This Application Guide

Scope and Architecture

Everest, Everest S, Capitan, and Denali are highly integrated, multipurpose servo drives. As a result, they offer a wide range of features, although only a subset may be required for a specific application. This subset of functionality can be enabled through an interface board populated with simple components such as transceivers, voltage dividers, and filters. However, due to the drives' miniature form factor and high power density, implementing the required electronics may require specific design practices. This guide provides recommendations on these practices, covering topics ranging from thermal management to PCB layout design.

Whenever the design of an interface board for Everest NET, Everest S NET, Capitan NET, or Denali NET is beyond the scope of the application, please consider using one of the available ready-to-use solutions listed below: Everest XCR, Everest S XCR, Capitan XCR and Denali XCR.

Naming and Reference

This same guide applies to all pluggable Summit Series products. Although most of its content is valid for any of them, some comments and recommendations are product-specific. To avoid misunderstanding, the following naming is to be used:

Further distinctions between communication variants among a specific product will use the respective product codes, like EVE-NET-E (EtherCAT) or CAP-NET-C (CANOpen).

Parts of an integration solution

EVE/EVS/CAP/DEN servo drive: includes the Power Stage, the Motion Controller, and the Communications Controller. 

EVS-S-NET/DEN-S-NET servo drive: in addition to the standard architecture described above, these drives incorporate a dedicated Functional Safety monitoring board (safety core board).

Interface board: provides the adapter electronics and connectors required to enable communication and power interconnection between the servo drive, motor, feedback devices or sensors, and the master controller.

Heatsink: during operation, the drive generates heat as it delivers output power. In low-power applications, the drive's metal enclosure may provide sufficient heat dissipation. However, applications that operate at higher power levels or in elevated ambient temperatures may require the drive to be thermally coupled to a heatsink to ensure proper thermal management.

Single-Axis or Multi-Axis approach

The simplest way to integrate Everest, Everest S, Capitan or Denali servo drive, is to develop an interface board to hold 1 drive module. This way, 1 Master device can command the EVE/EVS/CAP/DEN as a slave, so that it can drive the motor accordingly. The Master can even be part of the interface board or be externally wired to it.

Alternatively, multiple drives can be controlled from a single master device along with several communication protocols and topologies. While the classic approach would be to provide individual interface boards for each drive and interconnect them by wiring a Fieldbus along with each node, the compact size and low power dissipation of the EVE/EVS/CAP/DEN now allows having a decent number of axis controllers in a single interface board, tracing the communications physical layer among the PCB for maximum performance and minimum wiring complexity.