Autonics Motor Control Product Range

Stepper Motor Drivers (MD, SDM Series)

Autonics stepper motor drivers accept pulse/direction signals from a PLC or motion controller and convert them into phased current outputs for two-phase or five-phase stepper motors. The MD series (MD5-HF14, MD8-HF14) handles two-phase bipolar motors at 1–8 A phase current, with microstep settings from full-step to 1/64 microstep for smooth low-speed motion.

In Malaysian automation panels, Autonics MD series drivers are paired with small stepper motors (0.6 Nm to 5 Nm) for:

• Label dispenser index axes
• Rotary indexing table drives
• Small conveyor shuttle positioning
• Syringe pump and metering drives

The typical integration is: Mitsubishi FX5U pulse output → Autonics MD driver → Nema 23/34 stepper motor. The FP-X or Omron CP1H serve equally well as pulse command sources.

Pricing: Autonics MD stepper drivers are priced from approximately RM 150 – RM 400 per axis — significantly lower than a comparable servo drive axis at RM 1,500+.

SCR Power Controllers (PFCE, SRCE Series)

Autonics SCR (Silicon Controlled Rectifier) power controllers regulate AC heater element power through phase-angle firing. They are the correct device for heater power regulation in Malaysian industrial ovens, drying tunnels, and mould temperature controllers — where a PID temperature controller (Autonics TK4N, for example) outputs a 4–20 mA or 0–10 V analogue signal to the SCR power controller, which in turn adjusts heater wattage continuously.

The PFCE-35A handles single-phase heaters up to 35 A; three-phase versions (SRCE series) handle balanced three-phase heating loads. Mounting is DIN-rail, and zero-cross or phase-angle firing mode is selectable.

In Malaysian rubber curing ovens and plastics mould preheating systems, an Autonics TK4N + Autonics PFCE SCR power controller + SSR heater element combination provides closed-loop temperature regulation at low component cost — typically RM 600–RM 1,200 per temperature zone versus RM 3,000+ for a full PID+SSR system from premium brands.

Autonics Soft Starters (Where Available)

Some Autonics regional catalogs include soft starter units for AC motor starting — reducing in-rush current and mechanical shock during direct-on-line starts. For Malaysian industrial applications, however, soft starters are typically sourced from dedicated power electronics brands (ABB, Schneider, Siemens), as Autonics' strength is in sensing and control accessories.

When to Use an Inverter Instead of a Stepper Driver

The key decision between Autonics stepper control and a conventional VFD depends on the motor type and application requirement:

Requirement	Autonics MD Stepper Driver	VFD (Mitsubishi / Delta)
Motor type	Stepper (2-phase, 5-phase)	AC induction / permanent magnet
Open-loop positioning	✓ Pulse-count positioning	Not standard
High continuous torque	Limited (>5 Nm: risk of stall)	✓ Full rated torque at all speeds
Pump / fan / conveyor	Not suitable	✓ Primary application
Power range	< 1 kW typical	0.4 kW – 500 kW+
Cost (0.4 kW range)	RM 150 – RM 400 (driver only)	RM 300 – RM 800 (complete drive)

 

For AC induction motor speed control — pumps, fans, compressors, conveyor drives — a VFD is the correct solution. Flextech Industrial stocks:

• Mitsubishi FR-E800(0.1–15 kW) — most widely deployed AC drive in Malaysian machine-building
• Delta MS300(0.4–75 kW) — best value mid-range VFD in Malaysian market
• Xinje VH1 / VH6(0.4–90 kW) — economy and closed-loop vector option
• Panasonic MK300(0.4–22 kW) — value-tier with RS-485 Modbus

Autonics Motion Products Price Guide — Malaysia (MYR)

Product	Series	Specification	Price (MYR)
Stepper Driver	MD5-HF14	2-phase, up to 5 A/phase, 1/64 microstep	RM 150 – RM 350
Stepper Driver	MD8-HF14	2-phase, up to 8 A/phase, microstep	RM 250 – RM 500
SCR Power Controller	PFCE-35A	Single-phase, 35 A, phase-angle/zero-cross	RM 300 – RM 600
SCR Power Controller	SRCE-50A	Three-phase, 50 A	RM 600 – RM 1,500

 

*Contact Flextech Industrial for current MYR pricing and availability.*

Autonics Motor Control in Malaysian Industry

Packaging and Labelling: Autonics MD stepper drivers power label reel indexers, date coder anvil drives, and bag sealing jaw positioning on Malaysian FMCG packaging lines. Their low cost per axis makes them the economic choice for 1–3 axis positioning in label application machines.

