Induction motors - ever wonder how they're made?

[Squisher]

How did that happen?
I've heard of pumps getting ripped off their mounts, breaking flanges, etc. when the engineer did not check for free rotation of the shaft before starting the motor. That's pretty bad when the pump (175hp) is moving concentrated sulfuric acid.

Motor was on top of a forging press that just came back online so it was a newly rebuilt motor. The control panel for the press was 20 feet away on the floor, but in the plane of debris when the motor let go.

As to why the motor let go would only be conjecture on my part, but I can tell you it was wired incorrectly in that the mechanical brake on the press did not automatically disengage when the press was started up. I noticed this a few days before when we were setting up the press. I called the electrical supervisor over and pointed it out and he basically wrote it down on his "to do" list, and said he'd get to it later, but for right now we'd have to remember to disengage the brake before starting up. A day later some pretty horrific noises were coming from the press and the machine repairman and I ran to shut it down. The machine repairman figured it was that brake being engaged while it was in full operation.

The day of the accident I had been working on the tooling in that press for an hour before I went home. Second shift came in after I left and 30 minutes later the operator was dead. It is very possible that for those 30 minutes the press was operating under the load to make forgings along with having the mechanical brake on.

 

[Rubycon]

Definitely have respect for energy in general. When things get out of control people can be killed for sure.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Wow some scary stuff. What's sad is often a lot of these accidents are neglect. I think any system that could compromise the safety of an operation should be repaired before the machine is operated again. If they can't get to it right away then the machine should remain in lock down. Unfortunately that's not how it works in this high paced business world. Every minute a machine is down, money is being lost. Jury rig something if you have to, just get it going. That's where people get hurt or even killed.

I heard a story of a guy in a paper mill that got sucked into 2 high speed rollers. I don't know the full context of the story but the only thing left at the other end was a sludge of flesh splattered all over the wall. The drums were basically a mm or so apart and he went right through.

 

[tynopik]

Induction motors are old and busted


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zumwalt_class_destroyer#Propulsion

The concept was originally for an integrated power system (IPS) based on in-hull permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMMs), with Advanced Induction Motors (AIM) as a possible backup solution . . . AIM technology has a heavier motor, requires more space, requires a "separate controller" to be developed to meet noise requirements, and produces one-third the amount of voltage.

 

[Rubycon]

That startup sound is sex to my ears .

How about this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4gouT4m0cM&



Some people will say that sound is crazy annoying. For those of you here is a neat video to watch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxeVoXc84J0

Induction motors are old and busted


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zumwalt_class_destroyer#Propulsion

Still using dino gennies though. Ugly too.

 

[highland145]

So where do I find a 1/2hp 3450 RPM, for the table saw, that won't break the bank. Grainger wants ~$200.

 

[Rubycon]

1/2hp is kind of small for a table saw.

Most are 2-5hp motors IIRC.

 

[highland145]

1/2hp is kind of small for a table saw.

Most are 2-5hp motors IIRC.

That's what was on it. 1950's Sears saw...I'm sure it was a replacement. I have no interest in buying a new outfit.

Love my 1950's King Sealy bench drill press too. Damn heavy bastard.

 

[Rubycon]

That's what was on it. 1950's Sears saw...I'm sure it was a replacement. I have no interest in buying a new outfit.

Love my 1950's King Sealy bench drill press too. Damn heavy bastard.

Stuff made from the 50s is definitely interesting!
Got a picture of it?
What frame is the motor?
There's plenty of supply houses. If you know a person in the trade that has an account or works for a firm that does you can get decent discounts. That motor will probably cost about half of that figure.

 

[MichaelD]

Ruby,

I'll have you know that I spent no less than one hour last night watching about 20 different vids on how stators are wound and casings are cast and terminals are terminated...then I watched some random video of some dude stuck inside a ship's diesel engine. Then I passed out and went to bed.

Those vids are addictive! But they're a great sleep-aid, particularly after dinner.

 

[highland145]

Stuff made from the 50s is definitely interesting!
Got a picture of it?
What frame is the motor?
There's plenty of supply houses. If you know a person in the trade that has an account or works for a firm that does you can get decent discounts. That motor will probably cost about half of that figure.

Madame President,
Similar to this type on the saw.
This is very similar on the press.


There's a local shop that re-winds/repairs motors. Might be better off getting a used older one. F.I.L. says old motor running HPs aren't the same as new motor running HPs. True?

Frame? I have no idea. Looks similar to this from Grainger with the mounting brackets.

 

[Rubycon]

Nice old power tools! Changing pulleys to change speed on drill press brings back memories.

The most common motor frame in that size is 56.

Regarding HP... one horsepower is 746 watts. There are inflated terms today with regard to motors in saws, air compressors and even vacuum cleaners.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Silicone steel. Sigh.

castings


where's some forged high strength, high toughness steel? YUM

 

[jagec]

Nice old power tools! Changing pulleys to change speed on drill press brings back memories.

"Memories"? I've had to do that on most of the drill presses that I've used!

...granted, they tend to be on the older side.

castings


where's some forged high strength, high toughness steel? YUM

That's on the model that costs twice as much.

 

[Rubycon]

"Memories"? I've had to do that on most of the drill presses that I've used!

...granted, they tend to be on the older side.

The new ones have cross generated by a laser which is nice, speed is continuously variable through a panel on the front. The big Powermatics had a CVT setup that did basically the same thing. Changed speed on the fly with a flip of a wheel.

I'd have a drill press powered with a hit and miss engine if I could!

 

[Howard]

Nice old power tools! Changing pulleys to change speed on drill press brings back memories.

Still quite common.

 

[ringtail]

``

 

[Red Squirrel]

Tesla was awesome. Sadly if he lived today he's probably be locked up and accused of terrorism. I want to build a tesla coil some day, they look like fun.