Servo Drives: Servo Amplifiers, Servo Pump Controllers and Motion Controls

What a Servo Drive Does

• Powers the motor: turns the mains supply into the exact current the motor needs.
• Reads the feedback: uses the encoder or resolver to know the shaft’s position and speed.
• Closes the loop: corrects speed, torque or position errors straight away.
• Talks to the machine: takes commands from the PLC by analog signal, pulses or a network.
• Protects the system: trips on overload, overheating or feedback faults.

Types of Servo Drive and Control

• Single axis drives: one drive for one motor, the most common choice.
• Multi-axis systems: a shared power supply with several axis modules, for machines with many motions.
• Servo pump controllers: drives with built-in pressure and flow control for hydraulic power units.
• Motion controllers: coordinate several axes on cutting, packaging and handling machines.

Common Fault Codes and Causes

• Overcurrent: a short in the motor or cable, a jammed load or wrong settings.
• Overvoltage: energy coming back from a braking load, often fixed with a braking resistor.
• Encoder or feedback fault: a damaged cable, connector or encoder.
• Overtemperature: a blocked fan, a dirty heatsink or a hot cabinet.

Check the cables and cooling before assuming the drive is dead.

Replacing a Servo Drive

1. Record the full drive code and any option cards.
2. If the drive still powers up, save the parameter file.
3. Note the motor model and the feedback type.
4. Check the supply voltage and phase, and the network protocol.
5. Load the parameters, then test the motor at low speed before running it at full speed.

A like-for-like drive with saved parameters is usually the fastest fix. A different model may need tuning.

Servo Drives Specifications to Check

• Rated and peak output current
• Supply voltage: single or three phase
• Supported motors and feedback types
• Control interface: analog, pulse, EtherCAT, PROFINET or EtherNet/IP
• Safety functions, such as Safe Torque Off (STO)
• Braking resistor and filter needs

Why Buy From TSA Hydraulics Engineering

As a servo drives supplier, we match the drive to your motor, feedback and network, not just the power rating. You get clear prices in AUD, OEM or equivalent options, and help sourcing servo drives replacement parts such as fans, braking resistors, cables and option cards. We tell you upfront whether a drive is genuine or an equivalent.