Engineering Excellence in the Fractional Horsepower Motion Control Industry
Bodine Electric Company has been the industry choice for high-performance AC Induction,
Permanent Magnet DC, and Brushless DC motors, gearmotors, and controls for over 100 years.
Established in 1905, Bodine Electric continues to set the standards for quality manufacturing
and engineering excellence in the power transmission and motion control industry.
Bodine's commitment to quality begins with our highly trained engineering professionals at
two main company facilities. Chicago, Illinois is the location of the corporate headquarters,
which includes the design engineering teams and the leading technologies in gear manufacturing.
Peosta, Iowa is the home of our assembly operations, which houses the industry's latest
winding, machining, and assembly equipment. Final assembly operations are supported by
several manufacturing engineers, as well as a Lean Manufacturing team -- all with 10+
years experience in FHP motor manufacturing.
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Our experienced team of Mechanical and
Electrical Engineers
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Manufacturing and Assembly Operations
Peosta, Iowa, USA
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Every product delivered to our customers passes through the hands of our integrated engineering
product teams. Comprised of mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, and industrial engineers,
the product teams are the essential infrastructure of the quality Bodine product. Team members
work together to develop the engineered solution from concept to delivery.
Electrical Engineering Excellence: Control Design
Electrical engineers at Bodine Electric have been designing high-quality
motion control solutions for over 40 years. Our engineers are regularly
exposed to application challenges in the mechanics of motion control,
heat transfer, power management and other related areas that provide
valuable non-traditional skills and know-how.
These power transmission and motion control specific skills allow Bodine
to deliver integrated solutions, and excellent application engineering support
to all customers.
Bodine has helped its customers with thousands of successful application solutions
including: medical devices, labeling equipment, printing presses, photocopiers, scientific
and laboratory equipment, food processing, machine tools, and factory automation.
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Our customers come to us for our design skills and application experience.
Innovation and creativity drive our electrical engineers to create hi-tech
control solutions that enable our customers to establish market leadership.
Developments such as mounting integrated drive electronics within our motor
frame eliminates the cost of a separate control housing, reduce the number
of components and connections, and results in a reduction in overall
package size.
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The latest industry software enables Bodine engineers to be more productive
with CAD schematics that directly download to our PC board design tools.
Circuit modeling and simulation tools are used to verify product functionality
and performance before any prototypes are fabricated. The final design
information is then sent to our automated surface assembly equipment for
sample and production runs.
Bodine's vision for future products is based upon hi-tech components, such as
digital signal processors and programmable logic, giving us one of the most flexible
product lines in the industry.
Mechanical Engineering Excellence
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Bodine Electric employs some of the world's best gear design and
manufacturing engineers. Equipped with the latest computer technology
and software programs, mechanical engineers are able to design the
longest lasting gearmotors in the industry. All gearing is designed
to AGMA9 standards or higher. Developing 3D models and conducting
finite element analysis on static and dynamic components enable designs
to be verified for some of the industry's most demanding applications.
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Innovation and ingenuity are strong attributes of our mechanical engineers.
Featured in Design News magazine as the "Kings of Custom Design",
Bodine engineers can transform some of the toughest requirements into
manufactured products. Developing reliable products for target markets,
Bodine has enjoyed success in being the benchmark in those markets.
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In applications where mechanical durability and longevity are required,
Bodine is the choice in the market. Our products can be seen at many engineering
and industry trade shows, and in applications spanning all major industries.
Photo: A running mannequin at the National Design Engineering Show.
Product: 34R6BFCI-GB, right-angle, double reduction, AC gearmotor.
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Bodine products provide motion in applications from conveyors to moving mannequins.
With over 1000 standard product designs, and thousands of customized,
engineered-to-order OEM solutions, Bodine Electric will put quality into
your motion needs.
Bodine customers come from a wide range of industries: food service and
food processing, medical & healthcare, material handling, printing and finishing,
office automation, packaging, laboratory equipment, entertainment, machine tool,
architectural products, industrial automation, graphics and promotion,
plastic processing, transportation, motion picture, and many more.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What control can I use for my motor?
Our Control Selection Guides can help you select an optimal control:
Which Bodine motors are CE approved?
Most AC and PMDC motors and gearmotors, the INTEGRAmotors, and most speed controls
carry the CE mark. For model-specific details, please contact our
customer service department,
or download the PDF version of
our catalog.
Does Bodine manufacture explosion-proof products?
We have reviewed the design feasibility for converting some of our standard designs into explosion-proof versions.
Minimum order quantities apply.
Please contact your local Bodine
sales representative.
Does Bodine manufacture brake motors?
Yes, Bodine has manufactured custom motors and gearmotors with mounted brakes for many decades.
Minimum order quantities apply.
Please contact your local Bodine
sales representative.
Which motors/gearmotors are reversible?
All motors and gearmotors shown in
our catalog are reversible.
To prevent gearing damage, most gearmotors require a full stop before reversing.
What is obtainable torque?
Obtainable torque is the maximum output torque (peak torque) for a gearmotor.
Gearmotors may be operated at these levels only for brief periods due to thermal
or mechanical limitations.
Can continuous duty motors/gearmotors be used intermittently?
All rated torques shown in
our catalog are for continuous operation.
