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LAMINATIONS

The steel portion of the rotor and stator cores make up a series of thin laminations (sheets) which are stacked and fastened together by cleats, rivets or welds.  Laminations are used instead of a solid piece in order to reduce eddy-current losses.

LARGE MOTORS

Usually refers to AC motors with 5000 series frames and above or DC motors with 500 series frames and larger.

LOAD

The burden imposed on a motor by the driven machine.  It is often stated as the torque required to overcome the resistance of the machine it drives.  Sometimes “load” is synonymous with “required power.”

LOCKED ROTOR CURRENT

Steady state current taken from the line with the rotor at standstill (at rated voltage and frequency).  This is the current seen when starting the motor and load.

LOCKED ROTOR TORQUE

The minimum torque that a motor will develop at rest for all angular positions of the rotor (with rated voltage applied at rated frequency).

LOSSES

A motor converts electrical energy into a mechanical energy and in so doing, encounters losses.  These losses are all the energy that is put into a motor and not transformed to usable power but are converted into heat causing the temperature of the windings and other motor parts to rise.

LUBRICATION

In order to reduce wear and avoid overheating certain motor components lubrication is required (application of an oil or grease).  The bearings are the major motor component requiring lubrication (as per manufacturer’s instructions).  Excess lubrication can however damage the windings and internal switches, etc.