It’s important to be able to start and stop motor drive inertia no matter the size of the load. There are many solutions on the market to incorporate braking methods. You can choose between quick-stop, external dynamic, flux, line regeneration, DC injection braking, and more. Depending on your application needs, you will find a variety of braking method that works best for you.
At Ambitech, we’ve been providing electric motor stopping power for 50-plus years. In an effort to better serve your braking application needs, we will share some common braking methods in this post.
Braking Control
Braking boils down to the removal of stored kinetic (motion) energy generated by a mechanical system. Electricity is generated and converted to the system once the motor is up to speed. In order to stop the motor, the kinetic energy generated needs to be removed. Due to this need, there are a variety of reasons why a machine would need additional braking power:
- To stop or slow machine
- To slow or reverse the direction of the machine
- To hold machine in a fixed position
- To provide an overhauled load hold back
Where Does The Stored Energy Go?
First, let’s discuss energy removal and what happens to it.
As braking is applied to a machine, the kinetic energy is reduced or removed from the application. In many braking methods, heat is a byproduct of applying stopping power against the machine’s energy, whether it be mechanical or electronic. Nonetheless, it’s best to determine which braking method will work well for your application. Here are some questions to ask about your machine before purchasing a new brake:
- Does the machine need full brake torque to slow or stop?
- How much stopping power is needed?
- Does the machine need constant or intermittent braking?
- Does the brake need to respond quickly?
- What is the cost of the brake compared to available budget?
Tree Types of Braking Methods
- Dynamic –Dynamic braking methods are used to remove the energy from the drive’s bank of bus capacitors. This braking method is effective for smaller, low-inertia loads. It’s typically ineffective for consistent stopping power in large, high-inertia loads.
- Regenerative- Regenerative braking methods feed the kinetic energy back into the AC control supply, utilizing the energy for braking efficiency. Furthermore, power factoring and current harmonic reduction are two benefits to choose regenerative braking.
- DC Injection- DC injection allows for the AC drive to manage the DC energy in the motor windings, which creates a fixed magnetic field in the motor. This braking method is one of the most common methods used.
50-Plus Years Of Stopping Power
Ready to add effective, safe stopping power to your machines? Ambitech has more than 50 years in the stopping power industry. We provide our customers with superb electronic motor brakes, as well as excellent repair options and customer service. Experience quick stopping and zero maintenance with our DC injection brakes. When you choose Ambitech, you get the best. Contact us to get a free quote today!
