Resource Guide: Drives and motors turn up value

May 10, 2016

Our monthly resource guide is compiled by Executive Editor Jim Montague. This month, we explore getting the most from drives and motors. 

DRIVE FUNDAMENTALS

”Drives 101: Basic Features of AC Drives” is a 38-minute video, originally presented at ABB Automation and Power World in 2012. It teaches viewers about controlling motor speeds, energy savings, control strategies, and how AC drives operate to increase production efficiency. It’s available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqbNoVTKdcM.

ABB / www.abb.com

MOTORS IN MOTION CONTROL CONTEXT

This "Fundamentals of Motion Control" tutorial/whitepaper from National Instruments is available online and in PDF format. It places motors and drives in the overall context of the motion control system environment, and also covers software, controllers, amplifiers, mechanical elements and feedback devices. It’s available at www.ni.com/white-paper/3367/en/.

National Instruments / www.ni.com

DRIVEN TO VARIABLE FREQUENCY

This five-minute video, "What is a Variable Frequency Drive?," provides a quick introduction and overview of VFDs and their capabilities and potential benefits. It’s presented by VFDs.com, which maintains a website and blog with other motor- and drive-related content. The video is available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZANW2HeJ8.

VFDs.com / www.vfds.com

SELECTING MOTOR/DRIVE COMBOS

"The Basics of Motors and Drives" sub-page at PAControl.com traces the history of motors and drives, and shows how to pick the right motor and drive combination for improving performance and saving energy. It also has three PDFs on motor basics, adjustable-speed drives and electric motor controls. It’s availale at http://www.pacontrol.com/Motor1.html

PAControl.com / www.pacontrol.com

E-LEARNING ON INDUCTION

Yaskawa America presents an informative introduction to many essential motor concepts in its 28-minute video, "Induction motor basics: understanding how an induction motor works." The video is one of Yaskawa’s eLearning modules. To deliver a basic understanding of three-phase induction motors, it covers component identification, theory, speed torque curves, nameplate info, and typical enclosure types. It’s available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5ugeGOOjso.

Yaskawa America Inc. / www.yaskawa.com

MOTION CONTROL BY BOB

This concise whitepaper from Robert Trask at Beckhoff Automation, "Bob’s Motion Control Primer," reports that it distills many years of motion control experience into some fundamental concepts about sizing, load inertia, acceleration and deceleration, and other considerarions. It’s available at www.beckhoffautomation.com/usa/pdf/press/Bob_s_Motion_Control_Primer.pdf.

Beckhoff Automation / www.beckhoff.com

PRIMER ON BRUSHLESS DC

This 41-page document, “Brushless DC Motor Primer” by Muhammad Mubeen, covers a wide range of DC-related concepts and technologies. It focuses on permanent-magnet, brushless DC motors (BLDC), which are sometimes referred to as electronically commutated motors (ECMs). It’s available at www.aspenmotiontech.com/docs/brushless-dc-motor-primer.pdf.

Aspen Motion Technologies / www.aspenmotiontech.com

BREAKUP AND BUILD UP

”Teardown and repair of an AC motor inverter” is a 30-minute video that details all the steps of disassembling, fixing and reassembling an AC motor inverter with a variable frequency drive. It’s presented by the Arduino vs Evil (AvE) channel on YouTube, which is partnering with fundraising website Patreon to create more teardown videos at www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNkf_0DCb4s.

Arduino vs Evil / www.youtube.com/user/arduinoversusevil

MOTORS AND CONTROLS MEET UP

These videos introduce different types of motors—DC, brushless DC, stepper, permanent magnet synchronous and AC induction. Their differences and the advantages and disadvantages of each are shown. Basic motor drive circuits from full H-Bridge drive to half-bridge for three-phase motors are covered. Other drive concepts such as six-step commutation along with drive issues such as current recirculation are included. Field-oriented control and how it’s progressed with improving technology is also discussed. Find them at https://training.ti.com/introduction-motors-motor-control-series.

Texas Instruments / www.ti.com