Other than torque or speed, another factor should be considered when sizing motors.  

Topics: AC Motors, Stepper Motors, Alphastep Hybrid Control, Linear & Rotary Actuators, Speed Control, Motor Sizing, BLDC Motors, Gearheads, Servo Motors, Rotary/Index Tables

Proper sizing of a motor requires that 3 criteria must be met: torque, load inertia, and speed.  For the first part of this Motor Sizing Basics series, I will be explaining what load torque is, how to calculate it for specific application examples, and how it fits into the torque requirement for the application.

Topics: Conveyor, AC Motors, Stepper Motors, Alphastep Hybrid Control, Linear & Rotary Actuators, Speed Control, Motor Sizing, BLDC Motors, Servo Motors, Rotary/Index Tables

An AC motor is not working like it's supposed to.  What do you do?  Before replacing the motor, here are three ways to start troubleshooting your AC motor with a circuit tester.

Topics: AC Motors, Troubleshooting

For a permanent-split capacitor type AC motor (also known as capacitor start and run AC motors), a capacitor is required for proper operation.  Enjoy a cup of coffee as we explain why.

Topics: AC Motors

AC motors have the same operating theory, but by changing its design a little, you can modify its characteristics to suit certain applications better.  In the last post, I focused on AC induction motors for unidirectional applications.  In this post, I will explain what makes AC reversible motors and AC electromagnetic brake motors ideal for start/stop, reversing, or vertical applications, and demonstrate how to operate them.

Topics: AC Motors, VIDEOS, Application Examples

AC motors are simple to control, rugged, and cost effective for general purpose applications.  These reasons are why they are the most popular type of electric motor across various industries.  In this post, we will briefly introduce induction motors and demonstrate how to operate these motors.

Topics: AC Motors, VIDEOS, Application Examples

An AC motor can be simple to use, but its speed changes according to the size of the load or amount of voltage supplied.  For an application where keeping a uniform speed is important, there is another type of motor that can improve performance.

Topics: AC Motors, Speed Control, VIDEOS, BLDC Motors, Feedback Control, Application Examples

Are you using motors for a start/stop conveyor or similar application?  While AC motors are a common choice for conveyors, there is a unique speed control motor solution available that could improve stop accuracy as well as reduce footprint and cost of machine designs.

Topics: Conveyor, AC Motors, Stepper Motors, Stepper Motor Drivers, Speed Control, VIDEOS, Application Examples

What motors do you use for pumps?  For variable speed pump applications that typically use 3-phase AC induction motors with variable frequency drives (VFDs), there is another type of motor that can transfer fluids more consistently and help reduce footprint.

Topics: AC Motors, Speed Control, VIDEOS, BLDC Motors, Pumps, Application Examples

Historically, worm gears have been known as the most common type of gears used in a right angle gearhead.  Their low cost and robust construction have been sufficient for general purpose applications.  However, they are inefficient at slower speeds (higher reduction ratios), produce a lot of heat, take up a lot of space, and require maintenance.  As efficiency standards became increasingly important globally, another type of gear is being adopted for right angle gearheads.

Topics: AC Motors, Speed Control, BLDC Motors, Gearheads, Hypoid Gear