Selecting a drive made easy - a guide for design engineers
How to avoid design errors and save money
Right from the initial selection of a drive, a designer has to make careful considerations when looking for the optimal motor for their application. Determining the torque and speed, selecting a pneumatic motor from suppliers’ catalogues and clarifying the size and connections required for the machine – sounds simple. But unfortunately it is not that easy, a rude awakening may follow if, after installation, the selected pneumatic motor does not produce the power required. Determining the problem may take weeks, in the worst case scenario the entire drive may have to be redesigned and purchased again. Therefore it is worthwhile to talk to the specialists at the beginning of the drive design phase.
Product Manager for air motors at DEPRAG SCHULZ GMBH u. CO, Dagmar Dübbelde, has developed a simple guide with 6 steps to follow so that nothing is forgotten. “The selection of a pneumatic motor is not difficult. But particularly with pneumatic systems there are many factors which can decisively influence the power of an air motor. If, for example, when installing a motor it is found that too short a hose has been chosen then this will drastically reduce the torque of the motor” clarifies Dübbelde. “You can imagine that the developer does not necessarily have the length of hoses at the forefront of their mind when designing the machine, equally the connectors between the filter units and oiler are not considered to be particularly relevant. But it is exactly these throttle points which ultimately determine whether the machine works correctly and if the motor provides the right torque”.
So what are these steps for the selection of the right motor? First of all the drive system best suited to the customer’s application must be chosen. Then the materials which the external parts of the motor are composed of are determined. After these initial decisions the theoretically required motor power can be calculated and all performance influencing factors can be taken into consideration. The fourth step is the integration of the motor into the complete system of the machine. You have to decide how the motor will be connected to the machine and which gears are required. Perhaps a brake will be necessary in order to ensure safety of the system. Then the durability of the machine must be guaranteed. And finally the purchasing and running costs of the motor must be calculated and optimised.
