • Extended the "ProductSourceType=User" message by adding the "The product data is from a 3rd party. The product data may not have been validated by the vendor. Please contact the vendor to ensure the correct data, sizing and selection.".

Fixes:

  • Gearbox Shaft Loads form:
    • The Gearbox F2RMax and F2AMax curves where incorrectly truncated at n2BN instead of the n2Max value. This applied specifically when F2RTyp = 1 [Alpha: FMax n<=nMax; FN n<=nN].
  • Databases:
    • Corrected an issue when opening any database form when the French language is selected would have the error message "Entrées requises non-valides". This bug was introduced in the previous release where the LegacyType column was added to all database list queries. The program did not properly handle the query for phrases that include an apostrophe.
  • Database Updates:
    • Improved handling when a database update zip file fails to unpack properly.
Dec 8, 2015Version 3.3.437

Enhancements:

  • B&R version feature set:
    • Enabled 'Drive Motors' database feature
  • Main form:
    • Now display the Mechanism Utilization bar in full red when the Min Position Accuracy is exceeded and no other mechanism limits are specified.
  • Print Report:
    • Added axis name/description to the report header. Eg. If the user names the first axis "Press", the Sequence page header used to read "Axis 1: Sequence", and now it is "Axis 1: Press: Sequence"
  • Databases:
    • Added "DisplayType = 3 (Non-Standard)", so vendors have the option to better categorize how their products can be filtered and displayed
    • Now when 'Show All' is checked, the LegecyType and DisplayType columns are displayed in the product list

Fixes:

  • Main form:
    • When removing an existing Gear Motor, sometimes the first adjacent transformation would also be removed.
  • Motor I2t Model:
    • When the motor is at stand still, now use Io x 0.707 factor to de-rate standstill rated holding current.
  • Motor and Inverter Performance form:
    • The Motor Bus Voltage list was not formatting the numbers. So if a value contained several decimals, such as "565.1234567V", that long number would be displayed instead of "565V".
  • Power Calculations for Stand Alone Axes:
    • When a drive type with a Chopper is selected, and the Chopper Efficiency value in the database is wrongly set to 0%, the braking energy was not considered, and so no System Check message would occur. To addresses this case, now the Chopper Efficiency is overwritten from 0% to 100% when this mistake is made, to ensure the user knows energy should be flowing through the chopper to a bleeder. And therefore, a System Check message will occur stating that a Bleeder is needed.
  • German Language:
    • Corrected German translation for "cont", which is short for "continuous". Previously was "sauer" and now is "dauer".
  • Print Report:
    • Corrected the display of the transformation efficiency when a Gear or Belt & Pulley type. Previously, 100% was always displayed.
Oct 28, 2015Version 3.3.433

Enhancements:

  • Optimizer:
    • Added two new constraints - 'Start Accel = End Accel' and 'Start Jerk = End Jerk'.
  • Import Sequence:
    • When importing a 'Time vs Distance' or 'Time vs Velocity' profile, now start with 0s dwell segment to set the initial values.
    • Added support to open spreadsheets and then compute cell values for those cells using a formula that starts with "="
  • License Activation Wizard:
    • Removed the 'Activate License' option to avoid confusion since not needed. Licenses are activated by double-clicking the actual license file sent via email.

Fixes:

  • Main form:
    • When already at maximum number of axes allowed, and then the user clicks the "Insert Axis" button in the Main form toolbar, the Main form error flag would occur.
  • Insert Axes form:
    • Fixed language support. Only the English phrases were being displayed, regardless of the active language setting in the Main form menu.
  • Move form:
    • When 'Linear' profile type and 'Scurving' is selected, then the user switches to another profile type that does not support Scurving (eg. Poly123), the Scurving input fields would remain visible.
  • Servo Pump:
    • Force vs Pressure Chart: Displaying the larger dot was not being displayed for a segment with constant flow and pressure.
    • Changed the Max Flow Margin calculation. Previously, it would be based on the Rated Max Flow (QMax) at no pressure. However, there are times when the pressure and flow sequence operate below QMax but above the rated flow at a given pressure. So now the more precise calculation is handled based on the specific pressure at each point in the sequence.
  • System Check:
    • After creating a Print report, then closing Print Preview, and then opening System Check, the System Check list would include several blank rows.
  • Database v3.3.17:
    • Corrected the Noise Formula, L, for the "Baumueller IPV3-10" pump. "E10" was replaced with the speed variable, "n"
Sep 9, 2015Version 3.3.430

Enhancements:

  • Optimizer form:
    • Optimizer form: Added F2 support in the grid so the user can de-select all text and move the cursor with the arrow keys
  • Optimizer Add Edit Constraints form:
    • Added F2 support in the grid so the user can de-select all text and move the cursor with the arrow keys
  • Main form:
    • When loading a project with a Rack & Gearbox Pinion, if the Rack Model is not specified, now a message informs the user, and the Rack & Gearbox Pinion selection is changed to a selected Gearbox and standard Rack & Pinion inputs.
  • Motor Inertia Thrust Breakdown form:
    • Changed the text "MOTOR ACCEL TORQUE: INERTIA VS THRUST" to "MOTOR TORQUE: INERTIA VS THRUST". Ie. Removed the word "ACCEL" since can be confusing for Dwell segments.
  • Help:
    • Add help page for "Project Cost Comparison" feature

Fixes:

  • Main form:
    • When switching to/from Max Stop mode, the Rack & Pinion Lifetime Load Factor would not update correctly when the 'Auto' checkbox was selected
  • Gearbox Shaft Loads form:
    • Corrected the units conversion for the Rated MxKMax and MxKN displayed values
  • Database Utility:
    • The utility would fail on a critical error when trying to handle duplicates in the RacksPinionsFeedForce table
Aug 18, 2015Version 3.3.428

Enhancements:

  • Inverter Ixt Model:
    • When the motor is at standstill, now use Icont x 2/3 factor to de-rate standstill holding current since only 2 of the 3 windings are working when the motor is at standstill. This change affects applications where there is a significant hold torque current requirement. In such cases, the Ixt result will be higher than before. How much is a function of how much holding current is required and for how long.
    • Added environmental load factor de-rating to the Ixt model. So now if the motor load factor is say, LF=0.8, due to ambient temperature and elevation, then this LF is now also applied to the Ixt model.
  • Motor I2t Model:
    • When the motor is at stand still, now use Io x 2/3 factor to de-rate standstill holding current since only 2 of the 3 windings are working. Previously always used the rated current, In, at rated torque and speed. So if the application has a significant hold torque at stand still, this change may affect the I2t result depending on the difference between each motor's Io and In values. If (2/3 x Io) > In, then I2t will be higher. And if (2/3 x Io) < In, then I2t will be lower. How much is a function of how much bigger or smaller Io is wrt In, as well as how much holding torque is required and for how long.
    • Added environmental load factor de-rating to the I2t model. So now if the motor load factor is say, LF=0.8, due to ambient temperature and elevation, then this LF is now also applied to the I2t model.
  • Linear Actuators:
    • Enabled the ability to Add/Edit Linear Actuators, as well as import product data using the Database Utility for vendors other than "Exlar". Only for LITE, ADVANCED and PRO versions.
  • Sequence form:
    • Added "Split Segment" feature, which splits the selected segment into N equal time segments that cover the total distance and duration of the original segment, using a Linear profile type with no jerk. Only for ADVANCED and PRO versions.
    • Sequence Menu 'Open Sequence' and 'Save Sequence' features now include the Optimizer Parameters
  • Project Notes:
    • Added Zoom In/Out
  • Rotary Mechanism form:
    • Added Incline Angle to image to clarify what is 0 to 90 deg
  • System Check:
    • Changed "Combined product selected as Stand Alone" message from Critical (red) to Warning (yellow)
  • Database forms:
    • When grouping by a column with Units in the 2nd line, the 2-line text would be cut-off in the column drop area. Now the units are removed such that the column name is clearly displayed.

Fixes:

  • System Check:
    • Fixed false positive critical message “Gear Motor: Combined product selected as Stand Alone”, which would occur for a properly selected Gear Motor selection.
    • No message was displayed when the Rack & Gearbox Pinion Nominal Force limit was exceeded. This should have triggered a critical alarm.
  • Main form:
    • Corrected the display of the velocity, accel and decel units for the Slider Crank when the motion profile is defined at the Crank.
  • Sequence form:
    • Corrected "Duplicate and Reverse" for Segments
Jul 11, 2015Version 3.3.423

Enhancements:

  • Optimizer:
    • Added 'Total Distance' constraint to specify the allowed distance range for a segment group
    • Added support to double-click the table as a shortcut to open the Edit Constraints form
  • Help:
    • Added Motor Brake help page

Fixes:

  • Slider Crank:
    • Corrected the direction of the Load Thrust where it is translated to the Crank Input
  • Main form:
    • When switching to Max-Stop with "Shorter Sequences = Repeat", if the Max-Stop sequence was empty, then the program would lock up.
    System Check:
    • Fixed false positive critical message “Pinion: Combined product selected as Stand Alone”, which would occur for a properly selected Rack & Gearbox selection.
  • Terminal Server version:
    • Fixed local license handling, which broke with v3.3
  • Move form:
    • When a Polynomial 1-3, 1-5 or 1-7 is set by the Optimizer, sometimes the Distance input would be "Read Only"
  • Optimizer:
    • When opening projects with Optimizer settings saved in a European locale, the Main form error flag would be set
Jun 30, 2015Version 3.3.417

Enhancements:

  • Units:
    • Added "ft/min/s" and "m/min/s" acceleration units, which is common for winder applications
    • After each program update, the default units would always revert back to Metric. This was a nuisance for users who use different units, and then have to set them again each time after a program update was installed. Now, the units settings remain after each program update.
  • Print Report:
    • Added enhanced colour scheme making tables more readable, including a bolder header and alternating row colours.
  • Optimizer:
    • Added support to save all user parameters with the project file
    • Added 'Save Parameters' button to save all user parameters
    • Added failure status for the results, allowing users to see how each failure type and count.
    • Added 'Update results every N calculations' list to slow down or speed up the calculation results, allowing users to better see where failures are occurring during the optimization run.
    • Added the following new constraints:
      • Inverter: Peak Current
      • Inverter: Peak Current Margin
      • Inverter: Cont Current
      • Inverter: Cont Current Margin
      Optimizer Help page:
      • Added definitions for each constraint
  • System Check:
    • Changed the column name "Alarm" in German from "Fehler" to "Fehler Beschreibung"
  • Gearbox Database:
    • Gearbox LFtyp 0 "Manual Entry" renamed to "Manual Entry: T2Max" for additional clarity showing that the manual entry LF is applied to T2Max only.
  • Add / Edit Combined Products form:
    • Added 'Edit Record' button beside the Model field to open
    • Add/Edit form for the specified Vendor Model Also provide an error message if the Vendor Model record does not exist
  • Rack & Pinion Database:
    • Added support to Add/Edit just the Rack or Pinion separately
  • Rack & Gearbox Pinion Database:
    • Added support for viewing online Gearbox Pinion documentation
  • All Database forms:
    • Added CombinedProductType filter to the Drive, Motor, Gearbox, Coupling, Linear Actuators and Pump filters, allowing users to drill down and investigate combined products issues. When the CombinedProductType is not used, then as usual, only 'Stand Alone' and 'Stand Alone and Combined' products are listed.
  • Database v3.3.15 June 29, 2015:
    • Added 50x Yaskawa SGM series rotary motors including SGMA, SGMJ, SGMG and SGMS series motors

Fixes:

  • Sequence form:
    • After selecting the External Bleeder Power Profile to be displayed in the Sequence Chart, the Main form error would occur, and the External Bleeder Power Profile would not be displayed.
  • Optimizer:
    • Corrected the 'Peak Torque Margin' constraint, which was not being handled as a proper constraint
  • Bleeder Module Database:
    • When the 'R' filter was selected, the Main form error flag would occur. Applies only to External Bleeder Module database.
  • Rack & Gearbox Pinion Database:
    • The Main form error flag would occur when the user clicked on the ".." button for the GBP_Vendor filter list.
  • Database Utility:
    • If the database/spreadsheet file extension was not in lower case, then the Database Utility would not know what file type it is, and would not load the file.
May 06, 2015Version 3.3.412

Enhancements:

  • Improved and extended Cut/Copy/Paste functionality for all numeric inputs on all forms
  • System Check:
    • Added critical alarm message when a Payload/Thrust formula error occurs.
      • For example, when using the SQR(x) function and x is a negative value.
      • The message informs the user of exactly where the error occurred in the Sequence.
      • Then the Payload/Thrust Formula calculation is no longer calculated for the rest of the segment where the error occurred.
      • And when displayed in the Sequence chart, the user sees exactly where the error occurred as the value changes to zero and remains for the rest of the Sequence.

