The new on-machine motor controller from Rockwell Automation provides simplified installation and space savings for machine builders.

Machine builders can now offer cus?tomers a compact distributed mo?tor controller that is easily in?sta?lled on the machine without an enclo?sure, and quickly connects to the enterprise net?work, thanks to the new family of Allen-Bradley ArmorStart LT distributed motor controllers from Rockwell Automation.

ArmorStart LT distributed motor cont?rollers are ideal for coordinating conveyor motor systems used in material handling and packaging applications and other types of warehouse distribution systems. The new family of distributed motor controllers provides the advantages of on-machine architecture ? a pre-engineered system that helps simplify wiring, speeds up commissioning time and reduces the need for extra cabinet space.

ArmorStart LT with EtherNet/IP connectivity improves the exchange of critical information about machine perfor?mance and component health, while allo?wing operators to access parameters, status and diagnostics, regardless of location.

?Machine builders need to provide mo?tor control solutions that accommodate customers? budgets and existing network architecture,? said Paul Gieschen, Market Development Director, Rockwell Auto?mation. ?The new ArmorStart LT dist?ributed motor controllers provide enha?nced motor control at a lower price point and smaller package than other on-machine motor control products on the market.?

ArmorStart LT is ideal in size and weight for most general material handling applications, ma?king it easier to inte?grate on or near the con?veyor or machine.

Insta?llation also is sim?plified by the dist?ri?buted motor controllers? dual-port EtherNet/IP switch tech?nology, whi?ch sup?ports device-level ring (DLR) network topology. DLR-based net?works re?duce configuration time and costs by mini?mising the number of managed switches and reducing cabling needs. Users can create a single DLR network that connects all components at the device level locally. Information can be seamlessly commu?ni?cated in real time to va?rious levels of an orga?ni?sation, without requiring addi?tio?nal complexity. Get?ting real time information at the right time and at the right levels of the manu?facturing enviro?nment can enhance the agility of a business.

The distributed motor controllers include an add-on profile for Rockwell Software RSLogix 5000, the software used to program Allen-Bradley CompactLogix and Allen-Bradley ControlLogix programmable controllers from Rockwell Automation. The add-on profile?s automatic, predefined tag names provide manufacturers with a common lan?guage that can help improve consi?stency, and programming speed and efficiency.

The ArmorStart LT distributed motor controllers support a transparent clock to synchronise motor devices on EtherNet/IP architecture, accommodating for delays introduced by other devices on the net?work. To help enhance safety, the devices contain a standard, local disconnect feature that allows operators to turn off the motor and perform lockout tagout proce?dures during maintenance. They also are group-motor listed so multiple units can be grouped under one branch circuit protection device.