News Center

Specialized Variable Frequency Drive Contains Integrated Functions for Roll-to-Roll Applications

Vernon Hills, Illinois - February 20, 2019

Announcing the release of the FR-A800-R2R Series of Variable Frequency Drives (VFD), ideal for end users and machine designers looking for an optimized control solution for continuous roll-to-roll processing. The drive builds on the performance and functionality of the standard FR-A800 Series VFD, with enhanced firmware engineered for unwinding and rewinding processes such as coating, laminating, slitting, drawing and extruding.

The drive is equipped with dedicated functions, such as tension sensorless torque control and tension sensor feedback speed control. Variable tension is applied to the material to maintain constant flow on the winding and unwinding sides, helping to eliminate imperfections such as wrinkles or deformation. These functions do not require additional sequence or motion control programming to implement, because the FR-A800-R2R inverter has a built-in PLC, and employs easy-to-use parameterization to set and enhance functions. This allows users to control winding and unwinding, even if they do not have advanced knowledge of tension control.

“The integrated PLC in the FR-A800-R2R, eliminates the need for a tension controller for tension feedback torque control. This contributes to the overall cost savings of the system and allows for quick and easy system start-ups,” said Chris Rhodes, product marketing engineer at Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc.

Industries that commonly use roll-to-roll processing machines, that would be well-served by the FR-A800-R2R drive, include printing, automotive, and material handling. The coating and laminating of flexible electronics, as well as aluminum and copper foils for batteries and photovoltaic cells in the clean energy industry, are also an appropriate fit based on the product specification.

Information about the FR-A800-R2R is available here.

— About Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc.

Headquartered in Vernon Hills, Ill., Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. is a U.S. affiliate company of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. It offers a broad product portfolio including programmable automation controllers (PAC), programmable logic controllers (PLC), human machine interfaces (HMI), variable frequency drives (VFD), servo amplifiers and motors, control software, computerized numerical controllers (CNC), motion controllers, robots and low-voltage power distribution products. Additional information about Mitsubishi Electric Automation is available at us.mitsubishielectric.com/fa/en/.