The new, electronically commutated EC-4pole 32 HD with planetary gearhead motor by maxon precision motors has all the features of its predecessor, the Heavy Duty Motor EC 22 HD, but with a larger and more powerful size. It is designed for extremely rough operating conditions, particularly applications in deep drilling. Deep drilling technology makes it […]
DC Motors
FAQ: Where do brush dc motors still make sense?
Brush dc motors are a mature technology that’s been around for more than a century. So with brushless motors and an ever-increasing array of controls for all motor types, why do engineers still use brush motors? After all, it’s common knowledge that brush motors exhibit wear at their brush-and-commutator interface. The truth is that brush […]
Brushless DC HPHT motor rugged enough for oil drilling
BEI Kimco Magnetics now sells a rugged brushless DC (BLDC) motor to withstand harsh oil-exploration applications … as well as other severe-environment applications that can’t have failures. Called the DII15-60-200A High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) brushless dc motor, it’s tested to operate under continuous duty in temperatures up to 205º C and pressures to 30,000 psi. As oil extraction reaches greater depths, […]
New for mobile motor designs: Battery-powered speed controllers
KB Electronics now sells two battery-powered speed controllers … dc/dc low-voltage motor speed controls. The KBBW Series of pulse-width-modulated (PWM) dc/dc motor speed controls respond dynamically to load variations. PWM produces an almost pure dc current to the motor for low noise and long brush life. Pulse-by-pulse current limit provides short circuit protection and prevents control […]
New trends in electric motors: Efficiency, power density, torque
If there’s one trend that’s prevalent in motors of all kinds, it’s the theme of increasing performance, more specifically a trio of highers: higher efficiency, higher power density and higher torque density. These are incremental improvements in motor performance that are at least partly driven by the Department of Energy (DOE) energy efficiency requirements, said […]
Better ways to commutate BLDCs — with capacitive sensing
By Jeff Smoot, VP Motion Control, CUI Inc. Capacitive commutation can speed up the assembly of brushless dc motors and be more accurate than conventional Hall sensors. Examine a cordless power tool or a computer hard drive and you’ll likely find a brushless dc motor (BLDC) doing the work. BLDCs have become widely used in recent […]
Right-angle spiroid gearheads: New options and uses
maxon precision motors now makes right-angle gearheads for maxon’s 22-mm and 32-mm dc motors. These high-torque gearheads transmit power at 90° in the smallest possible form factor (thanks to spiroid technology). Other features: • Quiet operation and high torque transmission • High stiffness and low deflection with large applied loads • Back-drivable (4:1 ratio) and non-back drivable (31:1 ratio) […]
Choosing a brushless DC motor driver
By Chris Francis Brushless DC motors (BLDC motors) are quite different to drive compared to brushed DC motors. With a brushed DC motor you simply apply a voltage or pulse width modulated voltage and the motor will start turning (if possible) and increase speed with reducing torque until the torque/speed match the load. A brushless […]
A First in Space History – Rosetta Space Probe Lands on Comet after Ten Years of Travel
At the end of May 2014, the Rosetta space probe moved into an orbit around the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in order to, map its surface and prepare for the landing of Philae. This ballistic lander, weighing 100 kg, landed successfully on the comet on November, 12th 2014. The probe is powered by FAULHABER DC motors to […]
Tried-and-true chain lift and motor technology makes Cedar Point’s Gatekeeper roller coaster soar
Reliability. Longevity. Simplicity. Those are just a few of the key words that come to mind when you learn why Cedar Point, a world-famous amusement park located in Sandusky, Ohio, went with tried-and-true chain lift technology on its winged roller coaster, the Gatekeeper. For the first installment in Design World’s Summer Tech Vacation video series, […]