Fixes:

  • Database Utility:
    • When Deleting Products, opening the Table Details form would trigger an error and fail to display the list of products
  • Pumps Database:
    • Required Max Flow variable, Req_Qmax, was not being converted to the default user units. When the default units were not "l/min", incorrect filter results would occur.
  • Database forms:
    • Tooltip display time was too short, so increased from 500ms to 5s.
  • Print:
    • An error would occur when creating the Sequence chart for a Slider Crank mechanism, resulting in a chart with no units or colours. This would occur when the Default Units were set to 'Imperial' and the Slider Crank 'Motion profile defined at input'.
    • The chart extended toolbar was shown above the chart on the 'System Power' page. The chart toolbar should be hidden in the report.
Apr 19, 2015Version 3.3.407

Enhancements:

  • Charts:
    • When the user clicks on a profile name in the Legend, now the profile is filled in colour in addition to increasing the line width. Applies only to ADVANDED and PRO users.
    • Using flat toolbar buttons with integrated extended buttons for a seamless toolbar.
      • When the chart image is saved, the extended toolbar buttons are also included.
      • The extended toolbar buttons have the same highlight and select behaviour as the standard toolbar buttons.
  • Gearbox Shaft Loads form:
    • Added Numeric Input Calculator support. Applies only to ADVANDED and PRO users.
  • Gearbox Mounting form:
    • Added Numeric Input Calculator support. Applies only to ADVANDED and PRO users.
  • Database forms:
    • When the text is wider than its column, an Ellipsis, "..", is shown to indicate the text is wider. And the user can hover the mouse over these cells and a tooltip will appear showing the full text.
  • Help:
    • Added Rack & Pinion Force vs Speed page
    • Added Rack & Gearbox Pinion Force vs Speed page

Fixes:

  • Drive & Motor Database form:
    • Only the default metric units were display for the Infeed, Chopper and Bleeder data. Ie. Power units was always "W".
  • Move form:
    • When switching from a Segment to a Move, an error would occur, setting the Main form error flag.
  • Main form:
    • Previously when the program license did not have a feature used in a project file, the program would allow the feature to be loaded when opening the project. This is no longer the case for the Import Trace, Load Mass/Inertia Formula, Thrust Formula and CAM profiles features.
      • Now the Import Trace data is removed when opening a project file when the user does not have the feature
      • Now the Load Mass/Inertia Formula and Thrust Formula are removed when opening a project file when the user does not have the feature
      • Now Moves/Segments that use CAM profiles are converted to Dwell Segments when opening a project when the user does not have the feature
  • Rotary mechanism form:
    • Some numeric inputs were not properly handling non-numeric values that were pasted from the Clipboard. This would trigger the Main form error flag.
  • Ball Screw mechanism form:
    • Some numeric inputs were not properly handling non-numeric values that were pasted from the Clipboard. This would trigger the Main form error flag.
  • Transformation form:
    • Some numeric inputs were not properly handling non-numeric values that were pasted from the Clipboard. This would trigger the Main form error flag.
  • Sequence form:
    • If the user specified a profile LineWidth = 5, and then would click that profile in the chart Legend, each time it was clicked, it would decrease that profile's LineWidth by one.
Apr 5, 2015Version 3.3.405

Enhancements:

  • Performance Improvements:
    • Further improved the calculation performance up to 5x for larger sequences (>= 100 segments) and/or projects with >= 20 axes
    • Now projects of 40 and even 70 axes are much more responsive
    • The biggest area for improvement occurs for imported Sequences of Time vs Distance/Velocity (Payload & Thrust)
    • For users who create complex sequences in external tools and then import the sequences into SERVOsoft, this improvement is for you!
  • Language Translations:
    • IT: Language translation has been completely reviewed and updated
    • DE, FR, ES, TR, ZH: Minor improvements and additional translations where there previously were English phrases
    • Improved layouts in some forms and tabs where longer texts that could not fit were cut off. Now, where possible, the longer texts are shrunk in size with a better chance to fit, and if they still do not fit, then the text is trimmed to fit with ".." appended to show there is more. And then tooltips are used to give the user the chance to see the full text.
  • Drive & Motor Database form:
    • Along with the Inverter data, now also the display the Infeed, Chopper and Bleeder data when selecting a Drive & Motor. Previously, only the Inverter data was shown.
  • Added two new Drive Types
    • Type 14: Infeed / Dual Inverter
    • Type 15: Infeed / Triple Inverter
  • Add/Edit Combined Products:
    • For the Motor-Coupling-Pump combination type, now allow the Coupling Vendor and Model to be empty. This effectively allows for a Motor-Pump combinations. This was always supported when importing using the Database Utility. Previously, just the Add/Edit Combined Products form was blocking this.
  • Add/Edit Product Data:
    • Now allow users to overwrite Published data as "User" data
  • Database Utility:
    • Now allow users to overwrite 'Published' data, however, ProductSourceType is always set to 'User', as only ControlEng can set ProductSourceType = 'Published'
  • System Check:
    • Added a message when the product data was not published by ControlEng. Ie. when ProductSourceType = "User".
    • Added Horizontal Lines to help visualize similar sorted items. For example, if the "Axis" column is sorted, horizontal lines are drawn when the value in a sorted column changes.
  • Bill of Material form:
    • Added Horizontal Lines to help visualize similar sorted items. For example, if the "Axis" column is sorted, horizontal lines are drawn when the value in a sorted column changes.
  • Power Profiles form:
    • Now when change a setting on the Main form and then come back to the Power Profiles form, the profiles are updated with the new results.
  • Main form:
    • Improved Menu and Toolbar background shading when Windows Text setting not 96 DPI
  • Print Preview:
    • Now when the user clicks the "View PDF" button in the print preview toolbar, the user is prompted to save the PDF file before opening it. The default folder is the same folder as the current project. The default filename is the current project filename with the .pdf extension.
  • Energy Cost Analysis - Details tab:
    • Added Total Energy consumed at the top left header cell, along with the total energy cost.
    • Added checkbox to show/hide the energy values
    • Added Energy Units list allowing the energy used table to be converted into different energy units - kWhr, kJ, J, mJ
  • Database forms:
    • Better auto adjust the Filters Panel height to accommodate number of filters between 5 and 10 Added additional checking for text values, providing more precise user feedback when a value is misspelled
  • Charts:
    • Now all charts use the same colour (dark yellow) and thickness for the crosshairs
  • Database:
    • Includes Database v3.3.11 March 29, 2015, which includes the latest B&R data including the newly added "Infeed / Triple Inverter / Bleeder" drive type with Model "8EI8X8HWT..."
  • Help:
    • Added images on the Rotary Mechanism page showing the Rotary Mechanism orientation when the Incline angle is 0° and 90°
    • Added page on 'Load Cycle Types' explaining the 3 common load classifications used by Rack & Pinion and Gearbox manufacturers - Uniform Permanent Duty, Cyclic Duty, and Cyclic Duty Reversing

Fixes:

  • Linear Motors was not enabled in the ADVANCED feature set
  • Move form:
    • Fixed checking for more than one instance of the VEL variable when the feature set uses "Thrust Formula Proportional to Velocity".
      • By definition, there can only be one instance of the VEL variable and only the*, / and \ arithmetic functions are permitted along with the constant PI.
      • Previously, VEL*VEL passed the test when it should have failed, since this is effectively VEL to the power of 2.
      • Note: This issue only applies to feature sets that use the "Thrust Formula Proportional to Velocity" feature. This does not affect the feature sets with the full Load Formula feature.
  • Drive Mechanics form:
    • When in v2 Mode and Drive Mechanics form is opened, the "Actuators" and "Pumps" tabs are hidden, which is correct. However, when the form is closed, v2 Mode switched off, and then the Drive Mechanics form is opened again, the "Actuators" and "Pumps" tabs remain hidden when they should be visible (if features are enabled).
  • Rack & Pinions:
    • Corrected calculation for the number of load cycles when there is no sequence. Previously when there was an empty sequence with just a dwell and no motion, the number of load cycles over the machine lifetime would be very high. Using the default empty sequence of one dwell segment of 1sec, and the default lifetime of 10 years, the number of load cycles would be 314.5 million. Now for the same scenario of an empty sequence with just a dwell and no motion and the rack force remains constant, the number of load cycles is 1 for the 10 year lifetime. This change only applies to this specific scenario of a dwell sequence with no motion and the rack force does not change. The reason for this change is to allow users to go into the Rack & Pinion database and select GÜDEL racks & pinions without having to specify a sequence in advance.
  • Main form:
    • When a project is opened with Gear Motor Combination that does not exist in the database and the user decides not to add it to the database, a confusing message would appear, because the wrong MsgIds were used.
    • When running the program for the first time, the Numeric Textbox Calculator would not appear for numeric fields on the Main form until after another form was opened with the Numeric Textbox Calculator. Applies only to ADVANDED and PRO users.
    • When changing the Drive PWM frequency, the Utilization Bars were not changing
    • When switching to Axis Type = 'Motor Coupling Pump', the default Sequence units were not set correctly, so that the Main form error flag would be set when the Sequence form was opened.
  • Add/Edit Rack & Pinion:
    • When saving the values under the "FMax" tab, the LFTyp value was not being saved to the database. Therefore the default value of 0 [Manual Entry] would be saved instead.
    • When the user clicked 'OK', all 3 tabs were saved even when not all 3 tabs had changes. Now only the tabs that had changes are saved to the database.
  • Infeed Module:
    • When a project was opened with an "Infeed/Chopper" type external Infeed Module, the Bleeder was "Enabled" when no External Bleeder was selected.
  • Power Profiles form:
    • When the Supply Power scale (top scale) is not shown, and the user right-clicks on the Y Scale of the Bus Power plot, the Y scale units were not changing
  • Add/Edit Database forms:
    • After changing and saving product data in the database, the Database Form would not update to reflect the changes just saved to the currently selected product.
  • Print:
    • Gear Motor page:
      • The Max Output Speed required value was using the Max Input Speed value.
    • Bill of Material page:
      • When there are >= 10 products in the Bill of Material, requiring more than 1x BOM page, sometimes, 1 or 2 products would be missing in the report.
Feb 3, 2015Version 3.3.307

Enhancements:

  • Databases:
    • When no product is selected, now a warning message asks if the user wants to continue anyway. Previously, the user was forced to select a product.
  • Help:
    • Added help pages for the Database Utility. Press F1 when using the Database Utility and the appropriate help topic will be displayed.
  • Added new LTi Motion logo for the Print Report logo option

Fixes:

  • Thrust Formula:
    • Corrected issue of handling comma for decimals in the Thrust formula. This would result in very large Thrust values. This bug was introduced in v3.3.219 released on Nov 14, 2014, while fixing another bug.
  • Fixed conversion of v2 Product Data in a Project file, when the project was saved using "," as a decimal.
Jan 22, 2015Version 3.3.304

Enhancements:

  • Added 2 sample projects:
    • Sample 13 - Sequence Templates
    • Sample 14 - Servo Pump

Fixes:

  • Improved project load time by 2-5% for most projects
  • Corrected Maintenance Plan license issues for some users
Jan 10, 2015Version 3.3.301

Enhancements:

  • Transformation form:
    • Added 'Description' field, so users can name or describe each Transformation
      • The Description is used throughout the program and print report
      • When the Description is blank, the behaviour is the same as before
      • Available in the ADVANCED and PRO versions only
  • Move form:
    • Added new drop down list to Insert/Append/Duplicate a move directly in the Move form
      • Available in the ADVANCED and PRO versions only
  • Main form:
    • When removing the Drive & Motor, now can select whether to remove only the Drive (and Bleeder if selected) and/or Motor / Gear Motor / Actuator / etc.
  • Shock Absorbers:
    • The ability to make new selections is disabled because the ACE shock absorber library and database used in SERVOsoft are no longer supported by ACE
  • Print: Mechanism page:
    • Now the 'Total distance travelled' is also displayed for Rotary mechanisms. Previously only displayed for Linear mechanisms.

Fixes:

  • QuickCalc Numeric Input Calculator:
    • Fixed support for Windows hi-resolution settings well above 1920x1080 such as 3200x1800.
  • Flying Shear Template:
    • When starting with a blank sequence, and the user opens the Flying Shear Template for the first time, the Main form error flag is set.
  • Sequence Templates:
    • When a template was set, and then the user closed the Template form and then opened a move from the template, the standard Move form opened instead of the Template form.
  • Print: Mechanism page:
    • For the Slider Crank, when the motion profile is defined at the Crank, the units for performance at the top tight table were linear when they should have been rotary units.
  • Database forms:
    • When using a lower resolution such as 1366x768 and also has the Windows text size at 125%, the OK/Cancel buttons are not visible when opening the database forms.
  • Gear Motor Database:
    • When opening the Gear Motor database when no gear motor is selected would cause the Main form error flag to be set.
Dec 16, 2014Version 3.3.227

Enhancements:

  • System Supply Power form:
    • Now allow up to 4 decimals for the energy cost value. Eg. $0.1234/kWhr
    • Added QuickCalc Numeric Input Calculator to numeric input fields

Fixes:

  • System Supply Power form:
    • Fixed handling of bad user inputs. Ie. When expecting a number and the user enters a non-numeric value.
    • When Shared Bus and no bleeder module is selected/enabled, the "Additional capacitance for no bleeder power" was 0mF.
  • Sequence form:
    • When not displaying the Bus and/or Bleeder Power when the user Duplicates a Move, and then the user adds a Bus and/or Bleeder Power profile, the power profiles were not being updated with the duplicated/deleted move until the user reloaded the form.
  • Add/Edit Drive:
    • The Bus Connection Type list was loading the language phrase Ids instead of the actual names
  • Bus Discharge:
    • Fixed calculation where the motor brake holding torque was not being applied when the motor break is enabled in the project.
  • Main form:
    • Sometimes when the Cycle Time is in Manual mode, and Auto checkbox is selected, the system Cycle Time is not calculated properly, and the last manual value is used.
  • Move form:
    • The 'Previous' and 'Next' buttons are not visible for Pressure and Flow segments
  • Print:
    • For the Slider Crank, when the motion profile is defined at the Crank, and using Print Config to use profiles defined in the Sequence form, the sequence table header row would display linear units instead of rotary units.
  • Inertia Mass Calculator:
    • When called from the Transformation form, the Main form error flag would set after the user clicked OK on the Transformation form.
Dec 8, 2014Version 3.3.223

