Drive configuration software is the PC-based commissioning, parameter management and diagnostic tool used by engineers to set up, tune, monitor and maintain variable speed drives (VFD), servo amplifiers and soft starters during installation, commissioning and operational life. A variable speed drive leaves the factory with default parameters that may or may not match the connected motor, the application's load profile or the control system's communication configuration — drive configuration software provides the structured workflow that transforms default factory settings into a correctly commissioned, application-specific drive ready for production. Without drive software, commissioning requires front-panel keypad navigation through hundreds of parameters — a process that is slow, error-prone and leaves no project documentation of the settings applied.
Drive configuration software tools fall into two commercial categories: manufacturer-supplied free tools (Mitsubishi FR Configurator2, Danfoss MyDrive Suite, ABB Drive Composer Entry, Rockwell Connected Components Workbench, LS Electric DriveView9) that are downloadable without charge from the manufacturer's support portal and provide the essential commissioning, parameter and diagnostic functions for their specific drive family; and integrated engineering environment tools (Siemens SINAMICS Startdrive within TIA Portal) that are licensed as part of a broader automation software platform and provide deeper integration between the drive and the PLC programme. DAS Company provides guidance on obtaining and using the correct drive software tool for every drive in our authorised distribution portfolio.
SINAMICS Startdrive is the commissioning software for the intuitive integration of SINAMICS drives, fully integrated in the TIA Portal, with the same operator control concept, elimination of interfaces and a high degree of user-friendliness. Startd rive covers the complete SINAMICS drive family — G120 (general-purpose VFD), G130/G150 (cabinet drives), S120 (modular servo and multi-axis), S210 (compact servo) and V20/V90 — all within the same TIA Portal project file that also contains the SIMATIC PLC programme and WinCC HMI application. This unification eliminates the separate drive parameter tool, PLC programming tool and HMI development tool that a non-integrated approach requires — all three components share a common hardware configuration, common tag database and common project data management.
Startdrive's key commissioning productivity features include: motor data auto-identification (the drive energises the motor at commissioning and automatically identifies stator resistance, rotor resistance and inductance for optimal vector control without manual motor nameplate data calculation); integrated trace function — an integrated trace function directly in the converter for precise diagnostics, captur ing drive internal variables at millisecond resolution for analysing transient events, speed overshoots and current spikes that panel-mount indicators cannot capture; DCC (Drive Control Chart) for graphically configuring closed-loop control, arithmetic and logic function blocks within the drive unit without PLC programme changes — enabling application-specific drive logic to run autonomously inside the SINAMICS hardware; and automated acceptance test documentation for SINAMICS Safety Integrated functions, guiding the engineer step-by-step through EN ISO 13849-1 safety function verification and automatically generating the acceptance test report required by the Machinery Directive. Startdrive is supplied as part of TIA Portal Professional and requires a TIA Portal licence — it is not available as a standalone free download.
Mitsubishi FR Configurator2 is the versatile drive interface software that allows the user to specify settings easily at the computer, from VFD startup to maintenance, coveri ng the complete Mitsubishi FREQROL FR-800 series — FR-A800 (high-performance vector), FR-E800 (compact with CC-Link IE TSN), FR-F800 (HVAC optimised) and FR-D800 (economy). FR Configurator2 connects via a USB connector (Mini-B) provided as standard — easy connection without a converter, with c onnected VFDs displayed in tree view format, and windows for each function accessed by changing the tab for maximum efficiency. Parame ter groups are logically organised by function rather than parameter number — allowing commissioning engineers to navigate to motor settings, control settings, communication settings and protection settings without cross-referencing the manual for each parameter number. The trace function captures drive internal variables (speed, torque, current, frequency) at configurable sampling intervals for post-commissioning analysis — trace data and parameter settings copied to a USB memory device can be loaded into FR Configurator2 and analysis carried out away from the equipment, enabli ng engineers to review drive behaviour in the office without returning to the installation site. The Developer function is used for creating sequence programs and writing them to the VFD to enable the use of the PLC function of the inverter — the e mbedded PLC functionality in FR-A800 and FR-E800 drives that executes simple ladder logic autonomously inside the drive for standalone control applications. FR Configurator2 is available as a free download from Mitsubishi Electric's FA Global Website.
Danfoss MyDrive Suite is the collection of free PC software tools for the complete Danfoss drive portfolio — covering VLT series (FC102, FC202, FC302, FC301) and VACON series (NXP, 100, 20) drives and power converters. MyDrive Suite encompasses multiple tools for different tasks: program, commission, and troubleshoot drives; calculate energy savings when using a VACON drive with pumps, fans, and compressors; calculate the energy consumption of pump and fan applications controlled by VLT drives and compare energy consumption for alternative methods of air flow control; manage Ethernet-based network options for VACON NXP communication option boards; and update drive firmware. The MCT 10 Set-up Software (included in MyDrive Suite) is the primary VLT commissioning and parameter management tool — providing all-parameter access, parameter upload/download between PC and drive, oscilloscope-style data logging, and the SmartStart wizard for application-guided commissioning of standard pump, fan and conveyor applications without requiring parameter-level knowledge. The VLT Energy Box calculator within MyDrive Suite enables specifying engineers and energy auditors to calculate the energy saving and payback period when converting a fixed-speed motor to VLT variable speed control — providing the financial justification data that procurement and finance teams require to approve VFD investment. The DriveView9 Bluetooth mobile app (for LS Electric G100, H100, S100 drives from DAS Company's LS Electric portfolio) provides equivalent smartphone-based parameter reading, fault log access and drive monitoring without a PC — enabling field engineers to commission and check drive parameters from a smartphone without carrying a laptop to the installation.
