Motion Control Portfolio: Drives, Controllers and PLCs
Product lines at a glance: which one fits your machine
| Product line | Representative model | Control method | Typical equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Integrated stepper drive | SDC | Pulse / I-O / bus, built-in path programming | Packaging, engraving, cutting, marking, wire stripping |
| Open-loop stepper driver | SD5 | Pulse+Direction / RS485 (Modbus-RTU) / CANopen | Laser engraving, CNC engraving, 3D printing, automation lines |
| Closed-loop stepper driver | SD6 | Pulse+Direction / Modbus RTU / CAN | CNC machine tools, packaging, textile, 3C electronics |
| AC servo system | SE26C | Servo drive plus matched servo motor | Machine tool spindles, robot joints, high-speed sorting |
| Low-voltage DC servo system | SE26P | Wide DC input, built-in protection and auto-tuning | AGV/AMR, mobile robots, battery-powered equipment |
| Motion controller | MC26 | Multi-axis interpolation, standard G-code compatible | Multi-axis assembly, CNC, robot arms, winding, dispensing |
| Programmable logic controller | JC26M | Logic and machine sequence control | Automation lines, special-purpose machines, control cabinets |
| General purpose VFD | L7 | Vector control, high torque at low speed | Fans, pumps, conveyors, mixers |
| Servo motor | 50 W - 5 kW | High-resolution encoder, matched with SE26 servo drives | Precision positioning, high-speed reciprocating axes |
These nine product lines cover the whole chain from motor to drive to control. Most machines do not need all of them: a drive-and-control integrated unit can replace the controller for single-axis equipment, while multi-axis machines use one motion controller to schedule every axis.
Four steps to choose a drive and control scheme
1. Work out the load, then pick the motor type
For low-speed, high-torque positioning where cost matters, a stepper motor with an SD5 open-loop stepper driver or an SD6 closed-loop stepper driver is usually the better value. For continuous high-speed running, frequent acceleration and strict following error, choose the SE26C AC servo drive or the SE26P low-voltage servo drive.
2. Decide on the control method
If your host controller already outputs pulses, pulse+direction is the most direct choice. If several axes need to be networked and monitored, use RS485 (Modbus-RTU) or CAN bus. The SD5 stepper motor driver supports all three, so switching does not require different hardware.
3. Decide whether you need closed loop
Open-loop stepper systems can lose steps under sudden load or fast acceleration. For processes where any position error scraps the part - cutting, engraving, dispensing - choose the closed-loop SD6, which monitors rotor position through an encoder and corrects current and torque automatically.
4. Decide whether the controller can be removed
For single-axis machines with a fixed "move - trigger - repeat" sequence, the built-in path programming of the SDC integrated stepper drive removes the PLC and the motion controller, cutting wiring and cabinet space. For interpolated multi-axis motion, an MC26 multi-axis motion controller schedules the axes instead.
Stepper drivers, servo drives and PLCs: how the roles divide
A stepper driver turns pulse or bus commands into step motion and suits low-to-medium speed axes that move intermittently; the SD5 open-loop stepper driver and SD6 closed-loop stepper driver are our two lines. A servo drive closes the loop with an encoder and suits axes that run continuously at high speed, represented by the SE26C AC servo system and the SE26P low-voltage DC servo system. A PLC handles logic and machine sequencing - the JC26M - and a motion controller handles multi-axis trajectory planning - the MC26.
Keeping these boundaries clear is what brings cabinet cost and commissioning time down. Most machines do not need every layer: a single-axis machine can drop the controller with the SDC integrated stepper drive, while multi-axis machines are scheduled by the MC26 motion controller.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose between a stepper driver and a servo drive?
Judge by duty: low-to-medium speed, intermittent motion and cost priority point to a stepper solution (SD5 open loop or SD6 closed loop); continuous high speed, frequent starts and stops, and tight following accuracy point to a servo solution (SE26C AC or SE26P low voltage). In between, closed-loop stepper is usually the most suitable choice.
When can a PLC be left out?
For single-axis machines with a fixed sequence (positioning, reciprocating, multi-speed, homing), the SDC integrated stepper drive can run the motion path on its own without a PLC or a separate motion controller. Multi-axis interpolation and complex logic still call for an MC26 or JC26M.
What should I check when replacing an existing drive?
Four things: whether the motor phase current and supply voltage fall inside the driver rating, the pulse signal level (5-24 V wide-voltage inputs cover most host controllers), the communication protocol and register definitions, and the mounting and terminal layout. Sending us the old drive model and the motor nameplate is the fastest way to confirm compatibility.
Do you support sample testing and OEM customization?
Yes. You can request a sample unit to verify motion performance and interface compatibility first. Customization covers firmware functions, acceleration curves, alarm logic, I/O definitions, terminal specifications, enclosure form and branding.
What information do you need for a selection proposal?
Ideally: load type and inertia, required torque or thrust, speed and stroke, number of axes and whether they interpolate, supply voltage, the signal interface of your host controller, and the industry and working conditions of the machine.