Electric Motors Suppliers Electric Motors 101 Electric Motors Articles

The Electric Motors Reference Center, from Machine Design, is designed to provide design engineers with the information they need to specify or purchase electric motors including: AC motors, DC motors, stepper motors and servo motors. The Electric Motors 101 section includes reference information about the various types of motors and the selection criteria and requirements used for typical mechanical engineering applications.

 
Double Torque Motors
The SM2315DT Double Torque SmartMotor features an eight-pole compact rotor and high copper filling factor that results in high energy density, efficiency, and torque capacity.
 
Compact Underwater Turbine
Researchers at the University of Southampton turned an electric motor upside down to create a more efficient generator.
 
12-MM DC Micromotor
The Series 1224...SR micromotor hits a high power-to-volume ratio through the combination of an ironless rotor and neodymium rare-earth magnets for a stall torque range of 5.43 mNm and speeds to 13,800 rpm.
 
T-connect for steppers
A nontraditional wiring approach offers midspeed stepmotors high torque with low current.
 
Keeping cool
Embedded microcontrollers manage dc fans for better cooling while dissipating less energy.
 
If you can't conserve energy, stay out of the kitchen
Superefficient appliances are washing and drying our clothes, cleaning the dishes, and even heating our homes.
 
MACHINE DESIGN partners with PARTsolutions to launch new 2D/3D CAD Library
Penton Media's Design Engineering group, anchored by Machine Design magazine, announced today that it has entered into a strategic partnership with PARTsolutions®, LLC, a leading provider of publishing solutions for 2D/3D digital parts catalogs, to launch the Machine Design CAD Library, a powerful, new resource for design engineers.
 
Component-Class AC Drive
The Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 40P ac drive has encoder or pulse-train input that allows configured closed-loop control for improved speed regulation, basic position control, or other pulse inputs for motor control.
 
Stepper Motor For Small And Medium-Capacity Ranges
The AS1xxx Series stepper motors have current ratings from 1.0 to 5.0 A and torques ranging between 0.38 and 5 Nm.
 
Shaft-Grounding Brush
The Aegis SGR conductive microfiber brush prevents electrical damage to ac motor bearings and extends motor life by channeling harmful shaft currents to ground.
 
Linear-Slide Systems
The combination of MDrivePlus (integrated motor and electronics) with screw-driven linear slides provides superior linear speed and accurate positioning with smooth motion and low noise.
 
Two-Phase Stepper Motors
The PS211 Size-11 stepper motor achieves a nanospeed rate compliant to 2-Phase Nano Stepper Technology.
 
Key Selector Switch
The Allen-Bradley SensEject key-operated selector switch detects the presence or absence of a key in control equipment and automatically ejects the key, preventing inadvertent or unauthorized operation.
 
Dc motor impersonators
Special algorithms make ac induction motors respond like variable-speed dc motors for fast PID control.
 
Stepmotor, Driver, and Controller Combined
The IMC23 integrated stepmotor, driver, and intelligent controller is capable of 3-A peak of output current, 256 microstepping, 12 to 40-Vdc operation, and 294 oz-in. of holding torque.
 
Linear-Arc Motors
Combining the technology of disk-drive voice-coil motors with that of more traditional brushless linear motors, the LARC Series of limited-arc motors target large-diameter limitedangle positioning applications.
 
Stepper-Motor Modules
The stepper-motor module X67SM4320 controls up to four stepper motors with a rated voltage of 18 to 30 Vdc at a motor current up to 1 A (1.5 A peak).
 
Brush DC Motor
The SR15 high-performance brush dc motor is designed for X-Y positioning systems, medical equipment, pharmaceutical equipment, machinetool spindles, and centrifuge applications.
 
Severe-Duty Motor
The severe-duty line of motors targets chemical plants, foundries, pulp and paper mills, refineries, and other applications with severe-duty environments.
 
Stepmotor/Driver/Controllers
SilverPak 17T bipolar stepmotors integrate stepmotor, microstepping driver, and controller, eliminating the need for external equipment.
 
Linear-Type Stepper Motors
Linear stepmotors come with outside dimensions of 25 and 35 mm and have an enhanced neodymium magnet rotor for a large driving force.
 
