API PS Series Servo Drives

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

API PS Series Servo Drives: Comprehensive Module Range and Technical Overview

The API (Apex Precision Technology) PS Series servo drives are a well-established product line deployed across heavy industrial sectors including petrochemical processing, semiconductor manufacturing, precision machine tools, and automated assembly lines throughout Asia-Pacific and global OEM markets. The PS Series occupies a mid-to-high performance tier in API's motion control portfolio, designed for closed-loop AC servo control with encoder feedback. Units in this series are found in legacy CNC systems, robotic arms, and multi-axis gantry platforms where long-term parts availability is a critical procurement concern. The PS-3306D-E specifically represents a 3-phase, 300W class drive with digital interface and encoder support, widely integrated into Taiwanese and Chinese OEM machine tool builds from the 2000s through the 2010s.

The Evolution of PS Series Architecture

The API PS Series progressed through several hardware generations. Early units used analog command interfaces (±10V) with resolver feedback, targeting basic velocity and torque control loops. Mid-generation models introduced digital pulse/direction inputs and incremental encoder compatibility (2500 PPR standard), enabling tighter integration with PLC-based motion controllers. Later revisions added RS-232/RS-485 communication ports for parameter configuration and diagnostics, along with expanded fault code libraries. The D-E suffix designation in models such as the PS-3306D-E indicates digital control architecture with enhanced encoder interface. Compatibility across generations is limited: power connector pinouts and control signal logic levels differ between analog and digital variants, requiring careful cross-referencing when substituting units. Modern replacement candidates include API's SD Series and SH Series drives, which offer CANopen and EtherCAT fieldbus options but require parameter remapping and potentially mechanical bracket adaptation.

PS Series Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

The following SKUs represent confirmed models within the API PS Series servo drive family, organized by power class and interface type:

100W Class:

PS-1306D-E: 100W, 3-phase digital servo drive, encoder interface, pulse/direction input
PS-1306A-E: 100W, analog command (±10V), resolver-compatible variant
PS-1506D-E: 150W, digital interface, enhanced current loop bandwidth

200W Class:

PS-2306D-E: 200W, 3-phase digital drive, RS-232 parameter port, incremental encoder
PS-2306A-E: 200W, analog velocity/torque command, ±10V reference input
PS-2506D-E: 250W, digital, extended I/O for multi-axis coordination

300W Class:

PS-3306D-E: 300W, 3-phase digital servo drive, encoder feedback, pulse/direction, RS-232
PS-3306A-E: 300W, analog command variant, torque/velocity dual-mode
PS-3506D-E: 350W, digital, higher continuous current rating

500W–750W Class:

PS-5306D-E: 500W, digital, suitable for mid-inertia load applications
PS-5506D-E: 550W, digital, expanded regenerative braking resistor support
PS-7506D-E: 750W, digital, 3-phase input, high-speed positioning applications

1kW Class:

PS-1006D-E: 1kW, digital, full closed-loop with external encoder option
PS-1006A-E: 1kW, analog command, legacy CNC retrofit applications
PS-1506D-E-H: 1.5kW, digital, high-inertia load variant with extended heat dissipation

Sourcing Hard-to-Find & Obsolete PS Series Parts

The API PS Series has entered the mature-to-end-of-life phase of its product lifecycle. API has transitioned its active development to the SD and SH Series platforms. As a result, PS Series units — particularly sub-500W models with D-E digital interfaces — are no longer manufactured in volume and are sourced exclusively through the secondary market and specialist distributors. DriveKNMS maintains a dedicated inventory of PS Series servo drives, including the PS-3306D-E and adjacent power-class models. Stock is sourced from decommissioned production lines, verified OEM surplus, and controlled refurbishment channels. For end-users operating machinery with PS Series drives embedded in the motion control architecture, replacement with a functionally equivalent unit is typically faster and lower-risk than a full drive platform migration. DriveKNMS provides cross-reference support to identify compatible substitutes where direct replacements are unavailable, including parameter mapping assistance for API SD Series alternatives.

Quality Control for the PS Series Range

Each PS Series unit processed by DriveKNMS undergoes a structured inspection and functional test protocol. Visual inspection covers power stage components (IGBT modules, capacitor banks, gate driver boards) for physical damage, corrosion, and capacitor bulge. Electrical testing includes input rectifier diode forward voltage measurement, DC bus capacitance verification, and insulation resistance testing between power and signal grounds. Functional testing is performed on a dedicated servo drive test bench using a matched API servo motor load: the drive is commanded through velocity ramp profiles at 25%, 50%, and 100% rated load, with encoder feedback verified for signal integrity and quadrature accuracy. Fault code memory is cleared and parameter defaults are restored to factory specification prior to shipment. Units exhibiting intermittent faults under thermal cycling are quarantined and not released for sale. All tested units are shipped with a test report and 90-day operational warranty.

For procurement inquiries, cross-reference requests, or bulk orders of API PS Series servo drives: