Definitions
This device acts like a dimmer switch for a motor, regulating the speed of an AC motor by changing the frequency of the electricity.
VFD (Variable Frequency Drive)
This term refers to the rotational "twisting force" of a motor
Torque
Using a VFD on a centrifugal pump or fan can lead to massive savings in this.
Electric/Energy Bill
This metal box houses all the electrical components to protect them from dust, water, and people
Enclosures (Panels)
This is the common name for the industrial cable that connects the PLCs to other devices.
Ethernet Cable
Unlike a standard motor that just spins, this type of motor uses feedback to know its exact position at all times.
Servo Motor
In the world of electricity, this is the "pressure" (Volts) multiplied by the "flow" (Amps)
Wattage
This is the term for a machine's ability to produce the exact same result over and over again without variation
Repeatability
This device on a top of a machine tells operators what the status of the system is.
Stack Light
This is the touchscreen where an operator enters commands or sees errors
HMI
This is the feedback device that tells the drive exactly where the motor shaft is located
Encoder
To make a motor spin at different speeds, a Drive must change this electrical measurement (measured in Hertz)
Frequency
Transitioning from manual labor to an automated servo system usually increases this—the total amount of product made in a shift
Throughput
This specific type of "braided" cabling is used to prevent electrical noise from messing up sensitive signals
Shielded Cable
This term refers to the slight delay in a signal traveling from one device to another.
Latency
This component is the brain"of the system, sending low-voltage signals to tell the motor how fast to move.
Controller (PLC)
When a motor needs to stop a heavy load quickly, it generates energy that needs to be burned off, often through one of these heat-sinking components
Braking Resistor
In a factory, this term refers to the massive cost of a machine being "broken" or "stopped" for even five minutes
Downtime
This specific, low voltage is the standard for powering PLCs, HMIs, and logic for servo drives / motion controllers.
24VDC
When a motor is told to move to a specific coordinate (like "Move 10 inches"), it is operating in this mode.
Position Mode or CSP (Cyclic Synchronous Position Mode)
This is a name for the type of motion control system that uses 2 encoders, one on the motor and one on the actuator/load
Fully closed loop
This is the measure of a load's resistance to change in motion—the "heaviness" a motor feels when trying to start or stop
Inertia
This is the "O" word for the ratio of time a machine is actually running versus the time it is down for repairs or changeovers
OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness)
In order to be rated for an explosion prone environment, products must be considered this.
Intrinsically Safe
If an EtherCAT cable breaks in a "Ring" topology, the system can still run because it has this—the ability to send data from both directions
Redundancy