Electric Motors
Equipmake has the capability to design and prototype all motor types. Specialising in permanent magnet synchronous and brushless DC (BLDC) motors, we have also developed induction and switch reluctance machines.
Our development portfolio includes a 120kW, 12,000 rpm high performance electric vehicle traction motors, a 120,000 rpm 17kW generator for a gas turbine electric vehicle range extender, high speed blower motors for industrial fans, and a high-speed motor for a commercial vehicle compressor.
The design process involves:
- Equipmake undertaking a feasibility study based on your requirements to size the motor. The initial feasibility study will include an initial mechanical stress, thermal, and electrical performance prediction.
- A detailed design can be undertaken, this involves an iterative process optimising the design considering the various cooling, mechanical, and electromagnetic requirements. In order propose possible performance, efficiency, and cost effectiveness.
- Equipmake has the facilities to prototype the motor and perform validation testing including characterising the motor performance and validating the motor against the original performance prediction.
- Equipmake has an extensive motor supply chain network, and can assist its customers in costing and setting up for production, or alternatively, we have the capability in house for low volume production.
To reduce our development lead times, manufacture components in-house and deliver prototypes in impressive timeframes we have invested in:
Motor Rig Testing
- Variable power supply 350V – 800V DC
- Up to 400kW
- Drive-cycle simulation
- Power analyzer motor efficiency mapping
- Thermostatically controlled coolant loop
- Full data analysis
- HBM torque Transducers
Manufacturing
- 4 Axis MAZAK VCN 403A CNC
- 5 Axis MAZAK VTC800 / 30SR
- 5 Axis MAZAK VARIAXIS C600
- Mitutoyo CMM
- Winding facility for concentrated windings
- Rotor balancing
- 2 x GF Charmilles ECut600 wire EDM
- Zwick Roell LTM 10kN fatigue test machine
Power Electronics
Equipmake has extensive experience in the development of Power Electronic systems across a number of global industries.
Power electronic projects include the development of a patented system to control the railway signaling 650V Ac power supplies, the development of a system to provide AC mains power to a mobile food delivery vehicle, variable voltage DC power supplies for test equipment, and the development of motor control inverters.
For our motor projects, the development of the power electronic control units in parallel with the motor design, enable us to produce an optimised electronic / motor package. Often, a motor is designed, and then the power electronic inverter is chosen. This may result in a sub optimal design, which will also increase costs in production. We work closely with suppliers of IGBT’s, Silicon Carbide technology and DC link capacitors, to enable us to produce the best design compromise, improving performance and reducing cost.
Functional Safety is an important requirement in hazardous applications such as automotive traction inverters. The automotive industry has adopted the functional safety standard, ISO26262, which defines the requirements for the functional safety of electronic equipment on vehicles. Whilst the compliance of the vehicle is the responsibility of the manufacturer, the task can be assisted via the application of sub systems which have been designed with the standard in mind. Equipmake is currently developing an automotive inverter to functional safety standard ASIL D which will enable it to be part of a compliant ISO26262 system.