Continuous duty products can be used intermittently. Operation at loads higher
than nameplate ratings is possible for short periods as long as there are rest
periods for cooling. Loads higher than obtainable torque for gearmotors are
never recommended. The temperature of the motor should be monitored during
testing to make sure it is not overheating
Where is the winding type shown?
The winding type is shown on the heading of each selection table for each product.
It is also included in the Bodine Frame Type as a 2 letter code. On a motor, it is
the last 2 characters. For example, Bodine Frame Type 42A5BEPM is a "PM" or Permanent Magnet.
On a gearmotor, it is the 2 characters before the dash (-). For example,
Bodine Frame Type 34R6BFCI-W2 is a "Cl" or Permanent Split Capacitor Motor.
The Technical Discussions at the beginning of each section in
our catalog provide more information
on the characteristics of the winding types in the section.
Can Single speed motors and gearmotors ever be operated as adjustable speed?
Three phase (PP), 3 phase synchronous (YP), and some Permanent Split Capacitor (Cl) designs may be operated
as adjustable speed with suitable controllers.
Is an adjustable speed system ever appropriate for a single speed application?
Adjustable speed systems are sometimes appropriate for single speed applications.
If the desired speed is not known or not offered in a single speed product, an
adjustable speed system may be set to the desired speed. For a low volume requirement,
this approach will normally be more cost effective than changing ratios or making up
special gearing.
What is a "synchronous" motor?
A synchronous motor is an induction motor that operates directly from AC power
and rotates at an exact multiple of the line frequency. Common synchronous induction
motor speeds on 60 Hz are 1800 and 3600 RPM.
What is IP-44?
IP number is an international system for rating enclosures. An IP-44 rating is roughly
equivalent to NEMA 12 for dust and water resistance.
What is meant by the term self locking?
Self locking refers to the tendency of some gearing to resist movement when
the gearmotor is at rest and the load is attempting to move. An example is
a load on a conveyer belt trying to drive the system backwards.
Which gearheads are self locking?
Parallel shaft gearheads and right angle gearheads with low ratios are generally
not considered to be self locking. Right angle gearheads with ratios greater
than 20:1 are often considered to be self locking. They will resist movement
up to their torque rating. As the gearing nears the end of its useful life or
if it is subjected to overload conditions, it may wear to the point where it is
no longer self locking. Self locking gearing is not a recommended method for
preventing movement in applications where this movement may cause injury or damage.
An external brake is recommended for those applications.
Which products may be operated with the shaft vertical?
Motors without gearing and K-2 gearmotors may be operated in any position.
See Gearmotor Mounting Positions on page
ii of
our catalog.
What will happen if a 60 Hz induction motor is operated on 50 Hz?
A motor designed for 60 Hz operation will run at 5/6 rated speed on 50 Hz. For example,
a motor rated 1700 RPM on 60 Hz will run at 1400 RPM on 50 Hz. Bodine 60 Hz type Cl motors
will run hotter on 50 Hz. The motor temperature should be monitored during testing to
make sure it is not overheating. 60 Hz versions of Bodine type Sl motors should not be
operated on 50 Hz.
Can more than one motor be operated from a single control?
Operation of more than one motor from a single control is not normally recommended (PMDC or BLDC).
However, when cost is a primary concern, a multiple motor/single control system with either permanent magnet motors
and control or 3 phase motors and control may be successfully implemented. More than one AC three-phase,
inverter duty motor/gearmotor may be operated with a single AC speed control (=inverter, = adjustable speed drive),
as long as the sum of the motor currents does not exceed the rated output current of the control. Motor speeds
should not fluctuate as long as the motors are not overloaded and the sum of the motor currents does not exceed
the rated output current of the control.
What is radial load?
Radial load is a force pushing or pulling the side of the output shaft. It is shown in the diagram (at right) as
Fr.
Exceeding the allowable radial load for a motor or gearmotor will cause premature wear of output
shaft bearings and gearing and could cause the shaft to break. Fr may be the result of a weight
on the shaft, belt tension or torque transmitted through a belt, chain, gear, or certain flexible
couplings.
Our catalog shows the permissible radial load
for each motor and gearmotor. In calculating these values, the following assumptions were made:
- The radial load is in the worst case direction, i.e. pushing or pulling the shaft sideways.
- The motor or gearmotor is delivering rated torque.
- The radial load was applied at distance "d" from the hub or mounting surface. Higher radial loads may be applied closer in on the shaft. Lower radial loads are permitted further out on the shaft.
Flexible couplings are often used to avoid radial load. Most flexible couplings are
designed so that they do not transmit radial load, however this should be verified by the
coupling manufacturer.
What is axial load?
Axial load is a force on the output shaft into or out of the motor or gearmotor.
It as shown in the diagram (at right) as
Fa. Exceeding the
allowable axial load for a motor or gearmotor will cause premature wear of output shaft
bearings and gearing.
Our Small Motor, Gearmotor and Control Handbook (ISBN: 9994675133) is intended
to provide design engineers with the basic information they need to successfully
and safely select and use these products in their applications. Service technicians,
teachers, students, and machinery operators also find this reference material
helpful. Over the past fifty years, tens of thousands of copies have been purchased
and are in daily use.
Download PDF (5,686KB)
