When powering a machine, indexer or conveyor, it’s important to find an electromechanical motor that fits your needs. This becomes especially true when you have an application that needs to precisely make stops during travel along a rail. Positioning and intermittent motion applications, for instance an indexer stopping at multiple areas to get various parts added and processes completed on the main component as it travels across your facility, require a motor that can stand up to the start and stop cycles and give you the most precise positioning available. Demag drives products, AC induction motors, gear motors, and wheel blocks, meet the specialized needs of intermittent motion with very precise positioning. As you look at the options available for your project, learn more about brake and non-brake motors and motors for specialized applications for your material handling needs.
Continuous Applications for AC Non-Brake Motors
In the industrial world, there are endless situations where a motor is needed to power a machine without the need to stop or brake at a certain point. We see non-brake motors everywhere in our day-to-day lives. You might see or experience one on a drill press where the machine rotates the bit when you turn power on, then lower the spinning bit to drill, and the drill bit coasts to a stop when power is turned off. With non-brake motors, thanks to Physics, the heavier the item being moved, the longer it will take to come to a complete stop. A non-brake motor may be an appropriate option for applications where starting and stopping accuracy and location are not a concern.
AC Brake Motors for Intermittent Motion
When your application needs to stop at some point in the process, whether extremely accurately or not, you will want to look into AC induction brake motors for these applications. These motors have a brake integrated in or added on so you have more control over stopping position. The motor you use will be dependent on a number of factors including the number of cycles, duty factor needed, operating environment, power options, and other factors.
As you look at the needs of your project from the perspective of these factors, here is what they can generally mean to you. The number of cycles is simply the number of times the motor will start and stop within a given timeframe, for instance, per hour. The more stops in your process, the greater number of cycles the motor must handle. Duty factor is directly related to the actual running time of the motor. The more time the motor runs, the higher the duty is considered so you need to make sure the motor can handle the requirements of the application.
Operating environment is important because you may need a specialized motor for use in extreme environments like galvanizing shops, very hot areas, and areas where there is a lot of moisture. The same motor used for an indexer used in the automotive industry may not be the ideal AC motor that powers a crucible in a casting shop or furnace area. Since these motors are electromechanical, knowing your power requirements is vital. Power differs from country to country in regard to voltages so knowing electrical details will assure the motor you choose will work properly. When we look at the United States and Canada, these markets primarily use 60 HZ, 460V (US) or 575V (Canada), 3-phase power in industrial environments.
Types of Demag AC Brake Motors
Demag defines a brake motor as a motor that physically moves a load from place to place and allows the load to start and stop in its travel path. Many times these loads are heavy or awkward, like moving a steel coil car across a facility or a motor that needs to transport a load that is top-heavy on a conveyor. Motors can be attached to wheels or wheel blocks to transport the load on a rail. The specific motor used will match your cycle, duty, operating environment and other factors to efficiently and effectively move the load to the intended destination.
Demag Z Cylindrical Rotor Motors
Demag motors are specialized for intermittent motion because all models include a brake. Depending on the factors your application requires, we have two motor models that can meet your needs. The Demag Z motor entered the market in the early 2000’s and gave another option for lower duty, lower cycle applications. It’s a cylindrical rotor motor with an attached brake. The Z model motor easily integrates with our full line of wheel blocks. This motor can be used with inverter control and is a robust solution for everyday type applications. Each project is unique so working with one of our experts can help guide you to the right brake motor match.
Demag KB Conical Rotor Motors
The Demag KB motor has been trusted in start and stop applications since the mid-1980’s. It’s the best solution for high cycles, high duty, and extreme environments where other motors cannot function to meet these needs. Its conical rotor design makes it a match for nearly any application. The KB motor has an integrated, mechanical brake and can be used with or without inverter control. This is beneficial for anyone who wants to make adjustments to the motor mechanically with a wrench rather than through a computer interface.
The KB motor does not require additional electronic controls you see with inverters. Depending on your application, you would connect the KB motor or drive to the power source and be able to move a load. Both Demag Z and KB motors are designed for travel to create a smooth start and stop to be ideal for wheel applications. The motors mechanically provide smooth acceleration and deceleration with an additional flywheel, thereby eliminating slippage wear to the wheel itself and the rail it runs on.
Motor for Precise Positioning and Travel
When specialized travel or very precise positioning is needed, the squirrel cage motor, or conical rotor motor, set up of the FG Microspeed can meet your needs. This is a unique set up that consists of a main motor, microspeed motor, and gearbox in between. The configuration allows for a wide mechanical difference in speeds from very fast to very slow. With 2 motors to handle the load, this brings you several benefits. First, with 2 motors handling the load this can lessen the wear and tear on the motors in general from a service perspective. Second, the configuration has the potential for 500-600:1 speed range, depending on your application. This can give you a wide selection of speeds for the necessary motions in your processes and makes handling both high speed and low speed motions efficient. Third, if one motor is out of service, you always have the second to fall back on. This may keep your production moving despite the service need. We’ve chosen the FG Microspeed motor configuration for applications like automotive indexers, hoisting applications, and palletizers.
With so many options out there to power an industrial application, it can take a lot of research to find a solution that works best for you. When intermittent motion and positioning are important to your application, see how a Demag AC induction brake motor can meet your needs. There are many electromechanical brake motor configurations available, whether very demanding or low duty. Demag motors have been trusted for decades and are specialized for intermittent movement when you need to transport a load with starts and stops along the way. With so many variations in applications, use the form on this post to reach out to a Demag expert to help you find the motor that will make your processes efficient and effective.
Read about gearbox basics so you understand how the motor and gearbox work together to meet your project requirements.
If you need a wheel solution, but don’t know where to start, read our post Industrial Wheels 101- Understanding the Options to Move Heavy Loads Across Your Facility.