Enhancements:

  • (none)

Fixes:

  • DGL NW & TS Licenses:
    • 2 NW/TS licenses were being consumed by each client PC instead of 1 license.
    • This bug was introduced in v3.3.219.
  • Main form:
    • When the existing project is in Max-Stop mode and then the user opens another project, if the project being opened has more axes than the current project, the Main form error flag is set.
  • Move form:
    • Corrected reverse direction function which was not reversing the Decel and Decel Jerk values for the Poly 1-5 and Poly 1-7 profile types.
  • Manage Axes form:
    • When 2 or more axes in the Target, and for example the Axis 1 Sequence is also referencing an Axis 2 profile, that reference was not being removed when Axis 2 was deleted.
Nov 23, 2014Version 3.3.220

Enhancements:

  • Help:
    • Belt Forces page:
      • Added example calculations for the belt preload as an absolute and percentage value
    • Conveyor Mechanism page:
      • Added formula of how the friction coefficient between the Belt and Load, μBelt > Load, is used in System Check to ensure the load does not slip on the belt when acceleration is too high

Fixes:

  • Drive and Motor Limits form:
    • When setting the Drive and Motor limits by clicking OK, gearbox invalid inputs error message box would be displayed, not allowing the Drive and Motor limits to be changed.
  • Units form:
    • When setting default units, the Ball Screw mechanism 'Screw Mass' and 'Total Travel Distance Limit' units were not being set to the default units.
Nov 14, 2014Version 3.3.219

New Features:

  • Servo Pump Option officially released!
    • Working in close partnership with Baumueller, the Servo Pump option allows users to size and select Servo Pumps, as well as Motor-Coupling-Pump combined products.
    • Unidirectional and Bi-directional flow pumps are supported.
    • A dynamic pressure and flow vs time sequence is supported, which allows users to create any pressure and flow vs time sequence that is required.
    • In the Sequence form, users can display pump pressure, flow, torque, speed, power (hydraulic), power (mechanical), volumetric efficiency, torque efficiency, total efficiency, noise emission, etc.
    • The Servo Pump is an option that must be ordered separately
  • QuickCalc Numeric Input Calculator:
    • QuickCalc is a calculator available for all numeric input fields. To start using the calculator, press =, +, -, * or /, and the calculation field pops up. Then you can add, subtract, multiply and/or divide numbers. Just enter a number and then the math function you want followed by more numbers.
    • Available in the ADVANCED and PRO versions only

Enhancements:

  • Optimizer PRO:
    • Added two new Spline Additional Constraints - 'Traversing Range' and 'Segment Traversing Overshoot'
  • Main form Wizard:
    • Now text in 'Servo Database' button is based on the active database instead of always using 'Servo Database'
  • Motor Brake form:
    • Now when the user presses F1, the Help opens to the Rotary Motor page
  • Help:
    • Added Polynomials page, explaining in simple terms what a Polynomial is and how it is used in the program
    • Added Splines page, explaining in simple terms what a Spline is and how it is used in the program

Fixes:

  • Main form:
    • For some value input fields it is not possible to enter a “,” decimal comma from the normal keypad, but it works from the numeric keypad (on the PC or if you have a separate numeric keypad on the notebook). For example this affected the "minimum position accuracy" and the "shock factor" inputs for gearboxes.
    • When opening a project that contains a Combined Product that includes a motor such as a 'Drive Motor', and the motor product data is not in the database, the motor product was not being saved to the database from the project file.
  • Gearbox Database:
    • When the filter gearbox ratio "I" was set to 6, 8 or 9 (eg. "i=8"), the next time the Gearbox Database form was loaded, the same filter would change to "i=80" because "80" was in the dropdown list and "8" was not. So now the ratios 1, 6, 8 & 9 have been added to the dropdown list to avoid this problem.
  • Gearboxes:
    • Previously, the 'Load Factor Type' for Alpha (1) would apply the shock factor to both the Max and Nominal output torque ratings. Now the shock factor is only applied to the Max output torque rating.
    • Previously, the 'Load Factor Type' for Manual (0) would apply the manual shock factor to both the Max and Nominal output torque ratings. Now the manual shock factor is only applied to the Max output torque rating.
  • Motor and Drive Database:
    • When starting with a blank project with no motor and drive selected, the calculated nominal bus voltage would be 0Vdc until a drive was selected. And therefore, regardless of the supply voltage, the program would choose the motor's lowest bus voltage curve. Now in this situation, the software assumes a standard conversion of the supply voltage, such that a 400Vac supply implies a 540Vdc nominal bus voltage.
  • Environment form:
    • When 'Apply to All Axes' is checked and the OK button is clicked, sometimes the Main form Error flag would be set.
  • Project Notes:
    • When the user would make selections starting at the end of the last line of the Project Notes, sometimes the program would crash. This issue was introduced when the "bullets" feature was added to the Project Notes in the 3.3.208 release.
  • Sequence Import Trace:
    • When importing a trace where the X values are not in seconds, and instead are in milliseconds, minutes, hours, etc., the X values were not scaled properly in the Sequence Chart.
  • Inertia & Mass Calculator (IMCalc):
    • When just the Mass calculator is opened first, and then afterwards the Inertia & Mass calculator is opened, the element Inertia field is missing.
  • Move form:
    • When the user switches from a Segment to a Move or vice versa, the Description field would change. Now it remains unchanged.
  • Power Calculations:
    • When the Infeed Peak Power configuration is set to "System Peak", and a standalone Infeed Module is selected, the peak power displayed in the Infeed Module performance form was -1W.
  • System Supply Power form:
    • When opening the form and a project comparison is pointing to a file that does not exist, nowthe missing file is handled properly. Previously an the Main form error flag would be set.
  • When entering data e.g. in the sequence form and jumping from field to field using the TAB-button, the value is highlighted/selected when the cursor enters the field. But that works only with the original values when the form was first opened. After a value is changed and the user TABS into the input field again, the value is not highlighted/selected as it should be. Now the value is always highlighted when the user TABS into the input field.
Sep 10, 2014Version 3.3.208

New Features:

  • Optimizer Option officially released!
    • The Optimizer takes what is an impossible manual task, and reduces it to a few clicks
    • Consider manually trying to optimize the Slider Crank mechanism motion sequence for minimal torque. Or consider manually trying to optimize a sequence for energy efficiency while still maintaining the same move times and distances. With the Optimizer, set your parameters and constraints, click 'Start', and let the Optimizer do the work!
    • The Optimizer LITE is available in all the ADVANCED and PRO versions
    • The Optimizer PRO is an option that must be ordered separately

Enhancements:

  • Sequence form:
    • Added option to display the Infeed Bus Power and Bus Energy profiles in the Sequence Chart.
      • Applies each axis Drive, as well as for standalone Infeed and Bleeder modules in a shared bus system.
      • This allows the display of most power profiles inside the Sequence form, and therefore allows users to better connect how their sequences affect the power profiles of all electrical components.
    • Added option to display the rated profile on same plot as its application profile.
      • Applies to Infeed Bus Peak Power, Motor Peak Torque, Gearbox Output Torque, Coupling Output Torque, Gearbox Shaft Loads at Output and Input, Rack & Pinion Force, Linear Actuator Force, Pump Pressure and Flow, etc.
      • Available in the ADVANCED and PRO versions only
    • Added Motor Inertia Mismatch profile in the Sequence Chart
    • Added System Mass profile in the Sequence Chart for Linear Motors
  • Pin Roller Mechanism:
    • Added Idler Rolls to the Pin Roller mechanism
  • Main form:
    • Added gearbox backlash type input radio buttons - Standard and Reduced
    • Further optimized the loading of projects by 15-500% depending on the project contents. While there are gains across the board, the biggest gains are found with projects Project Notes with a lot of text and images.
  • Sequences:
    • Further optimized the processing of large sequences (>1000 segments) with non-dynamic loads by up to 30%
  • Motor Brake form:
    • Added "Brake on at standstill" checkbox. When enabled, the motor brake is enabled at standstill, reducing the amount of holding torque the motor needs when a load exists at standstill.
  • Project Notes:
    • Added support for bullet lists
    • Significantly improved the performance when working with large selections of text
    • Set the default color for Text Highlight to yellow
  • Servo Pump (still in beta):
    • Further optimized the processing of all Pressure and Flow sequences by up to an additional 50% wrt the previous release
    • Added support to display 'Power vs Pressure' in the Pump Performance Flow vs Pressure form

Fixes:

  • Sequence form:
    • When 'Shorter Sequence = Maintain Last State', and the sequence time is shorter than the cycle time, the 'Maintain last state' time in the chart was not shaded when the X scale time units are not in 'seconds'
  • Move form:
    • For a 'Move', the Dwell time units were not being saved. So every time a move was opened, the Dwell time units were always the default - seconds.
  • Chart Annotations:
    • When chart annotations would not display properly and sometimes the chart scales would be hidden when a project file is opened on a PC using a different Windows locale number formatting then the PC where the project file was saved.
  • Charts:
    • Export Chart Data was quite slow when the data included 100s or even 1000s of columns, sometimes taking 30sec to load. Now the Export Chart Data form opens in less than 1sec for the same amount of data.
  • Ratio Analysis:
    • The Motor Inertia Mismatch was not displayed properly. Instead a constant value was displayed for all ratios.
Jul 23, 2014Version 3.3.157

Enhancements:

  • Database v3.3.2 Jul 22, 2014:
    • Update of latest STOBER Drives, Motors and Gearboxes product data
    Drives Database:
    • After clicking OK for the Servo Database form, if a Dual/Triple Axis Inverter is selected, the user is asked to add 1 or 2 more axes with the same inverter selected beside the current selected axis.
  • Help:
    • Improved Optimizer help page
  • Added AVANS University Feature Set
  • Added support to open SERVOsoft project files directly from an email attachment

Fixes:

  • Inertia & Mass Calculator:
    • When entering 'Generic' Mass and Inertia values, error handling did not check if a valid number before applying the user input, thereby causing an error and the Main form Error Flag being set.
  • Import Trace:
    • When importing the motor velocity trace, the units conversion was not handled properly, resulting in the Y values being displayed with an error of 4.78% too low.
  • Print Report:
    • The motor inertia was displayed twice on the 'Drive & Motor' page table
  • Feed Roll mechanism:
    • Corrected language for pinch roll radius and inertia. Was “Driven pulley radius” and “Driven pulley inertia” and changed to “Pinch roll radius” and “Pinch roll inertia”
  • Sequence form:
    • The language translation was not working under the right-click 'Selection' item
Jun 18, 2014Version 3.3.150

As of April 8, 2014, Microsoft no longer supports Windows XP. Therefore, ControlEng no longer supports Windows XP as of SERVOsoft v3.3.150, released Jun 18, 2014.

New Features:

  • Added support for the following Segment profile types (PRO version only):
    • Polynomial 123
    • Polynomial 12345
    • Polynomial 1234567
  • Import Sequence form:
    • Added support to import Polynomials 123, 12345 and 1234567 segments, which allow for continuous spline motion profiles.
    • When splines are created using an external CAM editor, they can easily be imported into SERVOsoft using the Import Sequence form.
    • Splines are a series of polynomials sequenced together. They can be created using:
      • Move form
      • External CAM editor
      • SERVOsoft's new Optimizer PRO option

Enhancements:

