Motor selection

[bud3581]

I am not an engineer, I stumbled on this site while researching electric motors for a machine I would like to build. I work for a microfilm company, and we make duplicate micro fiche for a large paint company. We have to sort 900,000 duplicate fiche into sets of 20-30 fiche. I need to choose a motor that will spin a 58" round turntable at 1-2 RPM. The table rests on 8 castors, and the loaded weight is 200 pounds. The weight is evenly distrubited around the perimeter of the wheel. It looks similar to a roulette wheel. Any direction would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ScottyUK]

Bud,

First of all I'd like to commend your attitude to get off your butt and try to improve things where you work.

Secondly, if you're planning to put this machine in to a place where people are employed, cover yourself by having it designed professionally. There are a lot of design issues to consider, and many of them relate to either legislative compliance, or safety, or both. In commercial premises, these things are enforced tightly to ensure workers have a safe environment and safe equipment. Please, take your idea to a company which designs handling equipment and ensure that a professional certifes that the design will be safe and meet the regulations in your locale. That protects you from a legal standpoint, and protects your employees or workmates in a more literal sense.

I hope this doesn't sound too negative - it sounds like you've put a lot of thought in to solving your problem, and I think you'll find a lot of small engineering firms would jump at the chance to build something based on your concept.






-----------------------------------

Start each new day with a smile.

Get it over with.

 

[SteveKW]

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/ww...patable=true&adobeCompatable=true&CatPage=190

 

[SteveKW]

The very last item is a variable speed controller.
I those dont fit the bill, start scrolling further down the pages.

 

[bud3581]

Thanks SteveKW. Can I mount the motor shaft directly to the turntable?

 

[SteveKW]

I am sure you can, but that would be hard on the life of the motor going that low in RPM, even on the slow one. A chain type drive would allow changing the ratio so you can bring the speed up of the motor and give you more flexibility down the road if that motor wont do the job. A gear ratio where the turntable is just a bit too fast when your motor is fastest is where I would start. Go to page 252 and look at what they have to offer.

 

[aolalde]

At 1 or 2 rpm you will not need much power.

I will do a trial an error using an small motor-reducer (1/8 HP or less with 50 rpm output) it should cost less than $100. Put a 2.375 pulley covered with neoprene linen (for traction) and set the pulley under the table next to the castors ( close to the 58” diameter table). The motor torque will be transmitted by friction between the pulley and table periphery. The ratio of diameters will result in the desired 1 to 2 rpm.

 

[jbartos]

Comment: Safety issues and compliance with industry standards are often preferable or even mandatory. It depends where the product will be used and by which personnel operated. A search for a similar item already available on the market and complying with industry standard(s) will be the best solution.
As far as the actual motor selection is concerned, visit

http://www.thomasregister.com

and type Motors: Electric under Product or Service, which will return 495 companies to approach to for the right motor.