Orbex Group debuted a line of ultra-compact high-performance gimbal motors. Featuring a pancake-style form factor, the motors are wound to operate at low speeds typical for gimbals while exhibiting a high torque constant for fast response when needed. The new gimbal motors are engineered to minimize cogging torque, ensuring smooth rotation for stable imaging or […]
Motors
When is motor output power a useful specification and how is it calculated?
In motion applications, motors are typically chosen based on their torque and speed capabilities, using a torque-speed curve that describes the motor’s performance when paired with a specific type of drive and operated under specific conditions. But motors can also be rated, or specified, by their output power. Here, we’ll look at how output power […]
Haydon Kerk Pittman launches new online motor calculation tool
Haydon Kerk Pittman, a business unit of AMETEK’s Advanced Motion Solutions division, has released its new Pittman Express online motor calculator. The Express tool lets users identify and select the right motor for their applications quickly and easily. When a user enters an ideal load point, torque, and speed, the Express tool returns a list […]
STXI Motion expands integrated closed-loop servo-stepper motor line
The stepIM NEMA 17 EtherCAT model from STXI Motion is the newest addition to the company’s family of integrated closed-loop servo stepper motors. The IP65-rated stepIM NEMA 17 delivers an efficient and economical solution for applications requiring the performance of a servo at the price of a stepper. “The new stepIM NEMA 17 closed-loop stepper […]
Motion system design: How to manage inertia mismatch
One of the most important parameters when sizing a motion system is the inertia of the load being moved. Regardless of the type of motor being used — AC induction, stepper, brushless DC, or AC servo — the ratio of the load inertia to the motor inertia has an important influence on system performance. If the […]
New asynchronous motors from NORD feature optimized design for improved performance
NORD’s newly redesigned 100 frame motors are the first step in updating their asynchronous motor portfolio with an optimized electrical, mechanical, and visual design. The new 3 and 4 hp premium efficient motors offer a simplified assembly including the elimination of a copper rotor as the motors produce the same energy efficiency without it. This […]
Why do stepper motors vibrate and what are ways to avoid or dampen vibrations?
With each discrete step that a stepper motor makes, the inertia of the system causes the motor to slightly overshoot (or undershoot) the intended step angle. The motor then oscillates, or “rings,” until it finally settles at the commanded position. If the frequency of these step-by-step oscillations is at or near the motor’s natural frequency, […]
When is the application of overvoltage safe (and common) for stepper motors?
For most types of motors, operating with a supply voltage that is higher than the rated voltage — referred to as overvoltage — can cause an increase in current, and heat, high enough to damage the coils and other motor components. But in some cases, a stepper motor can be operated at a voltage higher than rated […]
Selecting the right motor-battery combinations for battery-powered commercial equipment
Battery-powered motor applications need careful design work to match motor performance and power-consumption profiles to the battery type. Optimal motor and battery pairing relies on the selection of an efficient motor as well as a battery with the appropriate capacity, cost, size, maintainability, and discharge duration and curve. By Scott McMillan • Senior Applications Engineer […]
Which types of DC motors can be used as servo motors? (And a refresher on DC motor technologies)
Servo motors are used in applications where precise control of position, speed, or torque is required. But many different types of motors can be considered servo motors — the defining feature of a servo motor is that it incorporates or reads feedback in a closed-loop system. In fact, although many servo applications use synchronous AC motors, […]