  • Performance Improvements:
    • Database Product Selection:
      • Improved the loading of the products database list is 2-5x faster compared to v3.2, really speeding things up. 
      • For those situations where a query is taking a long time, there is the new "Abort" button to kill the process, so users can make changes to filters and optimize the product search quickly without having to wait for a query to finish. 
    • Database Utility
      • The Database Utility performance has also improved by over 10x compared to v3.2.  Now the entire database can be imported into a blank database in less than 5 minutes. In v3.2, this took hours.
    • Generally throughout the program, tasks are 25% faster.
  • Drives and Infeed Modules with Switching Power Supplies:
    • Added support for Drives and Infeed Modules with switching power supplies, which provide a controlled DC bus, but do not regen power back to the mains supply.  This is handled in the v3.3 database by setting the 'Supply to Bus Factor', SBus = 0.  In this case, regardless of the mains supply voltage, the automatic values for the nominal and threshold bus voltages will be Vo and Vmax.
  • Rotary Motor Model:
    • Added Torque vs Current Exponent, ktExp, database field, which allows for specifying the exponent value in the torque vs current motor model. This allows even more accuracy for those vendors who want to use it.  When not specified, ktExp is handled the same as in v3.2, where ktExp = 2 or best fit when 2 is not a suitable value.
  • Linear Motor Model:
    • Added Torque vs Current Exponent, kiFExp, database field, which allows for specifying the exponent value in the torque vs current motor model, allowing for even more accuracy for those vendors who want to use it.  When not specified, kiFExp is handled the same as in v3.2, where kiFExp= 2 or best fit when 2 is not a suitable value.
  • Gear Motors
    • Gear Motors is now a 'Combined Product' of 'Motor + Gearbox', making it much easier for vendors to handle their gear motor products in the SERVOsoft database.  Also minimizes duplication of product data.
  • Gearbox Database:
    • Enabled Product Images for SDI gearboxes
  • Linear Actuators:
    • Added Linear Actuator limits
  • Rotary Mechanism:
    • Added Load Mass, Disc Mass and Disc Friction Coefficient
    • Moved 'Incline' input from the 'Load' to the 'Drive' tab because it is no longer used only for 'Unbalanced Rotary Loads'.
    • Added 'Use coupling' checkbox to have the option to isolate or pass through shaft loads
    • Added mechanism images without coupling for Main form and print report
  • Conveyor Mechanism:
    • Added 'Belt -> Slide Friction Coefficient' input
  • Energy Cost Analysis:
    • Added option in the 'Details' tab 'Years' list to select energy costs per 'cycle'
  • Sequence form:
    • Added Power profiles for each Transformation stage
    • Added Power profile for the Motor stage
    • Now display the profile type in the sequence grid. Only applies to the PRO version, which supports CAM profiles.
    • Added 'Auto Zoom' checkbox at the top right of the form. When checked, each time a move is selected, the chart zooms in on that move. The checkbox only applies when the Move form is in 'Side by Side Mode'.
  • Chart:
    • Export Data feature optimized with up to 10x performance improvement for large datasets, with more than 100,000 rows.
  • Transformation:
    • Added 'Max-Stop output torque limit' input
  • Main form:
    • Added the ability to view and add/edit Combined Products directly in SERVOsoft. In the Main form, goto 'Tools>View Combined Products'.
    System Check:
    • When creating cycle repeats, now check to make sure no sequence exceeds max allowed segments. If this is the case, reduce the number of sequence repeats accordingly, and add System Check message informing the user to reduce the sequence repeats by reducing the cycle time and/or increasing the axis sequence time.
  • Motor & Drive database:
    • When the user opens the Drive & Motor database with no products selected, then selects a motor and clicks 'OK', in v3.2, the first drive listed was also selected automatically even if the user had not selected the 'Drive' tab to view the drives list. In this case, perhaps the user was only interested in the motor. So to avoid this problem, now a drive is not selected unless the user first clicks on the 'Drive' tab to view the drives list.  Ie. if the user never looks at the drives list, then no drive is selected.  And in the case where there is an existing selected drive, this selection is not changed.
  • All Databases:
    • When the Vendors filter list is loaded, now only vendors are included in the list if one or more of their products exist in the specific database table
    • Added support to use more than one of the same database filter, and then apply them as an OR, as opposed to an AND, which was done in v3.2 and earlier. For example, let's say we want to list products whose Model start with 'ZR' or 'ZTR', now we can add 2 filters.
            1. Model Like 'ZR%'
            2. Model Like 'ZTR%'
      In this case all products whose Model start with 'ZR' and 'ZTR' will be listed.
  • Added start menu short cut for 'License Activation Wizard'
  • Added support for torque due to dynamic inertia/mass when a payload formula changes the inertia / mass load during a constant velocity segment. Applies to all mechanisms except the Slider Crank, Roll Feed and Winders, which already supported this.
  • Print Report:
    • Now always include the Rack & Pinion Max-Stop force in the report, even when not in Max-Stop Mode
    • Now always include the Gearbox Max-Stop output torque in the report, even when not in Max-Stop Mode
  • Extensive additions and improvements to the Help file
  • Database Utility:
    • Now when importing data and the Source data has errors, the user is presented with a list of the errors, and has the option to ignore these records and continue. Previously, once an error was found, the entire import process was aborted.

Fixes:

  • Belt & Pulley mechanism:
    • Fixed calculation when user specifies the payload inertia in the sequence. The payload inertia specified in the sequence was not calculated properly when reflected to the input of the mechanism.
  • Motors Database:
    • When a motor is selected with 2 or 3 dT curves, and the 2nd or 3rd curve is selected, and then the user switches to a motor with one dT curve, the previous selected curve number (2nd or 3rd curve) would remain. The problem is the newly selected motor has blank 2nd and 3rd continuous curves, and therefore, no continuous curve would be displayed. Now the next available continuous dT curve is selected.
  • Print Report:
    • Fixed bug when user changes the print margin units from Inches to millimeters. In certain cases, the next time the user would try to print, the print feature would hang when creating the Project Notes page.
Jun 14, 2014Version 3.2.575

Enhancements:

  • (none)

Fixes:

  • Addressed issue where web server secuirty needed to be tightened, and in doing so, the program was no longer able to connect to the web server to check for program and database updates, as well as perform licenese validation checks. This fix now allows for program and database updates as well as license validation checks with the web server tighter security configuration. For details, see the press release Solution to Web Server Security Change that Disrupted Updates & License Validation
  • System Check:
    • When the F2am/F2rm ratio is exceeded, the message would not the number "2", and instead use the gearbox stage number. Ie. If the gearbox is at stage 4, the message would read "F4am/F4rm".
    • Was checking Drive Bus Connection Type is permitted or not even for Inverters. This check should not be made for Inverters.
  • Bus Discharge:
    • Fixed calculation where the drive mechanism load (at the selected point in the cycle) was not properly reflected to the motor.
  • Gearboxes Database:
    • For the backlash filter, 'jt2std', the 'Req_jt2' variable was not handled properly when the SERVOsoft language was set to German, causing an 'Invalid query' error.
  • Linear Motors Database:
    • The Req_Frms filter variable was not being calculated correctly when Windows using German and other European locales where numbers use a comma for the decimal.
  • Rack & Gearbox Pinions Database:
    • FMax filter was not being handled correctly when default force units was not Newtons [N]. Ie. The units conversion was not handled properly.
  • Print Report:
  • Gear Motors:
  • Corrected the display of the Gearbox Rated Nominal Output Torque
  • Fixed an issue in the Pxt model that would allow an internal divide by zero error, significantly slowing down the calculation of the Pxt model, making SERVOsoft seem very slow and sluggish. This would only occur with incorrect drive data when Pxt_0_Pmax <= Po_cont, which actually means no overload. Now handle this divide by zero error.
Mar 10, 2014Version 3.2.573

Enhancements:

  • Upgraded to latest CodeMeter v5.10a modules, which address a number of license issues some users have reported.

Fixes:

  • Rack & Gearbox Pinion:
    • When the Gearbox T2N at the Rack & Pinion was greater than the Rack & Pinion FMax, the T2N value was used when it should have been trimmed to the Rack & Pinion Fmax value. Ie. Always the lower value should be used.
    • When the Gearbox Pinion Fv2EStop force was greater than Rack & Pinion FMaxEStop force, the Gearbox Pinion Fv2EStop value was used when it should have been trimmed to the Rack & Pinion FMaxEStop value. Ie. Always the lower value should be used.
Feb 18, 2014Version 3.2.569

Enhancements:

  • Database Utility:
    • When importing Rack & Pinion data, added additional check for the Helix Angle. When the value is almost 19.5283 but not exactly 19.5283, then the user gets an error message. The reason for doing this is the Helix Angle is a field which is used for making Rack & Pinion combinations. So if the Helix Angle is not exactly the same for both a Rack and Pinion, the Rack & Pinion combination will not be made. This issue also affects Rack & Gearbox Pinion combinations.

Fixes:

  • Main form:
    • When the axis is a Motor Linear Actuator, and the Wizard is at the Mechanism stage, and the user clicks the 'Next' button, the wizard would change to the 'Transformation 0' stage, and not the 'Motor Linear Actuator' stage.
    • When the axis is a Motor Linear Actuator, the Utilization bar for the Motor Linear Actuator did not turn red if the stroke limit was exceeded. Note that the proper alarm message still appeared in System Check.
    • The Main form error flag would set when a triple axis inverter drive was selected in the wrong position. Ie. When the position 2 inverter is at Axis 1.
  • Drives Database:
    • The Main form error flag would set when a triple axis inverter drive was selected in the wrong position. Ie. When the position 2 inverter is at Axis 1.
  • Move form:
    • When opening a move with S-Curving enabled and 100%, sometimes an error would occur, and the Main form error flag would appear.
  • Gearbox and Rack & Gearbox Pinion performance forms:
    • The Stober Gearbox rated output torque = 0Nm when the application input speed n1max > n1Max, but also n1max <= n1Max*nLF, such as when the Temperature Factor, fT, is 0.9. In this case, nLF = 1/0.9 = 1.111, but the program did not consider the nLF, and therefore considered the gearbox to be operating beyond its allowed max input speed.
  • Baumueller PV feature set:
    • Disabled 'Gear Motors Database' feature which was incorrectly enabled when the feature set was first created.
  • Installer Package:
    • CodeMeter Runtime was always installed, even when selected to not be installed using the Custom setup. This bug was introduced in v3.2.543 (Oct 22, 2013), when SERVOsoft upgraded to the CodeMeter v5.0d runtime, and the runtime was not attached to the 'CodeMeter Runtime' install feature.
Dec 31, 2013Version 3.2.563

Enhancements:

  • Installer Package:
    • Using improved compression, reducing the install package file size from 136 MB to 74 MB, making program updates almost 2x faster to download, with no increase in install time.
  • Exlar PV Feature Set:
    • Updated all Exlar email addresses to start with "CHA_".
      Eg. CHA_servosoft.activation@curtisswright.com

Fixes:

  • Database Utility:
    • When an error in the import source is found, now display the Row number in the error message along with the Column and the cause of the error.
  • Motor Linear Actuator Performance form:
    • When the first segment is selected to be highlighted in the chart, the Max Rated Force profile would also be highlighted in green along with the first segment.
Dec 17, 2013Version 3.2.560

Enhancements:

  • Main form:
    • Refined the display of the last saved by version in the window title bar. Inserted the text "Last saved by" before the program version. Displayed the last saved by program version is helpful to users of the Pro version who work with and/or support users of one or more vendor versions, as well as users that work with multiple vendor versions. For example, some users work with both the STOBER and EXLAR versions.

Fixes:

  • Rotary Knife Sequence Template:
    • Fixed a bug introduced in v3.2.545 when extra checks were added in the Rotary Knife Sequence Template for validating the motion profile. The purpose was and is to give the user better feedback as to the possible cause of an invalid profile. However, one error check was far too sensitive, treating valid profiles as invalid. This check has been refined to only catch invalid profiles.
  • Schneider Electric feature set:
    • Updated the 4 sample projects with new drive selections, as the latest Schneider Electric product update renamed the Lexium series drives in the database
  • B&R feature set:
    • Updated some of the 12 sample projects with new product selections, as the recent B&R product data updates renamed some of the products in the database
Dec 14, 2013Version 3.2.557

Enhancements:

  • Main form:
    • The Main form window title now includes the program version that the opened project file was last saved using
  • Database v3.2.27 Dec 13, 2013:
    • Update of Exlar product data including motors and gear motors, as well as added 120 new linear actuators.

Fixes:

  • Control Technique feature set:
    • Removed 'BETA' from the feature set name
  • Sequence form:
    • After importing a Sequence, the change was not added to the 'Undo/Redo' stack
Dec 12, 2013Version 3.2.555

Enhancements:

  • Added Control Techniques PV feature set as well as Control Techniques product data including 515 motors, 73 drives, and 77 bleeder modules
  • Gearbox Database:
    • Changed the gearbox default filters to only include the Required Output Speed (Req_n2) filter. The Required Input Speed filter (Req_n2*i) was removed since it is essentially the same.
    • When a motor has not been selected and the gearbox Inertia Mismatch (IM) filter is used, the IM filter is not applied. The IM filter is only applied when a motor has been selected.
  • Gearbox Shaft Loads form:
    • Changed the 'a' and 'r' in the labels from lower to upper case. This makes it easier to read. Sometimes on some screens, the lower case 'r' followed by the 'm' appeared to be one letter 'm'.
  • Program Updates Wizard:
    • Added option for the user to cancel the download. This is useful if the Internet connection is too slow and the download is taking too long.
  • Database Updates Wizard:
    • Added option for the user to cancel the download. This is useful if the Internet connection is too slow and the download is taking too long.
  • Help:
    • Shock Absorbers page: Added database screenshot and column descriptions for each database column
  • System Check:
    • Added Stober and SDI gearbox warning messages:
      • For new PE cyclic reversing load de-rating factor, which is not yet included in SERVOsoft
      • For P series gearboxes, the optional reinforced bearings, check catalogue data for rated values
      • For K5 to K10, F and S gearboxes, where hollow shaft (A and S) have bearings with reduced load capacity, and to check the catalogue for rated values

Fixes:

  • License Activation Wizard:
    • Previously, two STOBER 'Manufacturer' versions were listed for the user - 'Stober DE' and 'Stober USA'. Now just 'Stober' is listed.
  • Bill of Material form:
    • The BOM form was not being layed out properly when Windows Locale Text Size set above 96dpi (100%)
  • Import Trace:
    • Improved the handling of importing trace data from a spreadsheet where a formula contains a custom variable name. Handling of custom variables is not supported. Previously, an error would be generated without any detailed feedback to the user. Now detailed feedback is provided explaining the actual error and the cell where the error occurred.
  • System Check:
    • When the user specifies a load 'Min position accuracy' value for a rotary mechanism, and the drive train has a combined backlash greater than the min position accuracy, a System Check message would appear in every other language except German.
  • Main form:
    • When selecting and de-selecting 'Shared Bus' mode, sometimes the complete calculations and therefore the Utilization Bars were not immediately updated.
Nov 22, 2013Version 3.2.549

