Kollmorgen Doubles Power Density of Single-Cable Decentralized Servo Drive Portfolio
Motion control specialist INMOCO has introduced an upgraded performance tier for the Kollmorgen AKD-N decentralized multi-axis servo drive system, effectively doubling the unit's continuous current capability to 12A. This current expansion elevates individual axis output to 4.8kW, providing machine builders with a high-power, space-saving alternative to traditional centralized control architectures. Designed to transition hardware out of localized electrical enclosures and directly onto the machine frame, the ruggedized architecture streamlines machine commissioning phases while meeting the high-torque demands of modern, high-throughput packaging, material handling, and food processing machinery.
The core advantage of this decentralized architecture lies in its radical reduction of physical wiring overhead, a common bottleneck in complex multi-axis installations. The system utilizes a single-cable connection technology where primary power supply, functional safety signaling, and real-time fieldbus communications are consolidated into a single hybrid cable measuring just 11mm in diameter. On the output side, a single motor cable manages power transmission, mechanical brake control, and high-resolution feedback. By eliminating parallel feedback and power lines, OEMs can reduce total machine cabling by up to 80 percent, drastically shrinking cable tray requirements, minimizing labor costs during final assembly, and lowering potential points of failure on moving axes.
To support the increased current demands of the upgraded 12A drives, the central rectifier units have undergone a parallel capacity expansion. The central power modules are now capable of delivering 20kW of continuous power output, doubling the previous 10kW specification, with transient peak output handling capacities approaching three times the nominal baseline. This power amplification allows a single central rectifier to feed a larger cluster of distributed drives along a single machine backbone. Furthermore, the IP67-rated enclosure eliminates the need for expensive, climate-controlled electrical cabinets near the machine frame, enhancing modularity and allowing mechanical engineers to adopt a true plug-and-play building-block approach to machine design.
Functional safety and real-time networking remain foundational to the updated platform, which includes integrated Safe Torque Off capabilities as a standard feature. Safe Torque Off can be mapped to isolate an individual axis or grouped across multiple zones to shut down an entire production line safely during a fault condition. For complex, high-speed applications requiring distributed I/O topology, optional tertiary EtherCAT outputs and localized STO inputs can be specified. This open communication architecture ensure that the system integrates seamlessly into modern B2B manufacturing ecosystems, offering machine builders a highly flexible, future-proof motion control platform that reduces physical cabinet footprints while maximizing machine throughput and reliability.
Written by: Frederick Vance, an industrial automation engineer with over twelve years of specialized experience in high-performance motion control, decentralized drive topologies, and multi-axis servo system design for high-speed manufacturing.