Adjustable Speed Drives in Modern Manufacturing

March 8, 2023

While variable speed drives are required in many parts of global production, their use is widespread across various industry applications. So, let’s examine why a variable speed drive would be necessary to operate a motor and how its use affects our environment.

How Adjustable Speed Drive Works

An electric motor is often necessary anywhere movement is required in the industry, from moving a big load aboard a cargo ship to running a ventilation fan. The motor’s shaft generates rotational movement, frequently translated into the linear movement required by most industrial machines by connecting with a mechanism such as a ball screw.

Productivity for the Industry

A ‘Pick & Place’ machine is an outstanding example of high productivity – producing as much as possible as quickly as possible – with high precision and dependability. A pick & place machine is responsible for choosing specified components and putting them quickly into precise, extremely demanding places. It is typically used for producing PCBs, created in their millions to operate industrial applications or the gadgets we use daily. A variable speed drive often controls an electric motor that moves the vacuum nozzle or other collecting tool used to ‘pick’ the component and then ‘tells’ the motor and associated mechanism where to ‘position’ the component – all in fractions of a second.

Mechanical Requirements

Manufactured commodities typically require packing for transportation, and a packaging machine may create, fill, and fasten packages by ‘bending’ pre-formed cardboard blanks. Bending and moulding the packing material into a box, filling, and finally attaching it is accomplished by moving the packaging machine’s ‘arms,’ which are powered by the rotating movement of the motor and ultimately controlled by the variable speed drive.

The packaged produced items must next be exported. A port crane’s lifting capability relies on a high-powered electric motor to convey cargo from a truck to a container ship. The port crane’s motor can increase the weight under the direction of a variable speed drive, and since the drive can adjust torque, something the electric motor cannot, the port crane has the critical ability to ‘keep’ its load in place and descend it in a measured and secure manner.

While variable speed drives are required in many parts of global production, their usage is widespread in many applications. One of the most uncommon and intriguing situations is stage lighting in a theatre. Lighting and other apparatus, including hoists that push acrobats into the air, are driven by electric motors that must be directed when to stop and start, with the pace of their movement and location regulated by variable speed drives.

Other Significant Uses

A variable speed drive may be used to save energy in addition to controlling mechanical motion. An electric motor-powered heating, ventilation, or refrigeration system may not have to run at full capacity all the time. When a refrigeration system hits a particular ambient temperature, it may no longer be required or desirable for the system to function at full capacity. Without managing a variable speed drive, an electric motor cannot limit its performance and cannot depart from maximum capacity functioning. Alternatively, by including a variable speed drive into the system, when a certain condition, such as temperature, is met, the drive may cut or lower the motor’s output, saving energy. According to The Carbon Trust, an independent carbon reduction specialist, lowering the speed of a motor operating a fan or pump from 100% to 80% can save up to 50% of energy. Electric motors account for up to 40% of global electrical power consumption, although the vast majority of motors are not controlled by variable speed drive technology. As a result, vehicles have even more promise for lowering the world’s energy usage and carbon impact.

When speaking about speed drives, trust only us here at Global Bearing Imports P/L. Contact us now.

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