Brushless DC Gearmotor
Series 1307...BH and 1309...BH brushless gearmotors have photolithographically produced rotors, which allows for precise synchronous operation without cogging.
 
Energy-saving motors
Surveys indicate that people buying motors that they plan on using for the next 20 years can expect to pay 50 times the purchase price in electricity.
 
"What dreams may come"
Concept cars take the runway at the industry's premier show in Detroit.
 
When accidents are unusual but foreseeable
Before a manufacturer can be held responsible for an accident, there must be proof the occurrence was reasonably foreseeable.
 
Getting torque-to-inertia right
The case of a pulsating-load testing machine shows how to ballpark qualities that are important for deploying electric motors.
 
Prime-ratio steppers
A new stepmotor design boosts efficiency and reduces noise and vibration.
 
Variable-Frequency AC Drives
The VariFlex Series of ac drives handle general-purpose three-phase motor-control applications
 
Pint-Sized Servomotor
The MM Motor is a small industrial servomotor that provides unlimited linear or rotary motion with 0.17 N of driving force and velocity up to 250 mm/sec.
 
Where five phases excel
Resolution, vibration, torque, accuracy, and synchronism are all factors when applying two and five-phase stepmotors.
 
Micro moves
Motors that can precisely position loads with micrometer-scale accuracy are now inexpensive enough for consumer electronics.
 
VFD Cables For Industrial Motors
Designed for use on larger, more-powerful ac motor drives, five VFD cables extend the product range from Size 1 to 4/0 awg.
 
Sterilizible 16-mm Brushless Motor
Maxon's new "EC-16" sterilizible brushless motors deliver the performance and lifetime of a brushless motor in a sterilizible package.
 
Feedback on speed
A novel process offers an inexpensive way to monitor the speed of small permanentmagnet motors.
 
24-VDC Gearmotor
This 24-Vdc gearmotor is 8.5-in. long and 3.2 in. in diameter with a 19-mm keyed output shaft that is 40-mm long.
 
Inductive motor encoder
The ME Series uses inductive sensor technology in a high-speed, high-precision rotary position encoder.
 
Variable speed AC drives
The Telemecanique Altivar 71 variable-speed ac drive sports dual microprocessors running motor-control algorithms.
 
AC drive for HVAC
S-Flex enclosed ac drives are said to significantly reduce the cost of providing coordinated motor control for variable torque pump applications.
 
Gas-powered electronics
Your next computer may run on gas — hydrogen gas, that is, as fuel-cell power comes to portable electronics.
 
Selecting a liquidlevel float switch
Following a few basics puts the right switch in the right application.
 
Microstepping Motor Driver
The A3979 microstepping motor driver operates bipolar stepper motors in full, half, quarter, and sixteenth-step modes, with output drive capability of 35 V and ±2.5 A. It is a drop-in replacement for the A3977SLP with 16 microsteps/step resolution.
 
Direct-Drive Frameless Motors
Direct-drive frameless motors in the ULT line come in sizes up to 355 mm with a 200-mm through hole and peak torques from <1 to 1,000 Nm.
 
Brushless Vibration Motors
The LVB10 dime-sized brushless vibration motor is 0.394 in. (10 mm) in diameter and 0.134 in. (3.4 mm) in length.
 
Miniature Digital Servodrive
The Whistle digital servodrive weighs 1.76 oz and measures 2 cu in. yet delivers up to 500-W continuous (1-kW peak) power at 99% efficiency.
 
Voice-Coil Actuator Has Long Stroke
The VM2436 voice-coil actuator provides bidirectional linearity over a maximum linear stroke of 0.59 in.
 
Spa And Pool Motor
The single or two-speed EZ48TM pool and spa motor line is now available with C-flange or square-flange mounting in 0.5 to 1.5 hp.
 
Ultraflat DC Motor
Two ultraflat dc motors are 15 and 26 mm in diameter and 5 to 7-mm long.
 
IP65-Rated Stepmotor
A splashproof seal added to the Size-23 and Size-34 AS Series of motors results in a new IP65 rating with dustproof and splashproof capabilities for the αstep line.
 
Linear Synchronous Motor
The QuickStick 100 linear synchronous motor joins the QuickStick 500 to handle smaller vehicles with shorter headway between vehicles for assembly automation and material-handling applications.
 
