Building and Rebuilding: Unique Blogs on Industrial and Manufacturing PursuitsBuilding and Rebuilding: Unique Blogs on Industrial and Manufacturing Pursuits


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Building and Rebuilding: Unique Blogs on Industrial and Manufacturing Pursuits

Hi. Thank you for reading my blog. I have always loved working with my hands, and my favourite book is "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". This book explains the importance of fixing things correctly, regardless of how long it takes. It talks about building and rebuilding, and it links the act of fixing a motorcycle to the art of living. I believe it's important to take that concept into every aspect of life including manufacturing. I have been around the manufacturing industry for years, and I've seen what works and what doesn't. In this blog, I hope to provide unique perspectives on industrial and manufacturing pursuits. I hope that my ideas lead you and your business to creating better products, seamless processes and happier, healthier employees. My name is John, and thank you for reading!

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How to Choose the Best Electric Motor for Your Application

Whether it's upgrading your bike to a moped or getting a new motor for your lawn care equipment, you want to ensure you choose the best electric motor available. You may not understand the terms used for electric motors and what those terms mean for your application, so note a few simple suggestions. This will ensure you get the right motor that will work best for you.

1. Torque versus horsepower

For a bike, riding lawnmower and the like, you may be interested in horsepower or the speed the motor can provide. This is very important as the higher the horsepower, the faster the wheels of the equipment will turn. 

However, torque is very important if your motor will be attached to anything heavy or if you will be towing something. Torque is the force needed to make an object spin, meaning the drive of the motor itself. A motor with higher torque will be stronger and able to manage more weight or towing, even though it may not make the wheels spin faster. If you're going to be hauling a trailer with your bike or will be running your mower through thick, tall grass, you want a motor with more torque.

2. Intermittent duty versus continuous duty

A continuous duty motor is meant to run for long periods of time, whereas an intermittent duty motor is meant for frequent stops and starts. The continuous duty motor might have a stronger or larger fan and other cooling options, as it's more likely to get very warm when it's run continuously. The intermittent duty motor, because it's meant to be started up again and again, will usually have better wiring in the starter so that it doesn't fail from these continuous, repetitive demands. 

Consider how you will use the motor; for a motorbike, you might start it and run it for a long time as you get from one destination to another. However, for a lawnmower, elevator, power tools and the like, the motor may need to constantly stop and then start working again. 

3. Enclosure

Note the motor enclosure. For lawnmowers that are subject to wet grass and other debris or for industrial applications in areas with lots of dust, you need a solid casing or housing. For a motorbike that isn't subjected to so much debris and which might keep the motor running continuously, you may prefer a housing with vents for added cooling.