Page 16 - Industrial Technology EXTRA - 14th April

ELECTRIC MOTORS...

Eliminate design compromise

in industrial power tools

Choosing the right motor for an industrial power tool is no trivial task. Thomas Baile,

Business Development Manager at Portescap, examines the performance
requirements of power tool applications and looks at how the latest advances in
motor technology for these tasks are helping to address typical design compromises

o often in product design there are
conflicting operational requirements. The
industrial power tool is a typical example,
Swith an operating profile that is quite
different from other motor-driven applications.
Whether the specific tool is fastening, gripping or
cutting, there is a specific motion profile that is split
into two phases.
First there is the speed phase, where there is little
resistance – perhaps as bolts thread in or as the jaws
of a cutting or gripping tool approach the workpiece.
During this phase, a motor that operates at a faster
free-run speed reduces cycle time and boosts
productivity.
Then there is the torque phase, as the tool
performs the more forceful work of tightening, cutting
or gripping and the need for torque becomes
paramount. A motor that delivers high peak torque
can perform a wider range of tough jobs without
excessive heating.

Demanding application
These alternating speed and torque cycles must be
constantly repeated in demanding industrial
applications. The different speed, torque and duration
characteristics complicate the motor selection

April 2020 • INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY EXTRA! • p16