Variable frequency drive units can be found inside tons of control cabinets, but what happens if you disassemble one to see what’s inside and how it works? We did just that. The results might surprise you. Here at this, we’ve been on a bit of a variable frequency drive (VFD) kick recently, but who can … Read more
Nearly all industrial engineers have heard of a VFD. But what does VFD stand for, how do they work, and why would we prefer using a VFD to control motors for heavy loads? The VFD solves the challenges of driving a 3-phase motor with careful speed control and efficiency, without being overly cost-prohibitive in most … Read more
Industrial communication channels often contain terms such as ‘Modbus over RS485’ or ‘CIP Safety over Ethernet’. What does it mean to send one network over another, and how does it work to your advantage? Industrial networking relies on the knowledge of professionals who are becoming more widely recognized with the term ‘OT’, meaning operational technology. … Read more
In this article, learn how variable frequency drives make use of the principle of pulse width modulation to create analog-type signals from a digital source, such as with motor drives. Pulse Width Modulation, or PWM, is a commonly used strategy for creating analog types of signals from a digital source. This is a common method … Read more
Variable frequency drives (VFDs) can output simulated waveforms of nearly any frequency. However, in order to be truly useful, harmonics and resonance in the system must be avoided and frequency parameters should be put in place. Variable frequency drives (VFDs) are one of the most common methods of driving three-phase motors. The output is a … Read more
To increase the flexibility of a motor control system, a variable frequency drive (VFD) is a common device that solves many motor control problems. In this article, learn how to control manual input of VFDs. Variable frequency drives solve many of the challenges associated with driving three-phase motors including adjustable speeds, networking many motors together … Read more