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Session 3264

Design and Fabrication of a Low Voltage Direct Current Electric Motor

Dr. John Marshall University of Southern Maine

Introduction

This is an excellent design and fabrication project that can be used in introductory engineering classes to teach motor principles as well as material selection. The basic concept of this activity was originally developed by Beakman’s World, and I have improved it over the past ten years while teaching motor principles at the university level. Standard Radio Shack materials can be used.

The primary objective of this project is to gain an understanding of electric motor principle, and the materials needed to convert electricity and magnetism into motion. Key words related to this project include: conductors; insulators; enamel; magnetism; electromagnet; and motor principles. Only a very basic knowledge of electricity and magnetism are need as a prerequisite.

When being utilized as a “materials” experiment, students can experiment with conductors other than copper (such as aluminum and steel) and detect slower (less efficient) motor operation.

Low Voltage Direct Current Electric Motor Operation

Heavy gauge copper wire is used to fabricate the coil cradle, and the cradle is attached to a standard “D” size battery with elastic bands. After winding the motor coil, we remove insulation from two locations with sandpaper and assemble the device.

When the un-insulted parts of the coil make contact with the cradle, current flows through the coil, making it into an electromagnet. Since magnets attract, the coil attempts to align itself with the magnet. However, when the coil turns to face the magnet, contact is broken, and the magnetic field collapses. Inertia causes the coil to continue around until contact is reestablished and the process repeats itself. In other words, the motor revolves continuously.

Proceedings of the 2003 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright 2003, American Society for Engineering Education

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Marshall, J. (2003, June), Design And Fabrication Of A Low Voltage Direct Current Electric Motor Paper presented at 2003 Annual Conference, Nashville, Tennessee. 10.18260/1-2--12273