Motors News

The goal of Flux Drive technology is to provide an alternative to Variable Speed Drives that reduces or eliminates many of the problems, and provide better performance with fewer limitations. The flexible soft start coupling provides nearly a one-to-one transfer of power from the motor to its load by using a magnetic torque transfer system to connect the two drive shafts. Because there is an air gap between the coupling and the motor, the motor can operate independently of the load and accelerate to full speed without locking the rotor current. This greatly reduces torque spikes and vibration.

When it comes to industrial electric motors, power transmission products, and drives, no other manufacturer offers more than Baldor...making Baldor The Industrial Choice! Whether your application requires a fractional or 15,000 Hp motor, variable frequency drives, mounted bearings or gearing, a pulley or sheave or a standby generator, Baldor is most preferred by industry.

With an outer diameter of only 8 mm, this new family of mini-drives provides maxi power. It is an impressive solution with a wide variety of combination possibilities using DC-Micromotors, with precision gearheads and micro-encoders. Learn more.

Merkle-Korff's right-angle DC gearmotors are highly efficient worm gearboxes with very low noise. Output configuration is compact, low-profile, and face or foot mounted — with 10:1 and 15:1 ratios. MK's custom designed, high strength plastic worm wheel with optimized tooth profile is easily back-driven. Ideal for doors, gates, ramps, and conveyors.

The ANT95-XY design allows critical elements such as orthogonality, straightness, and flatness to be optimized, resulting in a stage with exceptional geometrical tolerances. Aerotech's direct-drive technology has no hysteresis or backlash, enabling 5 nm resolution, 50 nm repeatability, and 250 nm accuracy in both the X and Y dimensions.

For AC motors applications where electricity consumption is high and continuous, this French manufacturer has a design that approaches 98% efficiency. It claims the design would provide a ROI in less than one year. The key is the radial-magnet rotor technology, which increases power-to-weight ratio and reduces power loss.

For applications that include conveyor systems, packaging equipment, metering devices, and commercial appliances, this three-wire reversible AC induction motor with WX gearhead delivers up to 50% more torque. The advantage of the AC motor winding: it can reverse direction by switching leads, and run at 50 Hz with a different capacitor.

A British motor manufacturer introduced sealed gearboxes for its fractional horsepower standard DC commutated permanent-magnet motors. The completely sealed design prevents both liquid and particulate contamination. It can double the life expectancy of the motor/worm-wheel combination in mobility, leisure, and industrial applications.

Equipped with preloaded ball bearings and a two pole Neodymium permanent magnet, this high-speed brushless DC motor with 250 W output is designed for very fast rotating but low vibration applications. These include surgical power tools, dental drills, or specialized machine tools to make lenses or printed circuit boards.

Groschopp delivers superb mechanical strength in an innovative, lightweight package with its new RA Right Angle Gearbox product line.

Sizes RA2600 through RA9000 have high thermal capacity die-cast aluminum housings, designed for exceptionally efficient heat dissipation, and resulting in maximum torque output in a highly compact package. Learn more.

As the next step in Beckhoff Automation's hybrid I/O and motor control technology, the KL2532 and KL2542 I/O terminals are a cost-effective alternative to traditional drive systems for DC motors. Beckhoff I/O solutions are available for control of stepper motors, hydraulic valves, lifting magnets, and other devices.

In one line of thinking, the best way to attract the attention of customers to newly designed electric linear motors is to make them look exactly like their pneumatic counterparts. Electricity, with its greater controllability, triumphs over pneumatic power. The "drop in replacement" concept may help move the entrenched base.

Design World presents a two-minute video comparing the most salient features of stepper motors with servo motors. It pays attention to the possible application types the user may be thinking of. Finally, the video tells about the reliability and maintenance differences between brushed and brushless DC servomotors.

For machines with multiple synchronized axes, a new concept is to capture and load into each drive the optimal performance of each axis at its healthiest zero hour. This is when the machine is finished but hasn't started production. In this way, electronic drives can recognize the smallest deterioration in their operation and alert operators.

Motor servicing and replacement becomes a lot easier when the motor can be removed from its mounting without having to tear the shaft assembly apart. This is what one German gearmotor manufacturer had in mind when it created a 10 micron thick coating for drive shafts that resists rust, corrosion, and wear.

The SGMGV medium capacity brushless servomotor can be used in a variety of applications. Some characteristics of this motor line are as follows:

•  Medium inertia
•  Mounted high resolution serial encoder: 20-bit
•  Maximum speed: 3000 rpm; wide selection: 30W to 15kW

From Yaskawa Electric America — Servo Division.

The LSS-007-12-006-XY Two Axis Stepper Motor Gantry Stage, from H2W Technologies, was designed for applications requiring a compact dual axis linear motion device. The linear stepper motor's simple design provides trouble-free open loop operation while offering a highly repeatable motion platform. More information.

e-Drive magazine sponsors the annual Motor, Drive & Automation Conference; this year the conference will be held in Orlando on Jan. 28-29, 2010. The meeting is a source of information on the latest developments and technologies that involve new motors, drives and automation systems, and power electronics. This year, the program also will address the issues of improving system performance, reliability, and efficiency. The conference is supported by PLCopen, The Association of Motion Engineers, the Automation Federation, and the Motor & Motion Association.

A commercial passenger Airbus A340 flying from London Gatwick to Doha, in the State of Qatar, made recent history. It flew for six hours on a 50-50 blend of synthetic Gas to Liquids (GTL) kerosene and conventional oil-based kerosene fuel. The flight was done to bolster Qatar's image as the "GTL capital of the world." The Qatar Science & Technology Park has been working to develop liquid fuels and other products from natural gas.

Should Manufacturers Tell All?

Some people insist manufacturers reveal all the ingredients of their products, others say that's going too far — they can't be expected to reveal trade secrets. Is there a happy medium?