"Sometimes a customer requirement even results in an improvement to the overall system - we then transfer such adaptations to series production or the resulting firmware," says Thomas Vogt, Managing Director of Adlos. "At the moment, the development steps tend to be hidden and are not directly visible. They are hidden in reaction times, latency times and regulations. But if, for example, a more optimal reference run leads to a better result, then we make these processes available to all customers." An update to such new functions and properties can then be carried out easily via the KannMotion Manager. Another new feature is that KannMotion-based drives can now also be created with DC motors instead of just stepper motors.

The servo drive platform originally introduced in 2017 combines up to seven individual units in one overall system: motor, gearbox, encoder, controller, start button, sensor and cabling. This should also bring advantages in terms of purchasing, supply chain and maintenance, especially in view of the current difficult situation on the procurement market. "With our KannMotion concept, we were able to guarantee a high level of delivery reliability," says Olaf Kämmerling, Managing Director of Koco Motion. "To this end, we increased our stock levels at an early stage to such an extent that even longer replenishment times do not pose a threat to on-time deliveries."

All components in one

The KannMotion platform consists of 80 percent standard components that can be individually combined according to the modular principle. "The unique selling point of the servo drive system is not only that several individual components, such as encoders, controllers and cabling, are reduced to an overall system in which they are all integrated," explains Olaf Kämmerling. "The drives are also designed in such a way that they only have the functions integrated that are required in the respective application."

The drive system works reliably like a servomotor even in continuous operation and is fully programmable via commands or sequence programs. The drive can be set up with a DC motor for highly dynamic applications or with a stepper motor in various Nema sizes. In any case, the closed-loop drive with integrated single-turn absolute encoder and a directly attached stepper motor controller is simple to set up. It has various digital inputs and outputs and an analog input. Despite the integrated units, the compact drive system requires little installation space.

Complex programs can be stored and called up in the integrated, programmable controller. The input signals can be integrated into the programs. The output signals can be used as inputs for other units. In this way, the drives can be used to automate a series of movements in a machine.

Applications in large numbers

The intuitive programming of sequences makes the drive ideal for decentralized stand-alone solutions without complex higher-level control systems. The concept is particularly suitable for cost-effective, individual solutions from small series. Other applications include positioning, controlled continuous operation or programmed motion sequences. Examples include control valves, control valves or the drive of an axis with different speeds. One particularly interesting application is the replacement of pneumatic solutions with miniaturized electric drives. However, the potential for the KannMotion is not only of an industrial nature, as it can move almost anything: from vending machines to automatically adjustable headrests in medical treatment chairs to carrot peelers or musical instruments.

Koco Motion at the SPS 2022: Hall 3, Stand 141