Gear Motors 101: How to choose what’s right for you

Conveyors are used in a wide range of industries to move products and materials efficiently. In most instances, belt conveyors are used to transport products on flat levels or long slight slopes. Belt conveyors are driven by shaft mounted Bauer gear motor where the gearbox does not extend beyond the motor housing. A Bauer gear motor is usually integrated with back stop devices to ensure that there is no reversal in direction when the motor is shut off.

It can be quite daunting for design engineers to choose the most efficient and highest quality motors, which is why we aim to make it easier by offering the Bauer gear motor. Many vendors make the effort to call the attention of industries to their motors and gearboxes by promising their products to be the most efficient and precise. However, you must also consider its application. There are several design parameters in the choice for Bauer gear motor for speed reduction application. In order to achieve the best match between the Bauer gear motor and application, it would be helpful to make a checklist that includes input power source, ambient temperature and application temperature, gear motor specifications that include size, weight, maintenance and noise and gear motor performance.

Matching Gear to Application

Using all the design inputs, it is important to determine which of the parameters best apply to the application. To best suit the application, motors and gear boxes can be mixed and matched as necessary although in the end, the gear motor will be the driving factor. A variety of motors and gearboxes can be combined; for example, the right angle work gear, planetary and parallel shaft gearboxes. An ideal match can be achieved with permanent magnet DC, AC induction or brushless DC motors. However, take note that there are combinations considered to be more cost effective and efficient.

Selecting Motor and Gearbox

When selecting the gear motor for the applications, you can choose the motor and gearbox separately and then have them assembled. You also have the option to choose the pre-engineered Bauer gear motor to reduce design time and product risks. All the parameters that you have collected including performance calculations will ensure proper component matching. The gear motor curve which is provided by the vendor displays speed, torque and efficiency. Knowing speed and torque measurements will help in selecting performance curves that will match the requirements.

Final Review

After selecting the performance curve that suits the application, it is time for the design engineer to review information provided by the manufacturer on performance calculations so that it can be used to determine if there will be eventual issues with the gear motor. Performing several tests in sample environments will best reflect typical operating scenarios. If extreme motor heat is encountered with unnatural noises, it is important to repeat the selection process. Lack of testing can may result into several problems in the future that is why it is advised to invest some time and effort in the selection process.

Are you in the process of selecting a gear motor? Let our expert team help you in deciding which product best suits your business needs. Give us a call today at 1-888-668-7730 or visit our website at http://bauergmc.com/ !