Portescap in Motion

The next factor to review is the duty cycle for the motion solution in the application.  The duty cycle is defined as the ratio of the time the motor operates divided by the amount of total time for the cycle.  Typically, the motor does not run continuously but rather operates for a period (on-time) and then rests for a period (off-time).  The duty cycle affects the selection of the optimum motion solution, so it is important to understand the details and factors to consider.

The definition of innovating is to make changes to what is already establish. At Portescap we are always innovating, improving upon our processes and products to add value. Community organizations across the country are doing the same thing, they are changing our community and our world by building upon what is established. A Day of Caring is an opportunity where our team of innovators can come together with community innovators to help make our community a better place. 

Our new Surgical Motor video highlights Portescap's innovative strengths and expertise in Surgical Motors Solutions. Press play and learn more about Portescap's mini motors technology, why you should work with us, and our approach to design and collaboration. The Surgical Motors Team also highlights our customization process and maps out our typical lead times. Call us today to experience how we can work with you hand-in-hand to find the optimal motor solution for your application!

Another factor to review is the accuracy required from the motion system in the application.  Is the motion continuous or incremental?  What is the resolution needed from the motor during incremental operation?  Does the motor need to have different resolutions for different points in the operation?

The next factor for consideration is the mechanical envelope for the motion system.  What is the space in the product that is dedicated to the motion system?  Is there flexibility on the diameter or length?

The next factor we will consider is the lifetime requirement of the motion system.  How many cycles must the motion system execute within the life of the product?  How many hours does that require from the motion system?

The next factor we will consider is the output torque requirement of the motion system.  What is the continuous torque requirement during operation?  Is there a peak torque for a limited time that needs to be considered?  Is the safety margin enough to compensate for the other factors in the application? 

One of the first factors to consider in your new product development is the output speed requirement of the motion system.  How fast does the motor need to rotate to drive the mechanism in the application?  And are there various speeds that need to be accommodated?  There are some general guidelines that will help you narrow down the technologies to consider:

What is rotor balancing?

Rotor balancing is the process of bringing the mass center axis of a rotor in line with the rotor’s shaft axis, within certain industry balance standards. A rotor, balanced or unbalanced, wants to revolve around its mass center axis. The balancing process brings these two axes together. As illustrated below, when the mass that causes the imbalance is removed, the two axes merge.

The Past

From Portescap’s inception in 1959 to 2000 there were countless innovations and moves all over the world. It goes without saying that the start of our continuous improvement business system, could not have flourished without the vision created during this time. In March 2000¹, American Precision Industries (API), later to be na

Over the past few months, our Portescap office in West Chester, Pennsylvania went through some major renovations! We worked hard in 2018 organizing, planning, and researching to transform our manufacturing floor. Our office focused on upgrades that will give us the best productivity and while meeting the needs of our growing team.

As a design engineer, there is always excitement when you get to work on new product development. But when you get to the motion portion of the design, there are several technologies to consider, primarily Brushless DC, Coreless DC and Stepper. Which technology is best and where do you start? The challenge can be difficult as there are several factors to consider including output speed, torque, lifetime, mechanical envelope, noise, weight, cost and precision. It is not practical to analyze, purchase and test multiple technologies as this would be expensive and time consuming. Fortunately, there are guidelines that can assist in the initial review of the different technologies to narrow the selection.  

Portescap invites you to learn about the Ultra EC Brushless DC motors, which contain three optimizations to meet all application requirements. These two videos from Design World cover the 16ECP, balanced performance between torque and speed, and the 22ECS, optimized for speed and responsiveness.

In our blog post DC Coreless Speed vs Torque Curves, we talked about how to read speed vs torque curves and the linear relationship of speed and torque for a DC motor.  When comparing speed vs torque curves for various motors, the range of torque required in the application should be identified to ensure a proper comparison.  The curves will show the torque capability of the motor over the entire speed range, but the application torque range is typically limited to a narrow band.

Portescap is pleased to announce, along with Kollmorgen, Thomson, and Jacobs Vehicle Systems that we are now part of Altra Industrial Motion Corp (NASDAQ: AIMC), making Altra a global leader in the power transmission and motion control market.

Power density is the amount of power (time rate of energy transfer) generated per unit volume of the motor. The more powerful the motor in a smaller envelope, the higher the power density. Volume power density is an important consideration where space is constrained or where maximum output is needed in a fixed space. High power density enables miniaturization of applications and end devices or higher capability in current devices.

When selecting a motor for your application, one piece of reference information that can be used to make your selection is the speed vs torque curve.

As discussed in our collaboration post, early engagement leads to customized motors that are optimized for your application, but additional benefits can be realized utilizing Portescap’s Engineering expertise. Discussions will focus on the motor solution but routinely extend to the sub-assembly where the motor will reside. These early meetings can resolve challenges an Engineer may face around material selection and additional mechanical components.

During the month of July, Portescap partnered with the non-profit organization Home of the Sparrow to collect school supplies for underprivileged families in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Home of the Sparrow works with women who are facing homelessness to help them secure housing, achieve long-term stability, and chart new paths for the future. Everyone at Portescap was excited to partner up with this organization as we share the same guiding principles of excellence, compassion, collaboration, and community.