What is a servo press?

A servo press uses servo motors for precise force and position control during forming operations.

How do I calculate servo press tonnage?

Use our free tonnage calculator at servopress.club/tonnage-calculator.html

Siemens S120 vs Yaskawa Sigma-7 for Servo Press: Drive Comparison

admin

## Application Context

Both Siemens SINAMICS S120 and Yaskawa Sigma-7 are used in servo press applications. Here is a technical comparison for engineers specifying or maintaining servo press drives.

## Siemens SINAMICS S120

**Strengths:**
- Centralized multi-axis architecture: one CU320-2 controls multiple axes
- PROFINET/PROFIBUS integration: easy connection to Siemens PLCs
- Advanced safety functions: STO, SS1, SLS, SOS built-in
- Strong in European and Chinese press manufacturers

**Weaknesses:**
- Higher cost per axis
- More complex commissioning (STARTER/TIA Portal required)
- Larger cabinet footprint

## Yaskawa Sigma-7

**Strengths:**
- Simpler commissioning: SigmaWin+ auto-tuning works well for press loads
- Lower cost per axis
- 23-bit encoder: 8,388,608 pulses/rev (excellent resolution)
- Strong in Japanese and North American press manufacturers (Aida uses Yaskawa)

**Weaknesses:**
- Distributed architecture: each axis needs its own drive
- EtherCAT or MECHATROLINK-III required for multi-axis sync
- Less integrated safety compared to S120

## Key Specs Comparison

| Feature | S120 | Sigma-7 |
|---------|------|----------|
| Max current | Up to 1200A | Up to 400A |
| Encoder | 20-bit | 23-bit |
| Bus | PROFINET | MECHATROLINK-III |
| Auto-tune | Manual | Automatic |

## Recommendation

S120: choose if your press uses Siemens PLC, you need centralized multi-axis control, or you are in Europe.

Sigma-7: choose if you need simpler maintenance, lower cost, or your press is Aida/Komatsu brand.

anna_controls

I've tuned both extensively. Yaskawa is easier to set up out of the box —the auto-tuning works well for press applications. Siemens S120 has more parameters and more flexibility but takes longer to optimize. For a shop without a dedicated controls engineer, Yaskawa. For a shop with controls expertise that wants maximum performance, Siemens.

raj_maintenance

From a maintenance perspective: Yaskawa spare parts are cheaper and more available. A replacement Sigma-7 amplifier is about 60% the cost of an equivalent S120 module. Siemens has better remote diagnostic tools though —TIA Portal's online monitoring is excellent for troubleshooting without being at the press.