Siemens Touts New Generation of Servo-Drive

SINAMICS S210 provides multiple performance benefits to mid-range of processing market

Siemens is promoting a new generation of its SINAMICS servo-drives that targets the mid-range of the servo market, what the company considers “the largest and fastest-growing segment,” says Craig Nelson, product manager for discontinuous drive systems.

The SINAMICS S210 servo-drive system is for medium-complexity, dynamic motion control. “There’s a wide range of applications for it,” Nelson says. The mid-range segment “balances cost, performance and ease of functionality to offer what most people are looking for in a [servo].”

New Capabilities in Motion Control

The S210 uses a digitally native drive with a wide range of corresponding motors and gearboxes. Siemens describes the unit as bringing a new level of high-dynamic motion control to stand-alone and multi-axis machines.

The servo-drive system is designed to add greater safety and security to discontinuous motion control and to enhance positioning functions in a range of processes including injection molding, film and sheet extrusion, blow molding, thermoforming, bag production and robotics, Nelson says. Even 3D printing systems can benefit from installation of the S210, he notes.

Siemens additionally targets packaging, printing, labeling, pick-and-place, stacking, assembly, chip sorting and filling machines for the S210. A complementary range of planetary gearbox options expands the possible applications, and a stainless-steel motor line is suited for food-and-beverage and pharmaceutical applications.

The SINAMICS S210 offers DC link coupling on 3-phase units for increased power efficiency on multi-axis applications. Corresponding SIMOTICS synchronous motors from Siemens feature high-resolution 22- or 26-bit absolute encoders, for single or multi-turn operations. “[Users] can select up to a 26-bit axial multi-turning encoder, which gives incredible precision for positioning applications,” Nelson says. One-cable connectivity is standard, and all motors feature up to IP67 protection. (IP, or Ingress Protection, is a rating standard for resistance to water and solid foreign objects.) Siemens reports that ease of setup and selection are assured with an integrated EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) filter and braking resistor.

“It’s a highly dynamic servo-drive with a one-button, self-tuning feature,” Nelson says. “It has high precision and 300 percent overload capability. It’s definitely a leader in the market for that performance aspect.”

Precise and Repeatable Micro-Second Performance

In addition to high precision, ultra-fast and repeatable performance are features of the S210. Nelson says the current cycle time of the servo is 62.5 microseconds. A micro-second equals one millionth, or 10^-6, of a second, according to the International System of Units.

He notes that while some competitors produce servo systems of equal speed, the S210 offers innovative features that many servos do not. These include ultrafast communications of 250 micro-seconds using the PROFInet industrial ethernet, which exchanges data between a servo and motion controllers including the safety functions such as Safe Stopping and Safe Limited Speed.

“What really counts is that the PROFInet system repeats this speed time and again,” he says. “It maintains super-fast communications and assures there is extremely low jitter, so motion can be reproduced with high tolerance.”

The S210 offers safety functions via menu-driven, graphic programming. “We offer the capability and tools of doing safety tests to make sure an operation is set up correctly and documented.” Nelson says. “So, if something happens, [a processor] will have all this documentation built into the tools showing setup and commissioning [procedures] and that [everything] passed safety evaluations and tests.”

Digital Twin Tests Operation Without Actual Trials

An innovation of the S210 is the SINAMICS DriveSim model, which integrates into simulation software so engineers can create a digital twin of the drive and motor in a project’s planning phase to ensure the highest efficiency and performance of the equipment without physical trials.

The SINAMICS S210 communicates its status through Edge or cloud-based data capturing for continuous monitoring and data analytics. Using Siemens’ Analyze MyDrives app, machine users can monitor key conditions for advanced anomaly detection. Seamless transfer of data from the drive to the machine controller, to the Edge device, which allows decentralized data processing at the edge of the network, and to the cloud are maintained for digital native operation from planning through operations. The TIA (Totally Integrated Automation) Portal, meanwhile, provides unrestricted access to the range of Siemens’ digitalized automation services, from planning to integrated engineering and transparent operation.

With data analytics, users can look at information all the way down to a sensor level. Drive and motor, heat and current, and sometimes vibration—all that information starts in the motor and drive and contributes to data analytics, Nelson says. “It’s easy to move this information from the sensor to the cloud with data analytics. It helps optimize how a machine runs.” He adds that users can take that information and use it with artificial intelligence to improve machine operations in many areas.

Security Is Integral to S210 Servo Design

Another benefit the S210 offers is security. The servo-drive comes standard with integrated security for network connectivity, providing enhanced communication, as well as integrity and authenticity checks to protect against tampering and assure proper user management and access control.

“One topic that will come into play a lot more is security, especially cybersecurity,” Nelson says. The S210 has a security chip certified by TÜV (Germany’s Technical Inspection Association) that assures user management access control as well as network security. “This makes sure data from motion control and the drive are secure, assures no manipulations occur and no unauthorized firmware changes take place.”