A few new tools, software and starter kits from several motor companies make selecting the right motor or motion system almost a breeze. Motortec STP, for example, is a free download for calculating speed, torque, and power from Groschopp Inc., Sioux Center, Iowa, at www.groschopp.com/stp_plus.php. One feature lets users estimate electrical current and losses. “A major question in sizing a motor and making the right selection has to do with knowing if the available current will support the required output power,” says vice president of engineering and the program's author Ron Didier. “STP Plus lets users determine the current requirement based on the available voltage, and make sure that the efficiency of the specified motor will generate the required power.”

Didier says that Wattage loss is a strong indicator of the heat the motor will generate, based on efficiency. “If you know a motor's rating and the heat it can dissipate, you can make sure the electrical loss doesn't exceed the ratings. This is of particular interest when dealing with intermittent duty applications. We know that if a motor runs too hot, the insulation of the motor degrades. For every 10 degrees Celsius a motor operates above its rated temperature, its insulation life is decreased by one half, which is significant.”

Another online tool promises to help pick the best linear guide by educating users. Visitors to www.linearguidance.danahermotion.com can take a linear aptitude test, review round versus square rail technology and related case studies, get answers to questions in the FAQ section, and even get specific solutions to a particular application by using the application analyzer. The new site is from Thomson, a division of Danaher Motion, Wood Dale, Ill.

The Microsystems Starter Kit with synchronous drive systems from MicroMo Electronics Inc., Clearwater, Fla., micromo.com, contains drive electronics, an adaptor board, and a motor. The kit lets design engineers get started with a MicroMo miniature synchronous motor. The starter kit comes with dc brushless motors series 0206 B, 0308 B, and 1202 BS/BH. Each motor easily hooks up to an adapter board which contains an integrated oscillator for speed control. The PWM frequency is 500 kHz and the motor can run in either direction.

The 0206 B is a small brushless dc motor with a 1.9-mm diameter and a 5.5-mm length. It weighs a mere 0.09 grams yet has a continuous torque of 0.012 mNm and speeds to 100,000 rpm.

The redesigned Smoovy series 0308 B motor uses the “System Faulhaber” skewed winding in combination with a rotor made of Neodymium rare-earth magnets to provide cog-free motion. The bearing system of the Series 0308 B brushless dc motor is now composed of jewel bearings. The motor has 3-mm external diameter, an 8-mm length, and weighs 0.33 g.

The Penny motor Series 1202 BH is a flat brushless dc design. It has a 12-mm diameter, 2-mm height, and 1.1-g weight. It has continuous torque of 0.12 mNm with speeds to 60,000 rpm. The motor's rotor is produced using photolithography which allows for precise, synchronous operation without cogging.