News Release from: Peak Production Equipment
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 12 December 2003

Drives tested for functionality and safety

The latest generation of motor drive systems from Control Techniques are benefiting from sophisticated functional and flash test systems developed by the Peak Group.

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The latest generation of motor drive systems from Control Techniques are benefiting from sophisticated functional and flash test systems developed by the Peak Group. The systems, which use Peak hardware in conjunction with customised test programs based on National Instruments TestStand software, are being used at the Control Techniques plant at Newtown, Powys, on the production line for the company's recently launched UniDrive SP product. Because the UniDrive SP product is based on a modular concept that can be configured to meet a variety of customer requirements, the Peak test systems had to be equally flexible to test its various functions.

This had an impact on both the mechanical test fixtures and the electronics of the test systems.

The functional test solution developed by Peak involved an automatic, pneumatically controlled test fixture, custom-built multiplexing and drive electronics, and a number of rack-mounted proprietary test instruments which are integrated into the system cabinet and controlled by a ruggedised PC running TestStand software via NI interface cards.

The functional test system tests all electrical parameters of the drives in accordance with a customer-defined specification.

The mechanical interfacing provided an interesting challenge to Peak engineers, since the drive module had six different sets of connectors positioned at the bottom, rear and top - all at different angles.

Peak had to devise a reliable clamping mechanism and a mechanical probing system involving four separate movements to achieve this multiple connector insertion.

Initiating a test involves loading the unit into a drawer and locating it on the test fixture.

After that, all functions are carried out automatically.

Peak has also supplied a separate flash test unit in which electrical safety testing is carried out by a 5kV hi-pot tester.

Because of the high voltages and currents involved in the system, an array of safety features is provided, including safety relays and interlock switches so that the inside of the unit cannot be accessed by operators while tests are taking place.

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