Enhancements:

  • Main form and System Check:
    • Improved German translations for 'Shorter Sequences' feature
  • Optimizer:
    • Improved the Optimizer form load time by up to 80% when loading large sequences with > 1000 segments
  • Database v3.2.25 Nov 20, 2013:
    • B&R:
      • Drives:
        • Updated 19 drives
      • Bleeder Modules:
        • Updated all 8 8B0W series modules

Fixes:

  • Database Utility:
    • Added new check in data import analysis to ensure 'TinyInt' fields contain a value between 0 and 255. An example field is the Gearbox 'LFTyp' field.
Nov 18, 2013Version 3.2.547

Enhancements:

  • Help:
    • Added explanation of friction coefficient input for the Conveyor mechanism. This friction coefficient is between the belt and load, and is used in System Check to warn if the load will slip if accel or decel is too high

Fixes:

  • Gearbox Shaft Loads:
    • For Rack & Pinion mechanisms, when the user changes the pinion radius, the gearbox calculated Y2 value was not being updated unless the user when to the Gearbox Shaft Loads form and forced the inputs to be changed.
    • When a 'Gear' type transformation is connected to a gearbox 'Shaft' input, the automatic X1 value was using the gear 'Drive Pinion Radius' instead of the 'Driven Pinion Radius'.
  • Sequence form:
    • Corrected the display of the X Scale minimum when using a profile other than Time on the X scale, and where all X values are greater than zero. In such cases, the X scale minimum would be zero instead of the actual minimum value greater than zero.
  • Main form:
    • Better handle the translation of the word 'Axis' in the axis treeview description. Previously, the program would replace the letters 'axis' with the current language translation, regardless if 'axis' was part of a larger word or not. Now tests are made to verify it is the word 'Axis'. Acceptable characters before and after include a space, -, |, and numbers 0-9
  • License Activation Wizard:
    • When an inactive license existed and the user was prompted to remove the old inactive license before creating a new one, the existing license was not removed
Nov 9, 2013Version 3.2.545

Enhancements:

  • Database:
    • Added 'Bosch Rexroth AG' KSM series integrated drive motors
    • Note: 'Bosch Rexroth AG' are the latest products in the database provided directly from Bosch Rexroth.
    • Removed ALL 'Bosch Rexroth' products at the request of Bosch Rexroth because many of the products were dated and/or no longer available.
  • Sample projects:
    • Replaced all uses of "Bosch Rexroth" products with "Bosch Rexroth AG" or other.
  • Main form:
    • Improved message handling and dialog list when opening a project that uses features not enabled or not yet available in the current program version
    • Added motion directional arrows for all mechanisms to help illustrate rotary or linear motion, and positive and negative direction.
  • Rotary Knife Template:
    • Improved motion profile status messages when invalid profile.
    • Added max and min velocities in the Performance group
  • Print:
    • Winders: Added Type = Winder / Unwinder to the mechanism page inputs table

Fixes:

  • Main form:
    • Fixed the Linear Actuator 'Lifetime (cycles)' displayed on the Main form. This only applied to the stand alone Linear Actuator, and not the Motor Linear Actuator.
  • Add/Edit Drive:
    • When an 'Infeed / Inverter / IntExtBleeder' was the selected type, the Bleeder Resistor inputs were not visible.
  • Add/Edit Infeed:
    • When an 'Infeed / IntExtBleeder' was the selected type, the Bleeder Resistor inputs were not visible.
  • System Check:
    • Corrected Drive Chopper Max Current check when the application requirement exceeds the chopper max current rated value.
  • Gearbox Shaft Loads calculation:
    • Corrected F2rm and F2am calculations for gearboxes that use the 10/3=3.3333 exponent.
  • Import Trace:
    • Fixed scale auto alignment when an import trace or its calculated profile do not cross zero.
    • Fixed scale auto alignment scale factor when an import trace is not using SERVOsoft's base units
  • Print:
    • Winders: When the user enters 'Other' for material density, the print report would generate an error.
Oct 22, 2013Version 3.2.543

Enhancements:

  • Feature Sets:
    • Added Bonfiglioli feature set
    • Added Control Techniques (beta) feature set
  • Database forms:
    • Now when any database product list form is first loaded, the form is shown before the products are retrieved from the database. This way, the user is certain the form is opened, as opposed to working in the background. And if Margin filters are used, the user will have the option to see the work being done, and be prompted if the work will take too long with the option not to continue with the work of applying Margin filters.
  • Charts:
    • Text Annotations can now be multi-line
    • When a new Text Annotation is created, the full Annotation Editor is opened, allowing for multi-line text, as well as full font and color formatting.
    • Added support to store the chart annotations in the project file. This applies to most performance charts including the "Motor Torque vs Speed Chart", "Transformation Torque vs Speed Chart", "Linear Actuator Force vs Speed Chart" and the "Rack & Pinion Force vs Speed Chart" as well as the "Power vs Time" chart.
  • Help:
    • Added "Annotations" to Charts help page

Fixes:

  • Gearbox & Gear Motor Databases:
    • Now always show the Nominal Torque curve in the Gearbox and Gear Motor database listings
  • Stober PV Feature Set:
    • Fixed the Enable All Rotary Motor Vendors Override Password feature
Oct 9, 2013Version 3.2.537

Enhancements:

  • Project Notes:
    • Now open to default Project Notes folder when user selects 'File > Open'
    • Added new 'Insert List' to the right-click menu. The Insert List is a folder that contains TXT and RTF files that can be quickly inserted into the Project Notes by right-clicking at any position in the Project Notes, and then selecting from the list.  For manufacturers and distributors, this feature can be very handy to quickly insert your signature and contact info.
  • System Check:
    • Improved messages when the rated value is exceeded.  Eg. When a ‘margin’ limit is exceeded, such as when the motor peak torque margin is set at 10% and the application has only 4% peak torque margin, it is understood by the user.  But if the motor rated peak torque is exceeded by say 15%, then this means ‘-15%’ margin, which can be confusing to some users.  So in this case, once the margin value becomes negative, System Check refers to the rated value.  Eg. Motor rated peak torque exceeded.  This change affects messages for Motors, Drives, Infeed Modules, Bleeder Modules and Gearboxes.
  • Databases:
    • Added multi-column drop down list for the database filters.  The extra column(s) explain what the filter condition means.  This minimizes the need for users to go to the 'Abbreviations' help page.
    • Rotary, Linear and Gear Motors database:
      • Added FW filter so users can filter motors with or without field weakening
  • Sequence form:
    • Now show extended sequence with gray background in the sequence chart when 'Shorter Sequences = Maintain Last State'
  • Print - Sequence page:
    • Now include the sequence time in the chart title
    • Now show extended sequence with gray background in the sequence chart when 'Shorter Sequences = Maintain Last State'
  • Main form:
    • Added tooltip to the motor bus voltage peak torque/force curve, explaining that the list is for information only, and that the program chooses the nearest curve based on the drive nominal bus voltage.
  • Motor Performance form:
    • Added tooltip to the motor bus voltage peak torque/force curve, explaining that the list is for information only, and that the program chooses the nearest curve based on the drive nominal bus voltage.
  • Charts:
    • Made the selection and resizing of annotations much easier
  • Infeed Modules Limits:
    • Added 'Chopper' tab so users can specify margin limits for infeed modules with choppers
  • Help:
    • Added new page ‘Important Directions for Use’, reminding users to always check the vendor's manuals and data sheets to ensure compatibility and suitable use.
    • Added Main Form page to help, which explains the primary project type functions, as well as the Power View, Axis View and Utilization Bars.
    • Added explanation of the two new checkboxes on the Ratio Analysis form - 'Inverter Peak Current Margin' and 'Motor Peak Torque Margin'
    • Added Import Trace page
    • Added Project Notes page
  • Feature Sets:
    • Stober PV Feature Set: Enabled Couplings database with 'mayr' products
    • Added AMK Pro version feature set

Fixes:

  • Move form:
    • When starting with a blank move using Time/Distance inputs, even though valid values were entered, the proper max velocity value would not be calculated until the user clicked either the 1/2 or 1/3 rule buttons.
  • Project Notes:
    • When trying to open plain text files, the error flag in the Main form would appear and the file contents would not be opened in the project notes.
    • When the user selects a paragraph which contains texts with various formatting where some words are bold or underlined or using different fonts, and then the user clicks the font size enlarge or decrease button, the entire text selection switches to the same formatting.  Ie. the bold and underline is lost.
  • Main form:
    • When the ball screw speed exceeded its speed limit, this was not displayed in the ball screw Utilization bar on the Main form.
  • Rack & Pinions and Rack & Gearbox Pinions Database:
    • ‘Accuracy’ filter was not being translated into the active language when database form was opened and was previously saved using a different language
  • Database Update Wizard:
    • For promotion versions such as the B&R PV, the 'Next' button would be enabled after the new database was downloaded and activated.  The 'Next' button should only be enabled for the Lite/Advanced/Pro versions which allow the Database Utility step to merge the old and new databases.
  • Database Utility:
    • Enabled the Database Utility for the 'Bihler Pro' and 'Schneider Electric Pro' versions
    • When all of a vendor's products are deleted from the database, the user is prompted to delete unused vendors.  When the user clicked yes, the unused vendors were not deleted.
    • During the database compacting process, the 'Prev' button was not disabled.
Sep 8, 2013Version 3.2.530

New Features:

  • Optimizer Lite (beta):
    • Currently released as a beta
    • Available in all versions. Allows users to optimize motion profiles for velocity, accel, decel and jerk.
  • Optimizer Pro (beta):
    • Currently released as a beta
    • Available as an option. In addition to motion profile parameters, allows users to optimize motion profiles for torque, force, peak power and continous power (energy efficiency)
  • Project Notes form:
    • Added font formatting and the ability to paste images. The formatted project notes are also included in the print report.
  • Shorter Sequences:
    • Added two options to handle shorter sequences. 'Maintain last state' and 'Repeat'.
    • 'Maintain last state' is the default, as it is the way SERVOsoft has handled shorter sequences since v1.x.
    • 'Repeat' is just added, and is as it says, shorter sequences are repeated up to the system cycle time.

Enhancements:

