DC Motors

Direct Current motors can be used in nearly any type of mechanical situation. These were the first types of motors to be invented, late in the 1800s. These motors consist of rotor-mounted winding and stationary windings. Current passes through these windings and creates a magnetic field, causing the rotors to rotate. This produces the power. DC motors are great when dealing with appliances that need motor control because you can determine the amount of current flowing through the motor.

A 12 volt DC motor can operate small to middle sized machinery. The voltage of a motor is like the workhorse, and a 12 volt motor is a relatively small size. Motors do go smaller, there are 6 volt motors, but they also go much larger, as in a 24 volt motor. Depending on what kind of machinery you want to operate will heavily influence your choice of voltage.

Baldor offers a range of DC motors that include: general purpose motors, washdown motors, explosion proof motors, and power motors, just to name a few. These motors be used in machinery ranging from a printing press to a huge crane used to lift heavy material.

A brush DC motor operates with several different components that work together to produce power. The commutator is composed of several coils that connect to each other and to outside brushes, which connect them to the outside current source. This often leads to sparks between the connection coils and the brushes because of the heat generated. Brushed DC motors generally have a shorter life span than brushless motors because of the wear on the connection coils.

Brushless DC motors have many advantages over the brushed model. Because of the design, they feature higher efficiency, longer lifetime, and safety from sparks. This type of motor is actually a combination of a synchronous motor and a frequency inverter. Where most DC motors have a commutator to convert energy, the brushless version features the frequency inverter.

The most common thing that needs to be controlled in a DC motor is speed. With speed controls you can have a motor that operates steadily with a constant speed. Speed is usually controlled by a small drive inserted adjacent or on top of the motor.

Leeson features all sizes and models of DC motors. From smaller 12 volt motors to large 180 volt motors, whatever model you need can usually be found on their shelves. With permanent magnet DC motors and explosion proof motors, safety and great performance come with each Leeson motor.

Micro DC motors come in a variety of models. There are steppers, brushless, geared, and vibration micro motors. These motors are miniature versions of DC motors and are used in cell phones, camera lens movement, and other applications where a small motor is necessary. These models usually feature high torque and differing sizes for constant power.

A permanent magnet DC motor is comprised of at least two magnet pole pieces that help to switch the direction of the current every half cycle. This aids in the production of power due to the constant movement and change.