Inputs and Outputs

Note that while the I/O functions outlined here apply to all Applied Motion drives, the specific I/O point assigned to each function will vary depending on the specific drive used. Consult your drive's hardware manual for wiring and configuration information pertaining to your specific drive.

Fault Output

The drive features a Fault Output that will be triggered if there is a fault condition. This fault may be a fault within the drive or it may indicate a system fault. Not all these faults will cause the drive to be disabled. If you are running the Configurator while an alarm condition develops, a dialog box will pop up and give you details of the fault. Alarms and faults are also displayed by a pattern of red and green flashes of the drive’s front panel LED.

Alarm Reset Input

The Alarm Reset input can used to clear alarms and faults if you check the box marked "Allow alarm reset input to clear it". If a fault occurs and you have not checked this box, you will have to cycle power to reset the drive. There is good reason for this. An drive fault may indicate an error on your machine or system. Resetting the drive at this point will make the drive able to respond to any command signal present and could result in damage to your machine or possibly injury.

Brake Output

For use when your motor is fitted with a fail safe holding brake. These are normally used to hold the load in position when the motor is turned off, especially useful when the motor must hold a load against gravity. Most brakes are fail safe, this means it requires a voltage to hold the brake in the "released" position, allowing the motor to move.

The output gives you a choice between closing or opening the brake output to release the brake. Please select this option with care as the wrong choice could damage your system.

The Brake Output has two time delay settings.

The "release delay" is the time delay between the brake being released and the drive being available for moves . If a move is attempted immediately after the drive is enabled this could create a time lag in your system as the motor will not respond until after the brake release period.

The "brake engage" delay controls the time period between the brake engaging and the drive disabling. This will ensure that the brake is fully engaged before the load is no longer being held in position by the motor.

Limit Sensor Inputs

Applied Motion drives have two inputs that can be configured as end of travel limit switches. These are useful for linear applications such as actuators. Consult your drive's hardware manual for specific information on the limit switch inputs for your specific drive.

This dialog box is where you tell the drive whether your input switches or sensors are Open or Closed when they are activated. You can also select the "Not Used” option for when limit sensors are not present. SCL users can configure these limits to be used as programmable inputs.

What happens when a limit switch is activated will depend on the programming mode you are using and the particular command you are using at the time. Please refer to your programming manual for details of Limit Switch Input errors.

Motion Output

The Motion Output can be used to tell another piece of electronics what the drive is doing. If you want to signal to indicate when the motor is in motion you have two choices: the output can be closed when the motor is moving and open when it is stopped, or it can be open when moving and closed when stopped. If you want a tachometer output (a signal proportional to the motor speed), this output can emit pulses as the motor turns. The default setting provides 100 square wave pulses per revolution (assuming you have a 1.8° motor, otherwise you get 2 times the motor electrical frequency).

Additional settings of 200, 400, 800 and 1600 pulses/rev are available for drives with DSP firmware version 1.02 or later. However, the tach output’s maximum frequency is fixed, so the integrity of the tach output signal at higher resolutions is dependent on motor speed. Suggested speed ranges for the different tach output resolutions are shown in the table below.

tach ppr | accurate at speeds
100 | 0 - 50 rev/sec
200 | 0 - 25
400 | 0 - 12.5
800 | 0 - 6.25
1600 | 0 - 3.125

Note: Signal integrity is best with an 80 mA load (use 300 ohms at 24V, 150 ohms at 12V or 62 ohms at 5V.)

Motor Enable Input

The Motor Enable Input allows you to turn the power stage of the drive on and off. This means that the drive can be on, with power going to it, but the motor will not be active.