Kollmorgen’s Latest Motion Solutions Focus on Performance and Safety

Kollmorgen has expanded its servo motor offerings, introducing the new AKME line of servo motors engineered for use in hazardous environments. The company has also updated its popular SafeMotion Monitor firmware, showing a commitment to ongoing improvements and customer support.

Kollmorgen’s AKME servo motor series is ATEX and IECEx certified, enabling operation in gas Zone 2 and dust Zone 22 locations. Image used courtesy of Kollmorgen

Motors for Hazardous Environments

“Hazardous” is not a term that is thrown around lightly. It specifically addresses environments where flammable or explosive vapors may accumulate. Non-certified motors in these environments are incredibly dangerous; a single electrical arc from the motor could ignite the vapors. The design of such motors is not simple, either, as vapors are notorious for invading tight spaces.

For a motor to be certified for hazardous environments, it must be sealed to prevent vapor intrusion, which means open fan cases are not allowed. Yet, even without active cooling, the motor itself cannot become hot enough to cause ignition either.

AKME Servo Motors

Kollmorgen’s new AKME series servo motors are certified for use in hazardous environments, as they meet ATEX and IECEx global certifications. The AKME line is built on Kollmorgen’s tried-and-true AKM line, which has been a staple of industrial automation for quite some time.

The AKME series is available in several configurations. Physically, the motors come in standard frame sizes from IEC 2-7, spin up to 5,000 rpm, and are powered by 48 VDC, 75 VDC, 120 VAC, 240 VAC, or 400 VAC, depending on the specific model. According to Kollmorgen, all of these motors are best paired with AKD, AKD2G, or Kollmorgen Essentials servo drives. Feedback from these servos can take the form of resolver, SFD-M, Hiperface, or several other common modes.

The SMM 3.0 firmware is built into Kollmorgen’s AKD2G servo drive (pictured above) and 2G Motion System. Image used courtesy of Kollmorgen

SafeMotion Monitor Firmware: SMM 3.0

In addition to introducing its AKME series, Kollmorgen has also updated its SafeMotion Monitor (SMM) firmware. SMM 3.0 can be used to upgrade Kollmorgen’s AKD2G servo drives and 2G motion control systems.

With the upgrade, SMM now supports EnDat 2.2, a safety protocol geared towards bidirectional rotary encoders. This upgrade enhances error detection, improves communication for high-speed data transfer, and adds diagnostic tools. All three of these expansions increase the safety and the reliability of the automation system as a whole, providing tighter control of each servo motor.

In terms of enhanced safety, it is important to note that while the AKD2G drive already met SIL 3, the new firmware means the programming now also meets SIL 3 standards.

Performance, Safety, and Motion

Kollmorgen’s AKME servo motors are likely to be used in the chemical process, petrochemical, and refining industries, due to the presence of flammable and explosive vapors in these environments. These particular markets demand certified motors from both a safety and a legal standpoint, and the AKME meets those requirements. In addition to use in environments with flammable vapors, the AKME series will likely be deployed in environments where dust can ignite, such as food manufacturing, grain processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, paint booths, and powder processing facilities.

Machine builders using Kollmorgen’s AKD2G servo drives or Kollmorgen 2G Motion System in safety-related applications will benefit from the SMM 3.0 firmware update.