  • Main form:
    • Changed 'E-Stop' to 'Max-Stop' because more manufacturers are using the phrase 'Max-Stop Torque' instead of 'E-Stop Torque'.
    • Changed the phrase 'Mismatch' to 'Inertia mismatch'
    • When switching to v2 Mode, the project file extension is automatically changed from 'ssp3' to 'ssp', the v2 file extension.
    • Now the treeview is fully expanded when opening a project with 3 axes or less.
    • Added Update Check Status in the status bar at the bottom of the Main form. Now when automatic update checks are performed, the user sees when the check is being made. Automatic checks for the program and database updates occur at program startup after the Main form is shown for the first time. The update check frequency is specified by the user in the Options form, and can range from 'Never', to every 90, 60, 30, 14, 7 or 1 day(s), or can be set to 'Always' (every time the program starts). This status message can be very helpful when an update check takes a long time, perhaps because of a bad internet connection, or incorrect proxy server settings, or perhaps the Windows firewall settings. Now the user will know what the program is doing when there is a delay with the automatic update check.
  • Motor Brake form:
    • Added row 'Type: Holding brake', to clarify that the motor brake is in fact a holding brake
  • Print Report:
    • Drive & Motor page:
      • Changed 'Inverter' header text to 'Drive', and also the same for the page title and bookmarks treeview text.
      • Replaced 'Application RMS' text with 'RMS torque' and 'RMS force'
  • Sequence form:
    • When a Move has a Payload and/or Thrust formula, now use one large cell (a covered range) instead of 4 cells to display the same formula for all 4 segments.
    • The Paste form now has 'Insert After' selected by default. This was done because usually a sequence is built from the first move forward. Ie. 1, 2, 3, … Therefore it makes sense to Paste after the current move instead of before.
    • When a range of moves is selected and the user clicks 'Paste', now the arrow in the row header is not considered to be the target. Now the Range is considered. So if 'Paste Before' is selected, then the moves are inserted before the selected range. And if 'Paste After' is selected, then the moves are inserted after the selected range.
    • After a move selection is pasted, now the entire pasted range is selected. Previously just the first move of the pasted range was selected.
    • Added 'Duplicate And Reverse' to the right-click menu. 'Duplicate And Reverse' takes the selected moves, reverses the sequence order and flips each move direction.
    • Created a new 'Selection' menu list under the 'Edit' right-click menu list. The 'Selection' list includes Cut, Copy, Paste, etc. functions that are selection based.
  • Select Sequence Profiles:
    • When importing a trace, now the program checks if the same calculated profile exists. And if it does, the program now sets the same units as the calculated profile instead of the default units.
    • Now when users disable a profile, the Axis, Stage and Profile settings are stored, so that the user can show and hide profiles without having to re-select the profile axis, stage and profile.
    • Added option to display the 'Rack Force' profile for 'Rack & Pinion' and 'Rack & Gearbox Pinion' mechanisms.
    • Added option to display the 'Ball Screw Force' profile for ball screw mechanism.
    • Added option to display the 'Linear Actuator Force' profile for linear actuator mechanisms.
  • Move form:
    • When entering motion profile values and 'No solution found', now several helpful messages have been added in the status area, offering suggestions to find workable set of inputs. For example, "Accel jerk too low [Min: 100m/s3]"
  • Ratio Analysis Tool:
    • Added option to display the Inverter Peak Current and Motor Peak Torque margins overlaid on top of the ratio analysis chart, to show the range of ratios where the inverter is operating within its peak current margin and the motor is operating within its peak torque margin.
  • System Check:
    • Changed message from "Chopper required. Using Chopper Efficiency = 100%." to "Resistor only type bleeders must be connected to a drive or infeed module with an internal chopper. (Chopper Efficiency = 100% assumed for calculations)"
    • System Check: Added new 'Condition' column between the 'Value' and 'Limit' columns, and then use the '<' or '>' operator as needed in the 'Condition' column.
    • Added new message when more than one infeed module is used, and the nominal bus voltage is different for each module. When this is the case, the message "Different nominal and/or threshold bus voltages detected. Values from left-most device (Infeed/Axis X) are used in Auto mode" is displayed.
  • Drive Motor Database form:
    • When a new motor is selected and then the user selects the 'Drive' tab to select a drive, the message 'Apply drive filters to the selected motor' appears. This message has been changed to 'Apply drive filters using the selected motor'. Some users were confused that the drive filters would be applied to the motor, when in reality, the motor change means the application current and power requirements have changed, and therefore, the drive filters need to be applied based on these new requirements.
  • SERVOsoft TS version only:
    • When any user sets Options settings in the Options form, the settings the settings are stored in the 'Current User' hive in the Registry. But then when other users login, the SERVOsoft uses the default user settings. So to address this issue, a new checkbox has been added on the Options form - 'Save user settings for all users'. The new checkbox is only visible when the Windows Administrator is logged in and runs the SERVOsoft TS version. When checked, the the user shared settings are saved to an XML file. Each time SERVOsoft TS starts, it loads the user settings from the XML file. This applies to all users on the machine who use SERVOsoft TS.
  • Project Energy Cost Comparison:
    • Added the display of the currency in each row of costs
      Drive Motor Database form: Increased the column width for the 'Model' column by 29% to allow for longer model names.
  • Torque vs Speed Performance form:
    • Now allow for 2 lines of text for long model strings.
    • When a margin value is exceeded, now the margin text appears in red
  • Motor Linear Actuators:
    • Now combined Motor and Linear Actuator curves when the Linear Actuator is the limiting factor. Previously, it was always assumed the Motor was the limiting factor
  • Database Filters:
    • Added option to reload the initial filters that were loaded when the database form was first opened
  • Bill of Material:
    • Added bleeder type to description for external bleeder module
  • Motor Model:
    • Moved Motor Bearing Friction Losses [Tr] out of the Torque vs Current model calculation, and is now treated as part of the mechanical load connected to the motor.
  • Mechanism forms:
    • Added option to have the thrust applied only when in motion Ie. VEL <> 0
      Transformation form: Added 'Thrust' input, as well as the option to have the thrust applied only when in motion Ie. VEL <> 0
    • Slider Crank:
      • Added '-90deg' to incline angle drop down list
  • Transformation form:
    • When the Apply button is enabled after a change is made, and the user tries to close the form, the user is prompted to save changes
  • When opening a new blank project, changed the default ambient motor temperature from 20C to 25C.
  • Add Edit Rotary Motor, Linear Motor, Gear Motor forms:
    • Now hide the Torque vs Current chart when 'Mechanical Only Data' is checked, or if the motor type is 'Asynchronous Servo Motor'.
  • Rack & Gearbox Pinion:
    • When the total linear stiffness (Clges) value is provided for the Gearbox Pinion combination, now use 'Total linear stiffness' text in place of 'Rack rigidity'.
  • Drives database:
    • Added default sorting for 'Icont0' and 'Ipeak0' columns. Previously, products were sorted by Vendor, Model
  • Infeed Modules database:
    • Added default sorting for 'Po_cont' and 'Po_peak' columns. Previously, products were sorted by Vendor, Model
  • Bleeder Modules database:
    • Added default sorting for 'Pcont' and 'Ppeak' columns. Previously, products were sorted by Vendor, Model
  • Capacitor Modules database:
    • Added default sorting for 'C' and 'Vmax' columns. Previously, products were sorted by Vendor, Model
  • New Feature Sets:
    • Added Schneider Electric Pro version feature set
    • Added Stober PV feature set
    • Added Exlar PV feature set
  • Database v3.2.18 Aug 30, 2013
    • Exlar:
      • Gear Motors:
        • Updated 432 gear motors
      • Linear Actuators:
        • Added 172 linear actuators including TDX, TDM, T2X and T2M series
      • Combined Products:
        • Updated 176 linear actuators
  • Installer:
    • Added option to not install CodeMeter Runtime, just in case there is a conflict with another version of CodeMeter on the user's PC
  • Database Utility:
    • When importing product data, added check to ensure a field of type integer does not contain a decimal value.

Fixes:

  • Main form:
    • When the user selects the Drive and Motor drop down item to 'Remove the drive and motor', the drive was not being removed
    • When switching to and from 'Max Stop Mode', only the active axis sequence was been re-calculated, when all axes should be re-calculated.
    • In a multi-axis project, when the user changes the sequence for one axis, sometimes the utilization values in the Power view did not update immediately after the change.
    • When switching from a Gear Motor to Linear Motor mechanism, the image of the Gear Motor would remain on the Main form.
    • When double-clicking a project file to open it in SERVOsoft, when the project is opening, if one or more products were not found in the database, the Main form error flag would appear.
  • Sequence form:
    • Addressed long standing issue of Thrust Formula 'spikes' at key inflection points at the start and end of segments.
    • When Profile 1 was not enabled, the move selection in the chart would not be displayed. Now it does not matter which profiles are enabled, the move selection is displayed in the chart to match the selection in the grid, and vice versa.
    • When the user presses CTRL-A to select all moves in the sequence, the chart selection was not updated.
    • When 'Do Not Show Tooltips' is selected in the Options form, sometimes generic tooltips would still appear on some forms such as the toolstrip in the Sequence chart.
  • Select Sequence Profiles:
    • When a trace had been imported, and then the user disabled the profile, the trace data would remain with the project file. And if the user came back and enabled that profile as an Import Trace, the old data would appear. Now when the user disables a profile and closes the Sequence form, then all unused trace data is discarded.
    • When the user de-selects the checkbox to disable a profile, if it was an imported trace profile, now the axis is switched to 'active'. Not doing so exposed an issue where the user wanted to switch to v2 Mode, so would go and disable an imported trace. However, if the 'Axis' field still remained as imported trace, then v2 Mode would not be allowed.
  • Import Sequence form:
    • When pasting a table from the clipboard, where the source may have been a spreadsheet, if any cell in the header row contains two or more lines (by using a carriage return), the import routine would not handle this correctly, and an error would occur.
    • After loading the data, if the user changed the units, the last row of data would be removed.
  • Move form:
    • When 1/2 rule button is released, now the Accel/Decel values are adjusted slightly so that a valid motion profile appears
    • When using the 'Time/Distance' and the Polynomial 7th Order profile type, and no motion rules selected, the calculation of Max Velocity is incorrect. This is confirmed by first selecting 1/2 motion rule, where Max Velocity is correctly calculated, and then de-selecting the 1/2 motion rule, where the Max Velocity value changes by more than 10%.
    • When converting the move inputs to user units for display, the Distance value sometimes was converted to the user units not as accurately as should be, with error potentially as high as 0.4%, instead of < 0.1%, and ideally, 0%.
  • Load Formula:
    • Corrected the calculations for the Payload and Thrust load formulae variables TMOVT and DMOVT.
  • System Check:
    • The message 'Infeed maximum supply voltage exceeded' was not displaying the units [V] properly in the Units column. Instead the internal unit type number [29] was displayed.
  • Print:
    • Fixed bug where the user has a virtual device set as the 'Default Printer'. Sometimes these devices may not return page sizes properly when SERVOsoft asks for them. The unexpected values would then crash the print routine.
    • Slider Crank, when the motion profile is defined at the Crank
      • When Print Config is set to use the profiles defined in the Sequence form, the Sequence chart would display the motion profiles at the Load, but use the rotary units.
      • When the motion profile is defined at the Crank, and Print Config is set to use the standard sequence profiles, the Sequence chart would display the sequence with the rotary units (correct), but with the motion profiles at the Load instead of at the Crank.
    • Drive & Motor page:
      • Fixed chart Y scale bug, where the first Y scale max value would not be correct if the units were not 'Nm'.
  • Printer Dialog:
    • When switching to a different printer, an error would occur loading the new list of page sizes, and the error flag would be set on the Main form.
  • Italian locale on Windows XP
    • Fixed issue with ProductDate values when saving project embedded product data to the database when the the project was saved in the Windows XP Italian Locale.
    • Fixed issue when checking for Database and Program Updates when the Windows XP Locale is Italian.
    • Database Utility:
      • Addressed issue when importing products into the database where Windows Locale uses a point for time such as yyyy-MM-dd HH.mm.ss, as is the case with the Windows XP Italian locale.
  • Database forms:
    • For text filters such as the Gearbox 'Typ = Planetary Coaxial', the text value (in this case 'Planetary Coaxial'), would not change when the user changed the language setting, say from English to German. Now all text filters are translated to the active language.
    • When the Environment form is opened from the database form, and the ambient temperature and/or elevation values are changed, after the user clicks of and the Environment form closes, the motor/drive/infeed load factors (LFs) would not update in the database form.
    • If the user clicks 'OK' when no product is selected, now a message appears saying that no product is selected. The form will not close by clicking 'OK'. Now the user must click 'Cancel' if nothing is selected.
  • Motor Linear Actuator Database:
    • The FMax column value was not reflected to the motor input. Ie. The FMax value needed to be divided by the roller screw efficiency.
  • Drive Motor Linear Actuator Database:
    • The FMax column value was not reflected to the motor input. Ie. The FMax value needed to be divided by the roller screw efficiency.
    • Addressed issue of Drive Motor Linear Actuator not filtering FMax properly when using certain Thrust Formulae that dominate the load, and where Req_Fmax does not occur at max Accel/Decel.
  • Rotary Motors database:
    • The Motor Tmax filter was not consistently catching dynamic loads properly. Caused by the Slider Crank dynamic load causing similar issue to Thrust Formula issue above, where the Req_Tmax does not always occur at max Accel/Decel.
  • Motor Linear Actuator Force vs Speed form:
    • The linear actuator rated force was not adding back the efficiency when calculating the rated force at the actuator input. Ie. The rated output force was displayed instead of the rated input force.
  • Gearbox Load Factor Calculations:
    • The program would not always correctly determine if the torque load profile on the gearbox output shaft is 'Cyclic Reversing Duty', and instead determine it as only 'Cyclic Duty'. This directly affected Stober gearboxes using the 'Load factor fB' factor in 'Auto' mode.
  • Transformation Performance form:
    • The user defined rated max and nominal output torque values were not displayed at the top right data section of the form.
  • Linear Motors:
    • The winding temperature was not being calculated properly for linear motors.
  • Gearbox Shaft Loads:
    • When the user enters an x2 offset value that is less than -z2/2, now the bearing life calculation is disabled and a message is displayed in System Check - "Bearing life calculation invalid when x2 < -(z2 / 2)". Applies to B&R, Neugart and Alpha geaboxes.
  • Winder Surface Driven mechanism form:
    • Corrected issue where the IMCalc values for the Core inertia were not properly loaded and stored in memory.
  • Corrected display of Rack & Gearbox Pinion 'Mean load speed' on both the 'Main' and the 'Rack & Gearbox Pinion Pefromance' forms.
  • Gear Motors Database:
    • Fixed Mot_Tmax filter Mot_Req_Tmax calculation
  • Linear Motors Database:
    • Fixed 'Fmax', Fo, and 'nmax' filters when using the 'Between' operator
  • Transformation Inputs form:
    • Fixed issue when a transformation has a gearbox selected, and then the user opens the manual transformation form. The gearbox efficiency was not copied over to the transformation along with the other gearbox data.
  • Print Transformation page:
    • The rated max and nominal torque and speed values were displayed as zero values for all types except gearboxes
    • The gearbox max input shaft diameter units were not displayed
  • An error occurred when imported motor product data from a v2 project file that was saved by v3 program in v2 mode. This prevented the importing of the motor product data into the database.
  • Program and Database Update Checks:
    • When a new user logs onto a PC and starts SERVOsoft for the first time, previously the user default settings for program and database update check intervals were not set, forcing a program and database update check immediately. This would significantly delay the program start. So now the program detects a new user and now also sets the default the program and database update check intervals.
  • Vendor Promotion Versions with Reduced Feature Set:
    • Using the Manage Axes form to import an axis from a project created by a standard license (Lite/Advanced/Pro) would cause an error.
    • Inserting a new blank axis would insert a new axis with only one transformation. And since the vendor versions do not allow the inserting of transformations, the user was limited to only the T1 in the driveline, instead of the T1-Gearbox-T2 drive line that should be fixed for vendor version feature sets.
May 24, 2013Version 3.2.180

Enhancements:

  • Database forms:
    • In the database list of products, if the project's current product is in the list, now it is highlighted in green. This is done so the user can easily find the existing product, and does not have to remember and search for the specific model. This then allows the user to easily select and compare between current other products in the database listing.
    • Added a new right-click menu to the products list. So, now when the user wants to jump to the existing product selection, simply right-click and click 'Go to existing: [Vendor] [Model]', and that product will scroll into view and be selected. And if the existing product is not in the list because it did not pass the filters, the user is prompted to add it to the list.
  • Main form:
    • Added 'Open From Recent Folder' list under the 'File' menu, which keeps the most recently used list of folders from which projects have been opened.
    • Added option to clear the list of most recently used projects in the 'Open Recent' menu list. This can be handy to clear the list, which may contain prototype projects, before making a presentation.
  • Bill of Material (BOM) form:
    • When displaying prices, now display the currency in the 'Price' and 'Amount' column headers.
    • Added support for price tables spreadsheets using *.xlsx files, in addition to *.xls files. Previously, only *.xls files were supported for price tables.
    • Added text to clarify that the 'Open price tables folder' button is just that, used to view file folder that contains all the price tables spreadsheet(s).
  • Print:
    • Print System Check page:
      • Added shaded color to separator rows, which visually helps group each axis in the table of messages.
    • Bill of Material (BOM) page:
      • Added 'Total' row at bottom of the BOM table, which displays the total BOM cost when Print Config 'Include Prices' is enabled.

