C
L E A R
P
A T H
- S C
U
S E R
M
A N U A L
R
E V
.
1 . 3 6
2 8
T
EKNIC
,
I
NC
. T
EL
.
(585)
784-7454
C
ONSIDERING A
"L
OWER
V
OLTAGE
"
B
US
P
OWER
S
UPPLY
?
ClearPath-SC motors do work with DC bus power supplies down to
24VDC, but the supply must have sufficient voltage, current, and
capacitance to meet your system's torque and speed requirements.
Less power in means less power out. A lower voltage bus supply will limit
ClearPath-SC top end speed and torque, and may lead to problems
including the following:
•
ClearPath-SC is unable to complete the auto-tuning
process. The ClearPath-SC auto-tuning feature uses aggressive
moves to test the limits of a mechanical system. A weak power
supply (i.e. one that can't handle the peak current demands
required by ClearPath-SC) may "droop" below ClearPath's
minimum operating voltage (about 21.5VDC). This can cause loss
of communication and a protective shutdown. Needless to say, if
auto-tune cannot run to completion, you may have an
underpowered supply.
•
ClearPath-SC completes the auto-tuning process but
experiences certain warnings or shutdowns during
programmed motion. If auto-tune runs to completion, but you
experience torque saturation, voltage saturation, and/or tracking
shutdowns during regular machine operation, you may be
exceeding the supply's voltage and/or current capability.
If you suspect your power supply is underpowered, you can try
the following solutions:
•
Lower the commanded acceleration and/or velocity.
Sometimes lowering commanded acceleration and/or velocity
can reduce the burden on a weaker power supply enough to
eliminate shutdowns caused by "power starvation".
•
Upgrade to a more powerful supply. Look for a supply
with higher voltage, higher peak and continuous current
ratings, and higher capacitance.
•
Modify your existing power supply. In some cases adding
a large capacitor and a few inexpensive components to an
underpowered supply can boost the supply's performance
sufficiently. Note: Consult your power supply manufacturer
and an electrical engineer before making any modifications to
a commercial power supply.
