Drives, Motor Controls, Power Quality Information

Jan. 3, 2008
CONTROL's Monthly Resource Guide

Every month, CONTROL’s editors take a specific product area, collect all the latest, significant tools we can find, and present them here to make your job easier. If you know of any tools and resources we didn’t include, send them to [email protected], and we’ll add them to the website.

SELECT THE RIGHT ELECTRIC MOTOR

Confirmat
 0031/492-558230   www.specAmotor.com

SpecAmotor is a service where engineers can determine the best electric motor for their drive application. It is brand-independent. The SpecAmotor database contains over 6,000 browsable motor configurations. Via a list of brands, all electric motors can be reached. On the motor page, a datasheet of the motor and an overview with all the transmissions that can be applied with the motor are provided. When the transmission is selected, the torque-speed-curve is shown for that transmission with the already selected electric motor.

POWER QUALITY

Power Standards Lab
510/522-4400   www.powerstandards.com/tutor.htm

Website contains tutorials and standards for the power quality industry. There is a fun simulator for engineers who want to get an intuitive feel for power quality issues. There is also a power quality video that is an introduction to voltage Dips/Sags. There is a list of IEEE power quality standards, IEC power quality standards, utility power quality power standards, other industry-specific power quality standards and more.

FREQUENCY CONVERTERS

Danfoss Drive
800/432-6367   http://tinyurl.com/2qwyhv

Downloadable book, Facts Worth Knowing about Frequency Converters, has chapters on 3-phase AC motors, frequency converters, frequency converters and motors, protection and safety, general mechanical theory, general AC theory and more.

UNDERSTANDING MOTORS/DRIVES

ISA
919/549-8411   www.isa.org

This course gives you a broad perspective of DC motors, AC motors (single and three-phase) and variable speed drives (for AC induction motors and DC motors). Industrial applications of variable speed drives for constant torque, constant horsepower and torque/variable horsepower are included. Also covered are motor starter circuits and reduced voltage starting techniques. Stepper motors and servo motors are discussed with their advantages and applications. 

LINEAR DRIVE SELECTION

Amacoil
610/485-8300   www.amacoil.com

UHF software program analyzes linear motion application requirements and assures the correct size Uhing rolling ring drive. Application data may be submitted by telephone or using forms on the Amacoil web site. The program determines side thrust requirements, selects the correct size Uhing linear drive and provides other useful technical specifications and diagrams.

POWER QUALITY

Copper Development Association
212/251-7200   www.copper.org

Web site contains many articles and case studies on power quality. Some topics include A Power Quality Primer; Two Modern Power Quality Issues—Harmonics and Grounding; Power Quality and Your Computer; Are You Ready for the Electrical Needs of Today and Tomorrow? Wiring for Power Quality; and an Abbreviated Bibliography of Power Quality Information Sources.

LINEAR SYSTEM SELECTION TOOL

Danaher Motion
www.danahermotion.com/linearmotioneering

Linear MOTIONEERING is a web-based linear motion sizing and selection tool that enables users to optimize machine design and operation in five simple steps. It walks users through a process for a slide table application to deliver all the data necessary to make a logical system selection. Deliverables include immediate 3D CAD models in multiple formats, motor requirements, life and safety factor calculations and lead times.

TROUBLESHOOTING MOTORS/DRIVES

IDC Technologies
512/288-8525   www.idc-online.com

This course gives you an understanding of an electrical motor’s working, maintenance and failure modes and tools to maintain and troubleshoot electrical motors. You will gain a fundamental understanding of the installation, operation and troubleshooting of electrical motors You will learn the basic steps in specifying, installing, wiring and commissioning motors.