Stopping Accuracy of Brushless

AC Motor Fundamentals

1. Overview of AC Motors 1. Flange bracket die cast aluminum bracket with a

machined finish, press-fitted into the motor case
AC motors are electric motors that 2. Stator comprised of a stator core made from
rotate by using power from a commercial AC electromagnetic steel plates, a polyester-coated copper coil,
power supply. They are easy to handle and and insulation film
have features that can be configured at a low
3. Motor case made from die cast aluminum with a
cost. They are widely used to power various machined finish inside
devices.
4. Rotor electromagnetic steel plates with die cast aluminum
1.1 Easy to Use, Low Cost
5. Output shaft available in round shaft type and pinion
shaft type. The metal used in the shaft is S45C. Round shaft
Easily operate AC motors by type has a shaft flat (output power of 25 W 1/30 HP or more),
connecting the motor to an AC power supply. while pinion shaft type undergoes precision gear finishing.
Low cost start-up is possible. For a
6. Ball bearing
single-phase motor, connect the capacitor
between the power supply and the motor. 7. Lead wires with heat-resistant polyethylene coating

Motor Motor 8. Painting baked finish of acrylic resin or melamine resin

Three-Phase Power Supply
Sinlge-Phase Power Supply

Capacitor 1.3 Operating Principle of AC Motors 1

(Arago’s Disk)

AC motors generate "magnetic flux" and

"induced current" inside the motor by the
actions of the stator and the rotor, and obtain
1.2 Structure of an AC Motor rotational force.
The operation principle of AC motors
The following figure shows the can be explained by using Arago's disk.
construction of a standard AC motor.
3. Motor Case 8. Paint Coil
2. Stator
4. Rotor Electromagnet

1. Flange Bracket 6. Ball Bearing

Magnetic Pole Axle

5. Output Shaft

7. Lead Wires
Metal Disk

Arago’s disk is the phenomenon when a

magnet is moved along the surface of a metal
disk, the disk rotates to follow the magnet. First,
prepare a round copper plate that can rotate
freely and a magnet. Place them so that the
copper plate is in between the magnetic poles,
but the magnet does not touch the copper
plate.

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Next, move the U-shaped magnet along the Fleming's Right Hand Rule indicates the
edge of the copper plate. The copper plate will direction of induced current (for generators)
start to rotate and chase the magnet. when a conductor is passed through lines of
magnetic flux. Fleming's Left Hand Rule
Principle of Arago’s Disk indicates the direction of electromotive force
(for motors) when a conductor is passed
The principle of Arago's disk can be through lines of magnetic flux. We apply these
explained by "Fleming's Right Hand Rule" and two laws to the relationship between the copper
"Fleming's Left Hand Rule". plate and the magnet in the order of the right
hand rule, then the left hand rule.
The rotation speed of the copper disk
Direction of Motion Direction of Copper will be slightly slower than that of the magnet.
Place Movement
This allows a rotation force to be generated by
the conductor passing through the magnetic
Direction of Direction of
field.
Magnetic Field Magnetic Field

1.4 Operating Principle of AC Motors 2

Direction of Direction of
Current Current (Rotating Magnetic Field)

Replacing Arago Disks with Stators and

① Magnetic flux ② Conductor moves Rotors
generated (positional relationship between
Right (magnet is nearby) magnet and copper plate changes)

Hand The operating principle of an AC motor

Rule can be explained by replacing Arago's disk
③ Induced current generated
(induced current flows in the copper plate)
with the internal structure of the AC motor. The
N pole and S pole electromagnets are a
simplified model of the stator. The closed coil in
④ Magnetic flux ⑤ Induced current generated
generated (result of ③) the center is a simplified model of the
Left (magnet is nearby)
conducting rotor.
Hand
Rule
⑥ Motion created
(copper plate rotates) N

1 2 3 4 5 6

Direction of Motion Direction of Motion

Direction of
Force

Direction of Direction of
Direction Current Current
of Magnetic Direction of
Direction of Magnetic Field Direction of Magnetic Field Field Current Direction of Magnetic Field Direction of Magnetic Field Direction of Magnetic Field