Canbus Added To Motion Controller
The Silverdust IGB servomotion controller/driver now adds a CANOpen interface to NEMA-17 and 23 frame stepmotors.
 
Compact DC Cooling Fan
Available in 12-V G and J-speed models, the new San Ace 40GV cooling fan measures only 40 X 40 X 28 mm (1.57 X 1.57 X 1.1 in.).
 
New five-stage insulation system
A new 5-stage insulation system is designed to meet NEMA MG 1-1993, Section IV, Part 31. These products consist of all new motor and gearhead combinations for maximum output power in the smallest package. Applications for the new inverter duty gearmotors include factory automation, machine tools, conveyors, and material handling and packaging.
 
New Hollow Pancake Stepper Motor
Haydon Switch & Instrument, Inc. (HSI) has created a hollow pancake stepper motor with a 2.5 inch hole in the center for a microwave tube, designed for applications where accurate positioning and high torque are desirable characteristics.
 
New Brushless DC Motor Controller
The new 371-0028 brushless DC motor controller from Servo Magnetics Inc. provides 1000 watts of power in an amazingly small footprint of 3.00"W x 4.65"L x 1.75"H.
 
Stepper Driver with Built-In Translator
The A3982 is a bipolar stepper motor drive with DMOS outputs rated at 35 V and ±1.5 A (2 A peak).
 
Brushless DC for harsh environments
The new 000308-02 low cogging brushless DC kit motor from Servo Magnetics Inc. is designed for applications that are sensitive to torque ripple.
 
ATEX Approved Rotary Position Systems from BEI Save Time
A complete rotary position and speed sensing system from BEI Industrial Encoder Division meets international CENELEC/ATEX hazardous environmental ratings.
 
Smallest Ultra-compact Servo Driver released
Smallest, easy to use, off-the-shelf driver/controller speeds development, lowers cost for integrators.
 
Synchronous Motors
The RG Series torque-limited synchronous motors use a magnetic hysteresis coupling between the rotor and output shaft to product constant torque when stalled.
 
Servomotor Has Sine-Absolute Encoder
AKM servomotors incorporate high-resolution sine-absolute encoders for position and velocity feedback.
 
Dynamics of Hybrid Stepper Motors
Steppers position precisely if loads are stable and speeds stay below 1,000 rpm.
 
Motor makes like a stage thanks to novel encoder
A servomotor mimics the performance of much more expensive rotary stages with help from a superhigh-res encoder having a tiny Z height.
 
Ultracompact Servomotor
The IndraDyn S Series of synchronous servomotors use motor poles individually wound prior to stator assembly to eliminate end turns, maximize copper content, and provide the greatest power output in the shortest possible motor design.
 
Coreless DC Motor
The Faulhaber 0615 6-mm-diameter coreless dc motor is available with a matching diameter planetary gearhead.
 
Rad-Hardened Servos
RH Series radiationhardened brushless servomotors are designed to accommodate rapid acceleration/deceleration
 
Motor sizing made simple
The proper sizing of three-phase induction motors saves energy and reduces downtime.
 
Basic Physics For Drive-System Engineers
Here's a primer on physical considerations for sizing motors and drives.
 
Linear Positioner Uses Stepper Motor
The EZ Limo EZS and EZHS motorized sliders are linear positioners driven by stepper motors and ball screws.
 
DC Gearmotor
This dc gearmotor measures 37-mm diameter by 61-mm long. Powered by any 12-Vdc source, the motor has a 400:1 gear ratio and produces continuous 94-oz-in. output torque at 0.5 A.
 
Linear Actuators
The GSX Series linear actuator is a brushless servomotor, an inverted planetary roller screw, and an encoder/resolver feedback source combined into a single assembly.
 
Servo On A Chip
Control of ac servomotors can now take place on a single IC.
 
New Ultra-Compact Servo Motors Deliver Maximum Power
Rexroth's new IndraDyn S series of synchronous servo motors are completely scalable in power, performance, and precision to meet the specific requirements of your application. Each motor pole is individually wound prior to stator assembly to eliminate end turns and maximize copper content; this provides the greatest power output in the shortest possible motor design.
 
A CAD For Motors
Motor-CAD V2 features several new machines and a range of improvements.