A regenerative braking controller for an AC motor. To determine an electromagnetic torque for slowing or stopping the motor, the regenerative braking controller accesses a lookup table to retrieve an braking torque value corresponding to a current estimate of rotor velocity. The retrieved braking torque may correspond to a maximum or minimum torque level at which regenerative braking will occur at the current rotor velocity, or to a torque level at which charging current during regenerative braking will be maximized. If an external mechanical brake is present, the regenerative braking controller can forward an external braking torque signal to a controller so that the mechanical brake can apply the remainder of the braking force beyond that indicated by the regenerative braking torque. A method for establishing the braking torques to be stored in the lookup table is also disclosed.

The invention relates to a method for commanding the brakes (F1, F2, F3) of the motors (M1, M2, M3) of a multi-axis robot (R1), comprising: a robot arm (B) comprising at least two degrees of freedom each associated with an electric motor (M1, M2, M3), a sensor (C1, C2, C3) for measuring movement information, and a brake (F1, F2, F3), an interfacing unit (4) of the brakes (F1-F3) able to control the supply of electricity to the brakes (F1-F3), a central processing unit (2), variable drives (V1, V2, V3) having a torque off function of the motors (M1-M3), a security system (4, 5),
the method comprising the following successive steps: 6a) selecting a motor (M1-M3), 6b) activating an electric braking function using the selected motor (M1-M3), 6c) opening the brake (F1-F3), 6d) comparing the movement information delivered by the sensor (C1-C3) to a threshold, 6e) closing the brake (F1-F3) when the movement information exceeds the threshold.

The invention relates to a method for commanding the brakes (F1, F2, F3) of the motors (M1, M2, M3) of a multi-axis robot (R1), comprising: a robot arm (B) comprising at least two degrees of freedom each associated with an electric motor (M1, M2, M3), a sensor (C1, C2, C3) for measuring movement information, and a brake (F1, F2, F3), an interfacing unit (4) of the brakes (F1-F3) able to control the supply of electricity to the brakes (F1-F3), a central processing unit (2), variable drives (V1, V2, V3) having a torque off function of the motors (M1-M3), a security system (4, 5),
the method comprising the following successive steps: 6a) selecting a motor (M1-M3), 6b) activating an electric braking function using the selected motor (M1-M3), 6c) opening the brake (F1-F3), 6d) comparing the movement information delivered by the sensor (C1-C3) to a threshold, 6e) closing the brake (F1-F3) when the movement information exceeds the threshold.

A safety braking device for a machine tool for braking a processing tool driven by an electric motor via an output unit, more particularly an output shaft, includes at least one braking device which is provided to halt rotation of the output unit in a braking process. The braking device has at least a first braking stage and a second braking stage. The disclosure further relates to a machine tool having the safety braking device and to a method for operating a safety braking device.

A safety braking device for a machine tool for braking a processing tool driven by an electric motor via an output unit, more particularly an output shaft, includes at least one braking device which is provided to halt rotation of the output unit in a braking process. The braking device has at least a first braking stage and a second braking stage. The disclosure further relates to a machine tool having the safety braking device and to a method for operating a safety braking device.