Design engineers who employ advanced damping and vibration isolation can vastly improve the performance of their industrial-automation machinery. By Larry Cavalloro • ACE Controls A top objective for designers of industrial-automation machinery is to build and tune axes for minimal vibration (free or forced); gently and precisely slow axes’ moving masses; and render unavoidable machinery […]
Search Results for: variable frequency drive
Get your gearmotor running … efficiently
A few tips for design and selection of induction and permanent magnet ac electric motor systems will make them more energy efficient. Gabriel Venzin ABM Drives Inc., ABM Greiffenberger U.S. Subsidiary Efficiency in motor designs is a more relevant concern than ever. With electric motors providing over 60% of all industrial power, efficiency is a […]
Hygienic, stainless gearmotor designs improve fish-processing plant
Processing fresh fish necessitates a hygienic environment with regular washdowns, followed by frigid temperatures for freezing final products. That’s why machinery in such settings must be extremely rugged — and why one fish supplier has used motors from Bauer Gear Motor for the last few years. Van Der Lee Seafish processes approximately 200 tons of […]
Distributor insight: Conversation with Warren Osak on motion-control trends
In a recent phone interview, we got to chat with Warren Osak, CEO of Toronto-based Electromate Inc. — a distributor founded in 1986 that focuses on electromechanical motion control. More specifically, Osak’s company sells primarily servo systems and stepper systems — often for demanding or challenging applications requiring high precision, accuracy, and bi-directional repeatability. Electromate […]
Brushless (electronically commutated or EC) motor basics video: Simple commutation to field-oriented control
Brushless motors are any permanent-magnet motors, switched-reluctance motors, or induction motors that omit the use of commutator and brushes for commutation. But one motor type is usually implied when engineers use the term brushless motor — the permanent-magnet design. Also called electronically commutated or EC motors, these don’t suffer from brush wear or arcing … […]
Sizing and selecting servos: The need for a system approach
Never sized and selected a servo? Here we outline the basics of how interrelated parameters need a system approach. By Bob White • Manager, Training and Digital Services | Kollmorgen Sizing and selecting a servo for a motion design begins by understanding the components that make a servo motor or servo-drive system. Usually, servo designs […]
How to design quiet gearmotors: Gear engagement, housing geometry, and more
What applications need quiet gearmotors? The answer might surprise you — because the human ear can detect noise at 10 dB lower than ambient levels, and many gearmotors operate in close proximity to people. In this technical article, we outline recent staff engineers’ research and development into the problem (and potential solutions for) gearmotor noise. […]
Hybrid servos vs. standard servos: How do they stack up?
A new type of integrated hybrid servo motor is finding use in direct-drive applications where it offers lower cost, smaller size, and higher efficiency than conventional servo motors. Donald Labriola P.E. QuickSilver Controls, Inc. No single motor type has advantages in every application. Direct-drive applications favor so-called hybrid servos while high-speed geared-down applications tend to […]
FAQ: What is a pulse rectifier and what kinds are there?
Variable frequency drives are made up of three primary sections: a rectifier, which converts the supplied AC voltage to DC; a DC bus, which stores the DC voltage; and an inverter, which converts the DC power back to AC at the voltage and frequency required by the motor. The most common, and simplest, rectifier designs use […]
m500-P compact three-phase AC motor for premium IE3 Efficiency Class
A leading global manufacturer of electrical and mechanical drives, motion control and automation technologies, Lenze Americas introduced the m550-P three-phase AC motor designed to achieve IE3 efficiency class in accordance with IEC60034-30 during MODEX 2016. Compared with IE2 class motors, the new Lenze motor range reduces energy lost and cost by up to 20 percent. […]