Fixes:

  • Stober De-rating Formula:
    • The 'a' factor in IDKey was not extracted properly when Windows locale uses a comma as the decimal, such as in German and other European locales
  • Sequence form:
    • Added translations for 'Undo' and 'Redo' in the Edit menu and drop down list
  • Sequence Templates - Rotary Knife, Cut to Length and Flying Shear:
    • Undo/Redo was not working
  • Bill of Material form:
    • When using the price look up spreadsheet, the project total cost was not being formatted properly as a currency. Eg. $1,234.56.
    • When the user clicks on the 'Copy to Clipboard' toolbar button, and error would occur if nothing was selected in the table.
    • Added translation for 'Export to Excel' toolbar button.
May 7, 2013Version 3.2.175

Fixes:

  • Bill of Material form:
    • When feature sets are Mechanical Only such as 'Atlanta' and 'Gudel', the Bill of Material form would still list the electrical components.
  • Print:
    • When 'Mechanical Only', the Bill of Material generates an error when the motor is not selected. This affects Mechanical Only feature sets such as 'Atlanta' and 'Gudel'.
    • On some PCs, the print report does not work because of a font error. Additional fonts and tolerance has been added to accept a wider range of Windows fonts.
  • STOBER TS:
    • The feature 'Prompt User To Switch To Project Database If Active Database Is Not the Project Database' no longer displays the message to switch if a new project template file is loaded or if the project database file does not exist.
  • Database Utility:
    • When importing gearbox data, if the nominal torque curve duty cycle (ED) values are missing, they were not handled properly, triggering an internal error, but not reporting it to the user.
  • Fixed issue with Tecnotion Motors where the first points of the peak and cont curves do not start at 0 rpm. Issue was introduced in v3.2 when Drive Motor products were added… the reason is that the algorithm for 'drive motor blended curves' did not handle curves where the first point does not start at 0 rpm.
Apr 21, 2013Version 3.2.170

Enhancements:

  • Added Schneider Electric PV feature set
  • Database Utility:
    • When importing a spreadsheet, now tolerate blank rows directly after the header rows.
    • When importing a spreadsheet, now tolerate a [space] in optional numeric fields. Internally, they are forced to NULL.
    • When importing data, records where Source = Target are not selected by default.
  • When performing a Database Update Check, if the newer database is a different minor version, then the user is informed that the new database requires a program upgrade, and does not allow the database update.

Fixes:

  • Database forms:
    • When the 'Vendor' filter contains more than one vendor, no products are listed after clicking the 'Apply Filters' button.
  • Print:
    • Addressed issue for creating reports on some users PCs, where the report would fail to open inside the SERVOsoft Print Preview, and thus would report the problem to the user as a "known issue", and then try and open the PDF report in Adobe Reader if it was installed on the user's PC. This issue only occurred on some users' PCs, and usually for reports containing more than 20 pages.
    • When the user would print to a different language, although all other pages translated correctly, the alarm messages in System Check were not translated to the selected language.
  • Bill of Material:
    • When a coupling is selected from the coupling database, the Vendor and Model was not being included in the BOM.
  • Database Utility:
    • When importing data from a spreadsheet into the 'CombinedProducts' table, key optimization columns were not set properly, such that the newly added combined product data would not list in the program database forms.
Mar 26, 2013Version 3.2.160

Fixes:

  • Print Report:
    • The report created mostly blank pages when using European Windows locales where the decimal is a comma
  • Main form:
    • Corrected 'Send Project to B&R' text, which appears as 'BR' instead of 'B&R'
  • Inertia Thrust Breakdown form:
    • Corrected Inertia vs Thrust calculation
    • When switching back to the open form, the first segment would always be selected. Now, the previously selected segment remains selected.
  • Rack & Pinion and Rack & Gearbox Pinion Databases:
    • When using European Windows locales, the Filter Values drop down list for FMax would list "1.1*Req_Fmax" instead of "1,1*Req_Fmax".
  • Coupling Database:
    • When using European Windows locales, the Filter Values drop down list for FMax would list "1.1*Req_Tmax" instead of "1,1*Req_Tmax".
Mar 20, 2013Version 3.2.152

New Features:

  • Linear Actuators
  • Motor Linear Actuators
  • Drive Motor Linear Actuators
  • Drive Motors
  • Drive Gear Motors
  • Rack & Gearbox Pinions

Enhancements:

  • Windows 8 Support
  • Gudel Rack & Pinions:
    • Implemented the calculation of the number of load changes on the pinion. Then use the pinion or the rack load changes, whichever is greater
    • Changed the term “Load cycle” to “Load change”. In German changed from “Lastzyklus” to “Lastwechsel”.
  • Sequence form:
    • Added option to Copy and then Paste just the Payload or Thrust to other selected moves in the sequence. Supports steps and formulae.
    • Added support for ALT-BACKSPACE as key board shortcut for UNDO, as in additional option to the standard shortcut, CTRL-Z.
    • Added max velocity variable, MAXVEL, to be used in the Thrust and Load formula. MAXVEL is the absolute value of the max velocity in the Segment or Move
    • Added max velocity variable, MAXVELCYC, to be used in the Thrust and Load formula. MAXVELCYC is the absolute value of the max velocity in the entire motion sequence cycle.
  • Main form:
    • Now display Utilization Values greater than 100%. Previously, any Utilization Values greater than 100% would be displayed as 100%.
    • Added ability to 'Expand All' and 'Collapse All' axis nodes. Can be selected under 'File > Axis', or by right-clicking on any axis in the tree view.
    • Added 'Contact Information' under the 'Help' menu. This allows the user to view/edit their contact/license information
    • When changing the Axis Type, added check if changing from rotary to linear motion axis (or vice versa), and then prompting the user, and if accepted by the user, deleting the sequence since it is no longer valid
  • Gearbox Bearing Life Lh10 and Lh210 calculations:
    • Now display calculation even when expected life calculation is > database rated. Applies only to B&R and Neugart gearboxes. Previously, when calculation was > 20,000 h, then 20,000 h was displayed. This rule still applies to other vendors using the 'Alpha' sizing rules and load factors.
  • Inertia Mass Calculator:
    • Added 'Qty' (Quantity) column in the table of elements
    • If the user makes a change to the table of elements and then clicks Cancel, the user is now prompted to save the changes.
  • Manage Axes form:
    • Added support to load Source projects that are v2 project files
  • Move form:
    • Added the 'Start position' to the distance textbox tooltip.
    • For the Slider Crank when the motion profiles is defined at the load, added the 'Distance to fully retracted' and 'Distance to fully extended' to the distance textbox tooltip.
  • Databases Forms:
    • The loading of most database forms is 20-40% faster than in v3.1
    • When the user makes a change to the filters, the 'Apply Filters' button is highlighted to inform the user that the current filters have not yet been applied. Thus reminding to the user to click the button after all changes to the filters have been made.
    • Motor database forms: Added option for Req_SV for Vbus filter. Req_SV is the supply voltage specified by the user. This allows the option to list products that have curves for a specific voltage range. Applies to all motor database forms including Rotary Motors, Linear Motors, Gear Motors, Motor Linear Actuators
    • Gearbox Database:
      • Now the 'T2max' and 'T2N' columns include the appropriate LF applied, such that the 'T2max' and 'T2N' values match the chart
    • Rack & Pinion Database:
      • Addressed a long standing issue wrt rack & pinion Load Factors (LFs). Now the 'FMax' column includes the appropriate LF applied, such that the 'FMax' value matches the chart
    • Gear Motor Database:
      • Now the 'GB_T2max', 'GB_n1Max, 'GB_T2N' and 'GB_n2N' columns include the appropriate LF applied, such that those values match the chart
      • Added Mot_Vbus filter for GearMotors
  • Conveyor mechanism:
    • Added friction coefficient between belt and load so the program can check if the load 'slips' on the conveyor if the acceleration is too high.
  • System Check:
    • Added new column "Stage", where helps identify which component the message refers to. Ie. Drive, Motor, Gearbox, Coupling, Actuator, Mechanism, etc.
  • Bill of Material:
    • Added axis number before axis description in the Axis column, which makes for easier sorting by axis number
  • Print Report:
    • Added back colours for all table header rows
    • System Power pages now show if the system is a "Shared Bus" or "Stand Alone" configuration by adding the text after the word 'Bus' in the row header
    • Changed mechanism performance data table columns from "Req'd, Limit, Margin" to "Rated, Req'd, Margin", per program standard
    • Print Dialog:
      • Added 'Save as Defaults' button to capture the default page size, margins and other page settings to be used each time a report is created
  • Friction Coefficients form:
    • Added new tab listing friction coefficients for 3 types of linear bearing guides
      • Linear ball bearing guide: 0.002 - 0.004
      • Linear roller bearing guide: 0.001 - 0.002
      • Hydrostatic bearing guide: 0.0005 - 0.001
  • Database Utility:
    • Added check if Vendor and Model values end with a space. Ending with a space is no longer permitted since it is impossible for users to see the 'space'.
    • If duplicates exist in the Source, now allow the user to continue with the import process. The user has the choice to continue and use the FIRST duplicate of each set of duplicates.
    • Added log file support to capture the list of new and updated/overwritten products
  • Database:
    • Added 5 new Bosch Rexroth AG MSM series motors
    • Set T2N = P0_TN_T2 for Alpha and Sumitomo gearboxes where T2N = 0

Fixes:

  • Installer:
    • Fixed multiple instances listed in 'Add/Remove Programs' (Win XP) or 'Programs and Features' (Win Vista/7/8) after a DGL version upgrade. First uninstall all previous DGL versions, then install v3.2.
  • Corrected support for Network Database files
  • Move form: Fixed Sub-Segment profile type
  • Linear Motors: Was not taking the number of primary parts into consideration for I2t model for linear motors. Ie. Always assumed one primary part. This would make the I2t calculation much higher than it should have been when more than one primary part.
  • Main form:
    • Total mass at motor input always 0 kg on Main form for Linear Motors
    • Launching the Calculator would causes the Main form error flag to be set
    • Corrected minimum position accuracy units conversion from inches or feet
    • When a new segment was inserted in the sequence, opened, and then changed from a Segment to a Move, the proper default units were not set.
  • Inertia Thrust Breakdown:
    • Motor brake inertia percentage value > 0% was being displayed when the brake was disabled
    • Corrected calculation of inertia percentage for mechanism
  • When loading a Drive of Infeed / Regen / Inverter, the regen cont power was loaded as the peak power, and the peak power was loaded as 0W.
  • When an Infeed / Inverter / Chopper is used, but not bleeder is connected, and instead an external bleeder is connected to the shared bus, the "Regen or bleeder module required" message appeared in System Check.
  • Gearbox Database:
    • Corrected the inertia mismatch calculation for the IM filter
  • Bleeder Database:
    • When opening the Bleeder database for the first time for a Drive or Infeed Module, the calculated required bleeder power values were not made until after the selection and closing of the database form. Now they are computed immediately.
  • Gearbox calculation: For some gearboxes, the application nominal torque was ok, but System Check reported the rated nominal torque value had been exceeded. It had to do with the nominal torque and duty cycle at speed curve where the next data points in the curve at the needed speed point, were at the same speed but with ED=0%.
  • Motor Efficiency form:
    • Corrected track bar issue where clicking or sliding the track bar would not change the input torque value.
  • Gearbox Shaft Loads form:
    • Each time the x2 value was changed, the shaft load rated values first needed to be reset, which they were not. And then, depending on the x2 value, the effected rated F2RMax and F2RN values are adjusted accordingly based on the M2KMax and M2KN rated values.
    • When the 'Use Y1 Calculated Value' arrow button was selected, the calculated value was not being applied.
  • Database Utility:
    • When importing a spreadsheet, if the address and web site data is available in the source spreadsheet, now it is included in the import when new vendor data is added.
  • Slider Crank: Corrected units conversion for the distance, velocity and acceleration Thrust Formula variables when the motion profile is defined at the Crank. Ie. Rotary motion profile
  • Configure Power Flow form:
    • Sometimes, when enabling or disabling and infeed or bleeder module, the changes would not take effect.
  • System Check:
    • The I2t limit warning message would be displayed even when the motor was missing the key database parameters required for the I2t calculation.
    • Gearbox Pinion Interface Check: Added additional check if gearbox output is Hollow or HollowKey and the pinion input is Key or Hub, Then also require that Gearbox.InterfaceTyp2 = 1001 or 1002 which matches Pinion.InterfaceTyp
  • Print Report:
    • When in E-Stop mode, the gearbox nominal output torque, mean speed and duty cycle were still displayed in the 'rated and required' table. These values are not considered in E-Stop mode, and thus should not be displayed.
    • Printing to page A4: Sometimes when printing to page size A4, the sequence table was shifted when Moves were listed. The Description column spans 4 rows for Moves, and the bug caused the last two columns to be duplicated and shifted the entire table.
  • Bill of Material:
    • Corrected the display of Gear Motor technical datas in the Descriptions column
Nov 19, 2012Version 3.1.121

