Siemens Simodrive 611: Its Characteristics and the Failures it Experience

Siemens Simodrive 611

Although nowadays many customers are using the Sinamics S120 and other various options instead of the Simodrive 611. Still, we should remember that Siemens Simodrive 611, which is produced by Siemens company, is a good solution for machine tools, robotics, and various servo applications. 

In this article, we will tell you about the characteristics that make Siemens Simodrive among the best modular transistor pulse-controlled converters and what are the most popular failures that it might experience. 

Because of its strong design and good quality when it comes to engineering, the Simodrive is chosen to be a favorable converter to fix by the technicians. When it fails, it is usually repairable. Usually, if damage occurs it affects only one of the several modules found on the system. We can fix it after being isolated. And this makes having a Simordrive a better choice when compared to buying a new expensive one each time. 

1 Power Supply Module Shutdown 

The Simodrive Converter module is equipped with a devoted power supply module that gives out voltage and current from the major power to the connected drive modules by a 600VDC link. This module is indeed what we can name the backbone of the system. It experiences the majority of shutdowns from facilities that usually experience problems in the power delivery field. Excessive voltage and unbalanced phase or facility level structures may tire the Simo Drive system and cause its performance to deteriorate faster than usual. Usually, similar conditions appear within the capacitors placed on the power board that occur due to the so-called pressure input power. Plus, within the supply unit, we can notice a malfunction that appears due to the Zener diodes opening up through a similar kind of high current pressure.

2 Drive Module Shutdown 

Whether for a servo drive module or a spindle drive module linked to a certain motor, it is very easy to realize mechanical problems. When the equipment gets older, some other problems start to appear on the surface. For example, servo motor bearing shutdown might cause a thermal run-off shutdown in the motor rolling that might pressure the load part of a drive module. The transistors, which guide the output current to the motor, are the essential elements that we replace in such conditions.

Other various load side problems, including mechanical jarring/jamming, bad/shorted cables, or wrongly built machine parameters, might lead to a drive module shutdown.

3 Environmental Shutdown 

A smart part of the Simodrive design is its potential to give out cool air to all of its elements. And this is essential because the system is modular, which is a feature for experts who are willing to have a comparatively compact structure within what might be called the narrow borders of a control cabinet. Having electronics that are too close to each other within a small area will let you focus on keeping things cool. However, after a period, when dust and other things start to gather on the fans that are found inside or even on the internal body elements, we begin to observe the overheating shutdowns. Hardly do we observe a fan get out of such modules. Usually, a fan shutdown goes along with overheated capacitors, resistors, or other elements.

Yes, Simodrive might be a relatively old product. However, it will stay one of the greatest servo systems of all time and the most used one among many others.

For additional information about the Simodrive, you can visit the MRO Electric official website. You will have the chance to know more about this modular transistor pulse-controlled converter.