Product Overview
ABB's palm-sized FlashDrop technology now can be used to configure the company's ACS550 general purpose drives in the R1 – R6 frame sizes.
FlashDrop, proprietary to ABB, is a tool that provides fast and easy parameter selection and setting; it can copy parameters/configurations between two identical drives, or between a PC and a drive, and hide parameters -- making it ideal for high-volume customization, or repeat programming of, multiple drives/machines.
"ABB now extends this powerful tool to this general purpose, ACS550 range, of ABB drive families," said Michael Mikolajczak, product line manager for ABB's ACS50, ACS150, ACS350 and ACS/H550 drive lines. "Flashdrop already is in use for programming the ACS150 (v1.31b+) and ACS350 (v2.41a+) models, so this offers our drives users very wide range and reach with a single tool." FlashDrop is available for the ACS550 general purpose drive range with v3.11a+ software and manufactured after May 7, 2007, he said.
Configure Drives in Their Packaging, Without Powering Them Up!
Via FlashDrop, drives can be configured without the need for a power connection. "The drive doesn't need to be unpackaged, or connected to the mains," according to Mikolajczak. "Simply open the top of the box and seat the FlashDrop wand into the access point built into the drives, and they are programmed in as little as three seconds."
New and Improved Control Panel Assistants Added, Too
An assistant control panel is supplied with the drives as standard to guide users through the programming process. Now, parameter setting with the panel is even more straightforward, as a new assistant menu structure presents the various options in a clearer format.
This significant upgrade includes seven (7) Assistants to improve the control panel and drive functionality, resulting in faster start up, and making the drive simpler to use. The following Assistants provide these user-friendly, multi-choice questions:
1. Improved PID Controller Assistant - guides user set-up without going to the parameter list, and simplifies closed-loop process control adjustments;
2. Improved Real-time Clock Assistant - helps the user quickly adjust time and date functions;
3. Improved Maintenance Calculator Assistant - computes the interval to the next overall machine system service and preventative maintenance needed, based on consumed energy (kWh), motor revolutions, or elapsed time – and can activate an alarm when maintenance is due;
4. Improved Diagnostic Assistant – offers faster fault diagnostics;
5. Improved Start-Up Assistant - offers a new, automatic, parameter-back-up function. After start-up, the assistant offers the option to back-up the parameters to the control panel for extra security;
6. New Serial Communications Assistant - provides a convenient way to quickly set up the drive's fieldbus connectivity; and
7. New Drive Optimizer Assistant - offers an intuitive method to set the optimal parameters, without having to study manuals or reference materials. Users can choose between low motor noise, combined drive-and-motor efficiency, and motor-control accuracy and performance.
