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Drives for Web Handling

Blogmaster: Clarence Klassen

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Drives

14

Why Drives Aren't Tuned

Posted by Clarence Klassen on May 14, 2012
Why Drives Aren't Tuned
Whine, Whine, Whine. Life is full of excuses. Last week I was responsible for a drive upgrade. The day ended, the line is running and the drive is not tuned. Let me list the excuses. Installation took a long time. ·         The 3 phase cabl...

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Posted in: Drives, Tuning
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09

Tachometers and Encoders

Posted by Clarence Klassen on January 9, 2012
Tachometers and Encoders
Variable Speed Drives today can be run with or without sensors. By sensors, we mean encoders, tachometers or resolvers. These are attached to the Opposite Drive End of the motor and give an RPM feedback of the motor (not roller). The encoder costs several hundreds to $1000 plus wiring. If the drive...

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Posted in: Drives, Definitions, Measurement
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19

Guidelines for Speed Regulator Tuning

Posted by Clarence Klassen on December 19, 2011
Guidelines for Speed Regulator Tuning
When tuning speed regulators, at what speed the drive should be stepped and how large a step should be applied? First of all, the speed regulator is tuned very early in the life cycle of the mechanical equipment. Check with mechanical to ensure lubrication, alignment, pressures, vacuums, temperatur...

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Posted in: Drives, Tuning
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28

Shaft Currents

Posted by Clarence Klassen on November 28, 2011
Shaft Currents
Most motors used with Variable Speed Drives have some degree of shaft current induced in normal operation. That is the spinning rotor in cutting lines of flux, induces some voltage on the shaft. Stray capacitance puts voltage onto the shaft each time the VSD switches. If a loop through ground exists...

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Posted in: Drives, Faults, Definitions
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17

E-Stop Deceleration Rate

Posted by Clarence Klassen on October 17, 2011
E-Stop Deceleration Rate
Standards for emergency stopping rates of web handling equipment are not prescribed. There is a standard that calenders must stop in the distance between the finger tip and shoulder. This is untenable in 2011. We can and must do better. A few comments about safety and stopping. -  &nb...

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Posted in: Drives, Safety, Definitions
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10

Regulator Tuning – Request for Metrics

Posted by Clarence Klassen on October 10, 2011
Regulator Tuning – Request for Metrics
At this time, we do not have good statistics for the speed and tension regulator responses used in web handling. Today I am asking for help in compiling some metrics for how speed and tension regulators are tuned in the web handling industry. The purpose for this information is to publish it for th...

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Posted in: Drives, Tension Measurement and Control, Tuning
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26

Regulator Tuning - Drive Vendors

Posted by Clarence Klassen on September 26, 2011
Regulator Tuning - Drive Vendors
Last week I discussed a very common measurement of drive regulator performance. That is the step response or Bandwidth of the regulator. This applies to the torque regulator, speed regulator as well as the tension regulator. We are looking for a nice exponential response without overshoot and with a...

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Posted in: Drives, Tuning, Design
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12

Drive Autotune – What Do You Get?

Posted by Clarence Klassen on September 12, 2011
Drive Autotune – What Do You Get?
Auto tuning of drives is a great thing when it works. When I started, tuning a drive involved minor to medium wiring changes, connecting a chart recorder, carrying in a tackle box of electronic components and working with our hands inside a live drive cabinet. It took a while, but we became adept at...

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Posted in: Drives, Tuning
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05

Drive Autotune

Posted by Clarence Klassen on September 5, 2011
Drive Autotune
I occasionally run encounter Variable Speed Drives (VSD’s) running with only the basic drive setup. That includes motor nameplate data and scaling for correct RPM at top line speed. This is not adequate for web handling. We need to have our drives tuned. Drive vendors try to make this easy fo...

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Posted in: Drives, Tuning
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15

Permanent Magnet Motors

Posted by Clarence Klassen on August 15, 2011
Permanent Magnet Motors
Permanent magnet (PM) motors have found a lot of application in web handling in recent years. The rotor is magnetized with permanent magnets rather than squirrel cage induction as in an induction motor or a dc field requiring an exciter as in as synchronous motor. The PM motor has the advantage that...

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Posted in: Drives, Safety, Design
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Blogmaster

Clarence Klassen photo

Clarence Klassen

President. Designated Consulting Engineer with Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO). KlassENgineering was incorporated in 1999. Clarence applies 31 years in the Pulp and Paper industry to solving problems with drives for web handling. He has 10 years experience as a drives engineer with GE Canada and 10 years experience with Opcode Systems Inc., a PLC and Drives Systems Integrator. Much of Clarence's experience was gained in onsite installation of new equipment and troubleshooting of existing equipment. KlassENgineering performs Pre-Start Health and Safety Reviews as required by the Ontario Ministry of Labour.