A new DC drive, the Mentor MP, is the result of several years research and development from Control Techniques, and now sets a new world standard for excellence in DC motor control.

Mentor MP follows in the footsteps of the well known Mentor brand, launched as the world’s first digital DC drive in 1986 but offers the same flexible control platform as Control Techniques’ intelligent AC drive, Unidrive SP. It makes Mentor MP the most advanced DC drive on the market, giving energy efficient operation, high motor performance and extreme flexibility in its system interfacing capabilities and onboard processing power.

Mentor MP is an all new drive. Control Techniques has invested heavily in its development. “Why has Control Techniques developed an all new DC drive when the demise of DC has been forecast for many years?” asks Product Manager Richard Smith. “The answer is simple. Our extensive market research shows that DC drives are here to stay and at Control Techniques we can offer customers unique benefits that arise from our global network of Drive Centres – a massive source of 35 years of accumulated experience in DC drives and automation applications. Mentor MP is a enormous step forward in virtually every respect and meets all present and anticipated DC market needs.”

Mentor MP plays a part in promoting sustainable technology. DC motors are both efficient and robust and offer years upon years of service, providing good performance in a wide range of industrial processes and applications. Retaining an existing DC motor and upgrading the drive makes good environmental and investment sense to any customer’s upgrade project. It provides the opportunity to enhance the overall system performance and reliability whilst minimising problematic re-engineering and installation work; an attractive proposal in today’s economic environment. Mentor MP is also the only DC systems drive on the market today that is RoHS compliant.

Mentor MP is designed with both today’s and future requirements in mind, its full system integration flexibility offering three option module slots and an inbuilt field controller.

Control Technique’s new product stringent development process employs cutting-edge design tools to ensure best performance and reliability in all of its products and Mentor MP is no exception. Richard Smith explains: “The simulation and modelling technology used to develop Mentor MP today simply wasn’t available a few years ago. We have been able to investigate and test thoroughly all aspects of the design prior to launch and we know we can obtain market-leading reliability”

Control Techniques has a patent (pending) to protect a unique aspect of the Mentor MP design. Galvanic isolation between power and control is a standard feature in AC drives and, in the case of power-side failure, protects the control circuits and customer connected equipment. Other DC drives feature a form of isolation that rely on only impedance only isolation, which has limitations; Mentor MP doesn’t, its novel technology achieves Galvanic Isolation without compromising performance or reliability.

Each Mentor MP has three universal option module slots offering users unrivalled flexibility to choose from any combination of the 18 option modules available. These economically priced option modules are common across Control Techniques’ AC, DC and Servo drive ranges and include functionality extensions such as additional feedback options and expanded I/O and a powerful onboard programmable control.

The range of optional fieldbus connectivity is unique, including Profibus-DP, Interbus-S, DeviceNet, CANopen and various Ethernet protocols such as Modbus TCP/IP, Ethernet/IP and EtherCAT.

Communications gateway solutions can also be implemented easily and economically within the drive by installing two or three fieldbus option modules.

The number of option modules will increase as Control Techniques develops new solutions for their complete range of drives.

The Mentor MP’s standard inbuilt, field controller is all most users will ever need but an all new external field controller option, the FXMP25, provides field forcing for high dynamic applications; such as very fast reversing (e.g. typical machine tool spindle applications) while a new feature allows reverse jogging control with two-quadrant drives for lower-cost systems that do not require fast reversal. In addition, Mentor MP has a field controller mode that allows itself to act as a field control for larger DC motors, where the field current can be greater than the capacity of the FXMP25.

Mentor MP uses Control Technique’s suite of well-tried and tested software tools, developed to support the programming and drive configuration of their AC drive ranges. For example CT Soft, used for drive configuration, includes a configuration wizard allowing existing Mentor users to transfer drive settings from an existing Mentor II drive to the new Mentor MP.

Existing Mentor II users will also appreciate the design results that make Mentor MP a simple retrofit, with the same mechanical footprint, main fixing centres and with power connections located in the same place as Mentor II.

SyPTLite, used already by AC drive users, can be used for simple IEC language ladder programming onboard the drive.

For high performance, cost effective automation solutions, Mentor MP offers the capability to link multiple AC, DC and Servo drives together with extensive I/O, controlling PCs and Operator Interfaces by using CTNet to create a truly distributed control system. Each drive can house a programmable option module called SM Applications which is programmed using SyPTPro, an IEC61131-3 style programming tool with function block, ladder logic, and structured text language capability. This on-board configuration can often eliminate a stand alone controller and so reduce system cost. Further option modules can be used to connect with I/O, fieldbus or Ethernet protocols for control and monitoring.

SM Applications modules can also be loaded with existing, proven, application-specific software such as crane control, winder / rewinder, flying shear and other commonly used automation functions.

“Mentor MP is the most advanced DC drive on the market,” says Richard Smith, “and has the advantage of using the same control platform as the market-leading intelligent AC drive, Unidrive SP. With such a wide range of communications, intelligence and feedback options available, it is the natural choice for any user or oem who wants an economic, easy-approach solution either to upgrading an existing DC installation or specifying a new one, providing significantly enhanced performance and reliability.”

John Murphy, VP Strategic Planning, says “Despite the common perception that DC is in terminal decline, our research suggests that the global DC drives market is still growing albeit more slowly than the market. In fact with the credit crisis we expect continued growth over the next couple of years as engineers decide to retain perfectly good plant such as DC motor based process lines. Recently Control Technique’s market share in DC has been steadily increasing and reached 13% in 2007. We have a target of 18% market share by 2012 which seems eminently achievable.”

“But perhaps our biggest market advantage comes from our global network of Drive Centres, which are able to retain, develop and share their many years of experience in DC drive automation systems. Our customers have confidence in our ability to solve their problems; this is where Control Techniques really wins.”

The all new Mentor MP covers output current ranges from 25A to 1850A with a single module approach – and 7,400A when paralleled - is available in 12 and 24-pulse configurations providing low harmonics. Optional keypads are offered as high-brightness LED or multi-language LCD with plain text versions and a range of 18 plug-in option modules including SM-EtherCAT, SM-Register & SM-Applications can provide extra control, functionality and communication. Whilst Smartcard technology provides parameter, PLC and motion program storage in addition to drive parameter ‘cloning’.

Courtesy of Control Techiques