AX5722 by Beckhoff

The AX5722 is a dual-channel servo drive manufactured by Beckhoff within the AX Digital Servo Drives series. It provides control signals for two external amplifiers and processes encoder feedback for automated machinery. This arrangement allows a connected PLC to close precise position and velocity loops while keeping both motion channels in one compact device.

Each channel can deliver 0.25 A of sensor supply current, allowing the drive to power incremental or absolute transducers without external regulators. The drive provides 2 encoder inputs for simultaneous monitoring of both axes, which simplifies wiring in multi-axis stations. Primary encoder logic is powered by a 12 VDC auxiliary rail, while a separate 5 VDC supply feeds the differential signal pairs. Separating the two power rails helps minimize jitter on high-speed feedback lines and isolates sensitive signals from logic power. The incoming DC link and control electronics tolerate a line variation of ±10%, allowing regulated operation when the plant bus fluctuates during load peaks. Up to six additional digital inputs can be connected to the terminal strip for limit switches, probe triggers, or other discrete control signals. These connections reduce the need for separate input modules when basic machine signals must be monitored near the drive.

Linear measuring systems can be evaluated with up to 48 bits of position depth, supporting precise feedback across long-travel axes. Rotary encoders are handled with 32 bits of single-turn resolution and 16 bits of multi-turn resolution, providing detailed angular data while tracking absolute revolutions over an extended movement range. The drive accepts BiSS C and EnDat 2.2 feedback protocols, allowing it to communicate with compatible linear and rotary encoders. One feedback system is processed per channel so that timing remains deterministic across both axes. Functional safety is limited to STO only, which removes motor torque on demand without providing additional safe-motion functions. This safety function can place the connected axes in a torque-free state when activated by the machine's safety circuit.