Rubber and Plastics (Selangor, Perak, Johor): Autonics SCR power controllers manage heater bank wattage in rubber extruder barrel zones, injection moulding barrel heaters, and hot press platens — where the number of heat zones per machine (4–20 zones) makes per-zone component cost a primary specification driver.

Electronics Assembly (Penang, Selangor): Autonics MD series stepper drivers in PCB handling equipment — board aligners, test fixturing shuttles — provide 0.5–2 Nm positioning without the cost and complexity of servo drives.

Malaysia's growing NIMP 2030 Smart Factory upgrade programme is creating demand for networked motor control — Modbus RTU-capable inverters and smart stepper controllers that send status data back to the plant SCADA. For these networked applications, Flextech can advise on the Autonics–VFD hybrid architectures that satisfy both cost constraints and connectivity requirements.

Top Autonics Motor Control Products at Flextech

• Autonics MD5-HF14— 2-phase stepper driver, 1.8 A/phase minimum, up to 5 A, microstep 1–1/64.
• Autonics MD8-HF14— 2-phase stepper driver, higher current for Nema 34 / 4 Nm+ motors.
• Autonics PFCE-35A— single-phase SCR power controller, 35 A, DIN-rail mount.
• Mitsubishi FR-E800(stocked separately) — AC VFD for three-phase motor speed control.
• Delta VFD-EL(stocked separately) — entry-level single-phase VFD for small motors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Autonics make inverters (VFD) for AC motors?

Autonics does not manufacture AC inverters (Variable Frequency Drives) for standard three-phase induction motors. Their motor control range covers stepper motor drivers and SCR power controllers. For AC motor speed control applications, Flextech Industrial stocks Mitsubishi FR-E800, Delta MS300, Panasonic MK300, Xinje VH1/VH6, and Toshiba VF-series VFDs — all available with fast quotation from our Selangor warehouse.

What is the Autonics MD stepper driver used for?

The Autonics MD series stepper driver accepts pulse/direction or CW/CCW command signals from a PLC and drives 2-phase bipolar stepper motors at configurable microstep resolutions (full-step to 1/64 microstep). Applications include label dispensers, rotary indexers, dispensing pumps, and small conveyor shuttles where open-loop positioning with ±1 step accuracy is sufficient.

Can I control an Autonics stepper driver with a Mitsubishi FX5U PLC?

Yes. The Mitsubishi FX5U's built-in pulse output (up to 200 kHz, 4 axes) connects directly to the Autonics MD driver's PULSE+ and DIR+ signal inputs. Program the FX5U using F172 (absolute positioning) or F171 (relative positioning) instructions in GX Works3. The Autonics driver's enable/alarm signals connect to the FX5U's digital I/O for fault monitoring.

What is the difference between an SCR power controller and a VFD?

An SCR (silicon-controlled rectifier) power controller regulates electrical power to resistive heater elements by phase-angle or zero-cross firing — it does not control motor speed. A VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) controls AC motor speed by varying output frequency and voltage. Autonics PFCE and SRCE SCR controllers are heater power regulators; Mitsubishi and Delta VFDs are motor speed controllers. They serve different functions in an automation panel.

Where can I buy Autonics and VFD products together in Malaysia?

Flextech Industrial in Puchong, Selangor stocks both Autonics automation components (temperature controllers, stepper drivers, power controllers, encoders) and industrial VFDs from Mitsubishi, Delta, Panasonic, and Xinje. Contact our team for a combined BOM quotation covering both Autonics accessories and AC drive products.

*Flextech Industrial Supplies — Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia. Autonics motor control products + industrial VFDs from leading brands. Same-day quotation.*