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 According to the Law of the Right hand, an
Induced Current Flows in the Coil
According to the Law of the Left Hand, the
Coil Rotates
Connect the main winding to the power
Direction of Direction supply and the auxiliary winding to the power
Motion of
Motion supply via the capacitor.
Current from the power supply flows
Direction directly to the main winding. On the other hand,
of
Direction
of Magnetic Direction of Direction
Current the current through the capacitor flows through
Field Current of Magnetic Field
the auxiliary winding.
Place the closed coil in the When operating with a single-phase
magnetic field and rotate the outer magnet power supply, we use a phase advancing
clockwise. Then, an induced current flows in the capacitor to generate a waveform close to a
coil. When current flows, it reacts with the two-phase power supply and generate a
magnetic field and generates an electromotive rotating magnetic field.
force in the coil. The coil starts to rotate in the
same direction as the magnet.
In an actual motor, the rotor is like a
series of overlapping coils connected together
so the rotational force can be generated
efficiently.

A squirrel cage rotor is a rotor with When connecting a single-phase power

multiple skewed aluminum and iron bars. In a supply, repeat the phenomena ① to ④.
squirrel cage rotor, current flows in the
aluminum part. ①Voltage is applied to the main winding,
voltage is not applied to the auxiliary winding.
Rotating Magnetic Field (Single Phase An N pole and an S pole are generated in the
Power Supply, Three Phase Power Supply) magnetic pole of the main winding.

As the stator generates a rotating ②Voltage is applied to the auxiliary winding,

magnetic field around the rotor, the rotor rotates. and voltage is not applied to the main winding.
The next section explains how the AC An N pole and an S pole are generated in the
motor generates a rotating magnetic field. magnetic pole of the auxiliary winding.

Single Phase Power Supply - Phase Shift ③Voltage is applied to the main winding,
using Capacitor voltage is not applied to the auxiliary winding. A
magnetic pole opposite to that in ① is
Inside the motor driven by a generated in the magnetic pole of the main
single-phase power supply there are two winding.
windings, the main winding and the auxiliary
winding. ④Voltage is applied to the auxiliary winding,
and voltage is not applied to the main winding.
A magnetic pole opposite to that in ② is
Auxiliary generated in the magnetic poles of the auxiliary
Winding winding.

In this way, the magnetic field

Main Winding generated in the stator changes to produce
clock-wise rotation.

For Three-Phase Power Supply - Phase Shift

of Power Supply

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 In single-phase motors, there are two Reversible Motor
windings, the main winding and the auxiliary
winding, but three-phase motors consist of three Reversible motors are ideal for
windings. applications where bidirectional operation is
Assuming U, V, W phases on the power repeated frequently.
supply side, there are three paths that the By incorporating a simple brake and
current can flow, UV, VW, WU. Connect these increasing the starting torque, it is possible to
windings directly to the power supply. switch the direction of motor rotation
instantaneously.

In the U, V, W line of the three-phase • Structure of Simple Brake

power supply, each phase is shifted by 120 °.
Since this phase shift creates a rotating Reversible motors incorporate a
magnetic field in the stator, it is unnecessary to simple brake mechanism (friction brake) at the
connect a capacitor, such as with a rear of the motor.
single-phase motor.

The brake mechanism constantly

applies pressure to the brake shoe, which rubs
1.5 Types of AC Motors against the brake disk. Once the motor stops,
overrun can be significantly reduced compared
Type Feature Overrun Amount
(without a load) to an induction motor.
A motor that can operate continuously
Induction Motor in a certain direction. Single phase and
three phase motors.
30-40 turns Electromagnetic Brake Motor
A motor that can instantly switch
between normal rotation and reverse Electromagnetic brake motors are ideal
Reversible Motor rotation. Improves the starting torque of 5-6 turns
single phase motors and incorporates for applications requiring load holding, such as
a simple brake.
vertical drive.
A motor that can hold a load when the
Electromagnetic power is off. Has a built-in 2-3 turns
By incorporating a non-excitation type
Brake Motor electromagnetic brake. electromagnetic brake, it is possible to hold the
load when the power is turned off.

Induction Motor

Induction motors are ideal for

applications that operate continuously in one
direction.

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