ELAU MC-4 Modules: MC-4/11/10/400 VDM01D10AA00 HW EOQ603 —

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

ELAU MC-4 Series: Comprehensive Module Range and Technical Overview

The ELAU MC-4 series is a family of multi-axis servo drive controllers developed by ELAU GmbH (subsequently acquired by Schneider Electric) and deployed extensively across high-demand continuous-process industries including pharmaceutical packaging, food and beverage filling lines, chemical processing plants, and petrochemical refineries. The MC-4 platform operates as the motion controller backbone within ELAU's PacDrive system architecture, coordinating synchronous multi-axis motion via a deterministic SERCOS fiber-optic ring bus. Its installed base spans facilities across Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific, with many units still in active production service on lines originally commissioned in the late 1990s through the 2010s.

The Evolution of MC-4 Architecture

The MC-4 designation encodes the module's axis count, current rating, voltage class, and hardware revision directly into the part number. Early MC-4 variants (hardware revisions EOQ5xx and earlier) used a first-generation SERCOS I interface operating at 2 Mbit/s and were paired exclusively with ELAU's SM-4 servo motors. Subsequent revisions introduced SERCOS II compatibility at 4 and 8 Mbit/s, expanded the supported motor encoder protocols to include EnDat 2.1 and Hiperface, and added integrated safety functions (STO, SS1) compliant with IEC 62061 SIL 2.

The VDM01D10AA00 power stage variant, as found in the MC-4/11/10/400 VDM01D10AA00 HW EOQ603, represents a single-axis, 10 A continuous / 400 V AC input configuration. Hardware revision EOQ603 is a mid-generation build associated with improved IGBT gate driver circuitry and revised DC bus capacitor banks compared to EOQ5xx predecessors. Following Schneider Electric's acquisition of ELAU in 2006, the MC-4 line was progressively superseded by the LMC (Logic Motion Controller) platform and the Lexium 62 multi-axis system, though MC-4 hardware remained in active production support until approximately 2018 and continues to require spare parts and repair services globally.

MC-4 Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

The following SKUs represent verified, commonly sourced models within the ELAU MC-4 series, organized by functional category:

Single-Axis Servo Drive Modules

• MC-4/11/10/400 VDM01D10AA00 HW EOQ603: Single-axis, 10 A / 400 V, SERCOS II, HW rev EOQ603 — subject unit of this listing.
• MC-4/11/10/400 VDM01D10AA00 HW EOQ502: Single-axis, 10 A / 400 V, SERCOS I/II, earlier gate driver revision.
• MC-4/11/05/400 VDM01D05AA00: Single-axis, 5 A / 400 V, reduced current rating for smaller SM-4 motor frames.
• MC-4/11/20/400 VDM01D20AA00: Single-axis, 20 A / 400 V, high-torque axis applications.
• MC-4/11/32/400 VDM01D32AA00: Single-axis, 32 A / 400 V, heavy-duty servo axis module.
• MC-4/11/10/480 VDM01D10AA00: Single-axis, 10 A / 480 V, North American voltage class variant.
• MC-4/11/20/480 VDM01D20AA00: Single-axis, 20 A / 480 V, high-torque North American variant.

Dual-Axis Servo Drive Modules

• MC-4/22/10/400 VDM02D10AA00: Dual-axis, 10 A per axis / 400 V, compact dual-drive configuration.
• MC-4/22/05/400 VDM02D05AA00: Dual-axis, 5 A per axis / 400 V, low-power dual-axis variant.
• MC-4/22/20/400 VDM02D20AA00: Dual-axis, 20 A per axis / 400 V, mid-range dual-axis module.
• MC-4/22/32/400 VDM02D32AA00: Dual-axis, 32 A per axis / 400 V, high-current dual-axis module.

Power Supply / DC Bus Modules

• MC-4/PS/10/400: Regenerative power supply, 10 kW, 400 V AC input, shared DC bus feed for MC-4 rack.
• MC-4/PS/20/400: Regenerative power supply, 20 kW, 400 V AC input.
• MC-4/PS/40/400: High-capacity regenerative supply, 40 kW, large multi-axis MC-4 configurations.

Communication & CPU Modules

• MC-4/CPU/01: Central processing unit module, PacDrive runtime, IEC 61131-3 motion program execution.
• MC-4/CPU/02: Enhanced CPU module, expanded RAM, faster scan cycle for complex cam profiles.
• MC-4/SERCOS/01: SERCOS fiber-optic ring master interface card, 2/4/8 Mbit/s selectable.

I/O Expansion Modules

• MC-4/DIO/01: 16 DI / 8 DO digital I/O expansion module, 24 V DC, rack-mounted.
• MC-4/AIO/01: 4 AI / 2 AO analog I/O module, ±10 V / 4–20 mA, 12-bit resolution.

Sourcing Hard-to-Find & Obsolete MC-4 Parts

The ELAU MC-4 series entered end-of-active-production status following Schneider Electric's platform consolidation. OEM new-stock availability for most MC-4 variants, including the MC-4/11/10/400 VDM01D10AA00 HW EOQ603, is no longer guaranteed through standard distribution channels. DriveKNMS maintains a dedicated inventory of tested MC-4 modules sourced from decommissioned production lines, authorized refurbishment programs, and global surplus networks.

For operators running MC-4-based PacDrive systems on long-lifecycle production equipment — common in pharmaceutical and food packaging where line changeover costs are prohibitive — DriveKNMS provides lifecycle extension support including: verified replacement units with matched hardware revisions, cross-reference identification for hardware revision substitutions (e.g., EOQ502 → EOQ603 compatibility assessment), and repair-and-return services for failed power stage and encoder interface boards.

Quality Control for the MC-4 Range

MC-4 modules present specific test challenges due to their integrated SERCOS ring bus interface, multi-layer DC bus architecture, and hardware-revision-dependent firmware compatibility. DriveKNMS applies the following verification protocol to all MC-4 units prior to dispatch:

• Visual inspection of IGBT modules, DC bus capacitor banks, and fiber-optic transceiver condition.
• Powered bench test under controlled 400 V AC input with load simulation to verify rated output current delivery.
• SERCOS ring initialization test confirming correct node address assignment and cyclic data exchange at 4 Mbit/s.
• Encoder feedback loop verification using SM-4 compatible motor simulator to confirm EnDat/Hiperface signal integrity.
• Hardware revision documentation — each unit ships with a test report confirming HW revision, firmware version read from module EEPROM, and pass/fail criteria for all test stages.

Units that do not meet full functional specification are classified as-is for parts recovery only and are not offered as operational replacements.