ABB Drive Composer (Entry: free; Pro: licensed) is the commissioning and parameter management tool for ABB low-voltage drives — ACS580 (general purpose), ACS880 (industrial, multi-drive), ACS355 (machinery), ACS150 (simple) and ACS310 (HVAC). Drive Composer Entry provides full parameter access, assistant-guided commissioning for standard applications, drive-to-PC parameter backup and restore, and basic monitoring for free download from the ABB Library. Drive Composer Pro (licensed) adds advanced oscilloscope data collection, custom parameter view creation for application-specific commissioning screens, and multi-drive project management for installations with large numbers of drives. The adaptive programming function (available in ACS880 and accessible via Drive Composer) allows engineers to create application-specific control logic running inside the drive using pre-built function block programming — the equivalent of Mitsubishi's PLC function and Danfoss's Smart Logic Controller, enabling standalone drive control without an external PLC for simple applications.
Rockwell Automation Connected Components Workbench (CCW) is the free programming and commissioning environment for Rockwell's Micro800 PLC series (Micro820, Micro830, Micro850, Micro870) and PowerFlex 4/40/4M/400/523/525 variable speed drives. CCW provides PowerFlex drive parameter configuration, commissioning wizards, parameter documentation and drive-to-PC backup without charge — downloaded from the Rockwell Support Centre without a licence key. For PowerFlex 525 drives (the most widely ordered Rockwell compact drive), CCW provides the Add-On Profile (AOP) parameter import function that brings PowerFlex 525 parameter definitions directly into a Studio 5000 project, but CCW is also used as a standalone commissioning tool without TIA Portal or Studio 5000 for simple speed control applications. The Rockwell FactoryTalk Drive Composer is the equivalent tool for PowerFlex 755 and 755T commissioning — providing advanced diagnostic data collection, motor auto-commissioning and safety function verification for the premium PowerFlex range.
Mitsubishi MR Configurator2 covers MR-J4 and MR-JE servo amplifier commissioning — providing servo motor parameter setting, servo gain auto-tuning, machine analyser (mechanical resonance detection and automatic vibration filter setting), oscilloscope data capture of position error, speed, torque and current signals at microsecond resolution, and machine simulation for verifying servo response before connecting to the load. MR Configurator2 is available as a free download for registered Mitsubishi FA users. Omron Sysmac Studio (covered in the PLC software category) also provides integrated servo axis configuration and commissioning for Omron G5 and 1S servo drives connected to NX/NJ machine controllers — axis parameter setting, cam profile design, servo trace capture and 3D machine simulation — all within the same Sysmac Studio project that contains the machine PLC logic, eliminating the separate servo commissioning tool that standalone servo drives require.
Understanding what drive configuration software actually does during commissioning clarifies why it is indispensable — and why front-panel keypad commissioning is inadequate for all but the simplest applications. A complete drive commissioning sequence using configuration software covers: motor nameplate data entry (rated voltage, current, power, speed, frequency, power factor — used by the drive's vector control algorithm to calculate optimal torque control); motor auto-tuning (AMA/AMT) — the drive applies a measurement sequence to the motor at standstill or at low speed and automatically identifies stator resistance, rotor time constant and flux linkage, setting the vector control parameters to values optimised for the actual motor installed rather than nameplate estimates; application parameter setting (acceleration and deceleration ramp times, minimum and maximum frequency limits, PID controller parameters for closed-loop pressure or flow control, skip frequencies to avoid mechanical resonance, relay output assignment for run/fault/at-speed signals); communication configuration (fieldbus address for PROFIBUS/PROFINET/EtherNet-IP, communication baud rate, process data word mapping, safety function enabling for STO/SS1); and function test and parameter backup — verifying correct operation at key points in the speed range, capturing the oscilloscope trace that documents commissioning completion, and saving the complete parameter set to PC file for later restore if the drive is replaced. Each of these steps is accessible through a logical software interface; none is practical through front-panel keypad navigation on a complex application.
DAS Company provides drive configuration software access as part of hardware supply — ensuring customers commissioning drives from our portfolio have the correct software tool, the correct version for the hardware firmware, and access to our engineering team's commissioning support. For Siemens SINAMICS drives (G120, S120, S210) supplied alongside TIA Portal licences, Startdrive commissioning support covers parameter structure, trace configuration and Safety Integrated acceptance test documentation. For Mitsubishi FR-A800 and FR-E800 drives, FR Configurator2 download guidance, Developer function programme examples for common embedded PLC applications and FR-E800 CC-Link IE Field configuration are provided. For Danfoss VLT FC102, FC202 and FC302, MyDrive Suite / MCT 10 setup, energy saving calculation for project financial justification and Smart Logic Controller programming for standalone applications are available. For LS Electric G100, H100 and S100, DriveView9 Bluetooth app setup and parameter template preparation for series drive commissioning are provided. Contact DAS Company's engineering team for drive commissioning support on any drive from our authorised distribution portfolio.
Contact DAS Company for drive commissioning software guidance, VFD parameter template preparation for series machine production, servo auto-tuning support and drive-to-SCADA communication configuration for drives from our authorised brand portfolio across Europe.
