Welcome to Oriental Motor's "Engineering Notes" Blog:

Motors exhibit noise.  The important thing to know is how you distinguish normal noise from abnormal noise, and how to troubleshoot.

Topics: AC Motors, Stepper Motors, Speed Control, BLDC Motors, Gearheads, Troubleshooting

AC motors are the workhorses of industrial automation.  They're robust, easy to use, and offer a wide product breadth.  What do you do if they stop working, and you don't have a spare?

Topics: AC Motors, Troubleshooting, Motion Control Basics

Tension control is a niche application that is not easy to implement.  Using the right type of motor is the first step to success.  Hint: you don't always have to use a servo motor.

Topics: AC Motors, Torque Limit (Push Motion, Tension Control)

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, global food prices reached an all-time high in 2022.  This case study explains how a vegetable farm in Hokkaido, Japan, improved production efficiency and reduced costs by building in-house automation.

Topics: AC Motors, Speed Control, BLDC Motors, Washdown, Case Study

Increasing power efficiency and minimizing the carbon footprint is the trend these days.  Do you know how to calculate CO2 emissions from your electric motors, and which types of motors emit less?

Topics: AC Motors, Speed Control, BLDC Motors

Which type of electric motor do you size for your conveyor, XYZ table, or robot?  Before you select one, you must understand the characteristics of each type of motor in the market.

Topics: Conveyor, AC Motors, Stepper Motors, Speed Control, Motor Sizing, BLDC Motors, Washdown, Servo Motors, Motion Control Basics

When a voltage is applied to an AC induction motor, it runs at a certain speed.  Variable speed requirements for AC induction motors are typically fulfilled by a 3-phase motor and an inverter or VFD.  This blog post also introduces another option.

Topics: Conveyor, AC Motors, Speed Control, Motion Control Basics

The differences between single-phase and three-phase AC induction motors don't stop with the input power supply.  There are a few things you need to know when using three-phase AC induction motors in an instantaneous forward/reverse operation.

Topics: AC Motors, Speed Control

Proper grounding is necessary for electrical devices for different reasons, but why do we do it?

Topics: AC Motors, Stepper Motors, Alphastep Hybrid Control, Linear & Rotary Actuators, BLDC Motors, Servo Motors, Cooling Fans, Motion Control Basics

Knowing how to use a product properly can make a huge difference in its performance and life.  For example, knowing how to maintain cast iron pans properly can make them last longer.  With electric motors, understanding the factors that affect motor life is the first step to extending life and decreasing costs in the long run.

Topics: AC Motors, Stepper Motors, Linear & Rotary Actuators, Speed Control, Servo Motors, Service Life