Fixes:

  • System Check: Corrected Gear Motor inertia mismatch check. System Check was using the motor inertia mismatch to check the Gear Motor inertia mismatch.
  • Belt & Pulley Transformation: Corrected the application torque calculation when the Belt & Pulley is entered without the drive and driven pulley radii.
  • Manage Axes form: When applying changes in the 'Manage Axes' form, current open forms such as the Motor Performance forms were not being closed. Since these forms are opened for a given axis, if the axis number is changed (via insert or delete of other axes), or if the axis is deleted itself, then when the user clicks on the open form, an error occurs.
  • Gearbox Shaft Loads form: When the user clicks the Apply button, the Main form is not immediately updated to reflect the new shaft load calculations.
Nov 5, 2012Version 3.1.120

Fixes:

  • Manage Axes form: When the user copies an axis from the same project file, the Transformations are copied, but they also remain "linked", meaning that a change to a transformation in the source axis also affects the newly copied axis, and vice versa.
  • Main form: 'Save As Project Template' feature, under the Main form File menu, was not working because the Template file was being saved to the 'Programs' folder instead of the 'UserConfig' folder.
  • Sequence form:
    • When some but not all of a sequence was deleted, the Undo feature would not capture the changes.
    • When grouping 4 segments into a move, the Undo feature would not capture the changes.
    • When ungrouping a move into 4 segments, the Undo feature would not capture the changes.
    • The SHIFT-DELETE shortcut would delete only the current selected move, instead of the entire sequence
    • Sometimes, when appending a new move to a Winder sequence, an error would occur.
  • Database: v3.1.11 Nov 5, 2012
    • Bosch Rexroth AG:
      • Drives:
        • Corrected Vo and Vmax values for HMS0x and HMD01 series drives.
        • Previously, the Vo and Vmax values were 0Vdc.
        • HMS0x: Vo = 750 Vdc Vmax = 900 Vdc
        • HMD01: Vo = 750 Vdc Vmax = 900 Vdc
Oct 23, 2012Version 3.1.118

Enhancements:

  • Database forms: Loading all database forms is faster by 0.5s for small sequences, and up to several seconds faster for sequences with > 100 segments
  • Added Schlatter logo option
  • Added Engel logo option
  • System Check: Added a critical error message when the slider crank (or any other mechanism) has an error in the sequence. The error message explains that a sequence error occurred, and provides the exact sequence time and step in the sequence where the error occurs. If there is more than one error, then just the first error is reported.
  • Sequence form with Slider Crank mechanism: When the user moves the chart crosshairs to a part of the sequence where the calculation is unsolveable, the background of the Slider Crank mechanism turns red to indicate to the user where the problem is in the sequence.
  • Database: v3.1.10 Oct 22, 2012, which includes the newly added Bosch Rexroth AG motors, drives and infeed modules

Fixes:

  • Bus Discharge Form: When a Slider Crank mechanism exists in the project and the Bus Discharge form is opened, a message box appears stating that the Slider Crank is not supported for the bus discharge calculations. The bug is that the form does not close when clicking the OK button or even the X at the top right of the message box.
  • Manage Axes form: When the user changes the number of axes by copying or deleting axes in the Manage Axes form, the number of axes shown in the wizard is not updated immediately.
  • Inertia Mass Calculator: When selecting the 'Generic' element type, an error occurs.
  • Units form: When setting the default units, the Load Formula variables units were not set
  • Units form: When setting the default units, the E-Stop Sequence variables units were not set
  • Slider Crank: Previously, when the sequence put the Slider Crank in an unsolvable position, the program would slow down dramatically as it struggled to process unsolvable calculations. Now the program handles unsolvable calculations properly, with no noticeable slowdown in performance.
  • Slider Crank: When the Offset is > Crank, and the Offset <= Crank + Connecting Rod, then there is still a valid range of motion, but it is limited to less than the full 360deg rotation of the Crank. Now the program better handles this, including a new message in System Check when the sequence places the Slider Crank in an unsolveable position.
Oct 8, 2012Version 3.1.116

Fixes:

  • Move form: Units conversion for distance, velocity, acceleration and jerk were not working properly for the Slider Crank mechanism when the motion profile is defined as 'rotary' at the mechanism input. Even though rotary units were displayed, the units were converted for linear motion units.
Oct 6, 2012Version 3.1.115

Enhancements:

  • Shock Absorbers: Updated with latest ACE products database
  • Main form: Added shortcut to open the Options form by double-clicking the database path field in the status bar at the bottom of the Main form. This is handy if users experiment with different database files, and want to quickly jump to the Options form.
  • Database: v3.1.9 Sep 24, 2012, which includes the newly added Kollmorgen motors and drives
  • Help: Added help page for the Options form

Fixes:

  • Print Report: The transformation ratio was always displayed as 1:1. This was only a display error, and did not affect the calculations.
  • Print Report: Corrected the display of the energy cost lifetime in the Infeed Module column of the 'System Power' page
Sep 22, 2012Version 3.1.114

Fixes:

  • DGL version: Corrected issue where "..\SERVOsoft v3 ACT\License" folder does not exist error when the DGL version tries to create a license request file.
  • Sequence form: Corrected position of Slider Crank image when the chart crosshairs is selected. When the Windows DPI setting was set to 120dpi (125%) or larger, the mechanism image would be positioned near the middle of the chart instead at the right edge of the chart.
Sep 18, 2012Version 3.1.112

Enhancements:

  • Print Report: On System Check page, added support for multi-line text when alarm message requires more than 1 line
  • Print Report: On System Check page, critical messages are now in red text so they stand out more compared to the warning messages in black text
  • Print Report: On Sequence page, the column headers now have a light gray background
  • Print Report: On Bill of Material page, the column headers now have a light gray background
  • Now allow Virtual Machines (VMs) to run SERVOsoft Dongle versions (Stand Alone and Network Dongle Licenses)
  • Inertia Mass Calculator: Added new images to show the Z offset for Cylinder and Block shapes when axis of rotation is b-b
  • Database v3.1.8 Sep 18, 2012: Atlanta: Updated all 306 gearboxes

Fixes:

  • Sequence form: Fixed Cut/Paste when Pasting a Segment above the Cut Segment
  • Corrected the German translations for:
    SERVOsoft has recovered this project file.
    Do you want to open it?
  • System Supply Power and Energy Cost Model form: Some fields were displayed in English and not in the active language.
Sep 1, 2012Version 3.1.111

Enhancements:

  • Updated Baumueller logo option for Main form and Print Report with new logo provided by Baumueller

Fixes:

  • Inertia & Mass Calculator: Corrected issue where more than 1 element exists in the table of elements, and the user selects the first row and clicks the delete button to delete the first row, and then all values are reset to 0 instead of just deleting the selected row.
  • Added Edit Rotary Motor form: Corrected text for 'Imax'. Previously was 'Maximum torque', and corrected to 'Max current'
  • Added Edit Gear Motor form: Corrected text for 'Imax'. Previously was 'Maximum torque', and corrected to 'Max current'
  • Added Edit Linear Motor form: Corrected text for 'Imax'. Previously was 'Maximum torque', and corrected to 'Max current'
  • Rack & Pinion database filter: Changed German translation for P_Typ1 (Pinion Input Type) for type 'Pinion Shaft' from 'Zahnrad Welle' to 'Ritzelwelle'
  • Bill of Material: For Gearbox and Belt & Pulley, the first letter in the word "efficiency" is now a capital. Eg. 'Efficiency' (English) and 'Wirkungsgrad' (German)
  • Print Report: On the Gearbox page, to help make it clear, ‘TLF’ is replaced with 'Torque LF', and 'nLF' is replaced with 'Speed LF'.
  • Main form: The 'Rename Axis' text was not translating to other languages
Aug 11, 2012Version 3.1.110

Enhancements:

  • Database v3.1.7  Aug 10, 2012:
  •  Stober:
    • Updated all 170 motors
    • Updated 21,936 gear motors

Fixes:

  • Gearbox Torque vs Speed form: Added German translation for 'RMC torque', 'Effektives Moment'
  • Database Utility: Not properly handling numbers with decimals when importing from a source database (VDB4) when Windows Locale is using a comma for a decimal, as is the case with most European locales such as the German Locale.
Jul 31, 2012Version 3.1.108

Enhancements:

  • Print Report: Added Rack & Pinion load factors to Mechanism page
  • Bill of Material: For Pinions, added the 'Pinion diamater' and the pinion 'Number of teeth' to the description listing in the BOM
  • Gearbox Shaft Loads form: Added 'Margin' column for each rated and required values

Fixes:

  • When the maximum number of transformations has been reached, and the user tries to open the Gear Motor database for the first time, the program can get caught in an endless loop with the message box "Maximum number of transformations is X". This is more common with the Lite and Promotion Versions which allow only 3 transformations.
  • Program and Database Updates: Fixed issue whereby program and database update downloads via a proxy server were not working
  • Print Report: Corrected the Rack & Pinion Max Force margin calculation when using a standard mechanism (not from the database)
  • Drives Database: When the 'Icont' or 'Ipeak' filter is used with the 'Between' operator, an error occurs, and the 'Drives Invalid Query' error message box is displayed
  • Rack & Pinions database: Fixed 'R_ProductSourceType' and 'P_ProductSourceType' filters, which were causing an error after clicking the 'Apply Filters' button
  • Database filters: A project file is saved in a Windows locale where a period is used for a decimal. Then the same project is opened in a Windows locale such as Germany, where commas are used for a decimal. The database filters number formatting was also incorrectly applied to non-numeric fields such as the 'P_MaterialTyp' field in the Rack & Pinion database, where some values contain a comma in the string. The comma should remain in such cases, but was incorrectly being changed to a decimal.
  • System Check for Rack & Pinions: Previously, there was just a check if the gearbox hollow shaft diameter is smaller than the pinion shaft diameter. Now the gearbox hollow shaft diameter must equal the pinion shaft diameter, otherwise, an error message is displayed in System Check.
  • Rack & Pinion and Gearbox database: InterfaceTyp 108 = 'ISO 9409-1-A-140Q' changed to 'ISO 9409-1-A-145Q'
  • Rack & Pinion and Gearbox database:
    • Added InterfaceTyp 110 = 'ISO 9409-1-A-166Q'
    • Added InterfaceTyp 110 = 'ISO 9409-1-A-200Q'
  • Print: Corrected units conversion for Linear Motor Cont Rated force on the Drive and Motor page
Jul 1, 2012Version 3.1.105

Enhancements:

  • Print Report: Added Control Techniques logo as an option
  • Added Atlanta PV serial for License Activation Wizard
  • Installation: Added support for MSI installs starting with the setup.exe, and then extracting the files using the "/extract" command line. The MSI allows for unattended network installations. Note that all the extracted files are required. Simply run the 32-bit or 64-bit MSI file with all other files in the same folder.

Fixes:

  • Installation: Fixed several issues when installing both ACT and DGL versions on the same machine.
  • Inertia & Mass Calculator: Only English texts were displayed in the 'File' and 'Edit' menus. Now the active
  • language texts are displayed.
  • Add/Edit Motor Data form: Corrected unable to save when 'Enter mechanical data only' is checked. An error message would appear saying the inputs are invalid.
  • Add/Edit Gear Motor Data form: Corrected unable to save when 'Enter mechanical data only' is checked.
  • An error message would appear saying the inputs are invalid.
Jun 23, 2012Version 3.1.102

Fixes:

  • When the user opens a v2 project file that contains a product that is not included in the v3 database, and the user selects to add the product to the database, an error occurs and the product is not added to the database.
  • The motor temperature rise (dT) drop down list was hidden, and should have been visible. Now it is visible so users can choose from one or more of the motor continuous torque curves based on different temperature rises.
Jun 14, 2012Version 3.1.101

Enhancements:

  • System Check: Added Legacy type checking to the External Bleeder, Infeed Module External Bleeder, Rack and Pinion

Fixes:

  • Drive Mechanics: When changing the mechanism, the Main form treeview was not updated correctly when changing from a Linear Motor to another mechanism, or vice versa.
  • Main form: When the user changes back and forth from E-Stop mode, the Main form Utilization bars are not updated
  • The v2 Mode list restrictions message includes a MsgId 9127, which states the v2 Mode only allows for 1 transformation when a gear motor is selected.
  • Gearbox and Gear Motors database: Added drop down list in value field for the 'InterfaceTyp2' filter
  • Main form: When a Linear Motor mechanism is selected, the 'Open Linear Motor Database' toolbar button image was not displayed
  • System Check: Sample 1.ssp3 project, if the user disables the Axis 2 Bleeder, no error message in System
  • Check even though there is bleeder energy to be dissipated. The critical error message 'Regen or bleeder module required' was not being displayed
  • System Check: Added Legacy type checking to the Infeed External Bleeder, the stand alone External Bleeder