New book explains motor and drive technology

New book from ISA demystifies motor and drive technology used in today's modern manufacturing processes

A new book from ISA, the Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society, called "Motors and Drives: A Practical Technology Guide", demystifies motor and drive technology used in today's modern manufacturing processes.

A drive is a device that controls speed, torque, direction, and the resulting horsepower of a motor.

There are many drives on the market today.

Motors and Drives compares two drive technologies, AC and DC, and provides questions and issues for manufacturers and engineers to review when making any drive technology decision.

The book introduces engineering concepts of motors and drives in a way that can be easily understood by both engineers and manufacturers unfamiliar with the technology and by technicians who are technically literate but not accustomed to complex theory and mathematics.

Motors and Drives helps the reader "start from scratch," by gathering and reviewing a collection of basic information, from electrical principles to DC and AC motor principles of operation.

It then provides an overview of drive components and types of drives, with special emphasis given to common motion control applications for DC and AC drive technology.

From the basics, the reader is led on a historical path, reviewing DC and AC drives that are tens years old or more.

The focus of this section, however, points to the new and improved technology in both types of drives.

The reader then learns about feedback methods and devices and drive system control methods.

The book ends with general principles of troubleshooting and ideas on how to conduct routine drive maintenance.

Summary sections and "test your knowledge" questions are provided at the end of each chapter to assist in confirming important points.

Appendices are also offered as a reference section, providing terms and definitions, as well as formulae, conversions, and enclosure information.

Motors and Drives features simple explanations, summaries, review questions, glossaries, and reference tables.

The text has its roots in the practical side of drive and motor use, with the "design engineering" side of technology presented in commonly used terms.

The author, Dave Polka, makes an overall attempt to start with the basics, and then move into the more complex concepts of drive operation and design.

Design engineers, automation and control specialists, maintenance technicians, and students will find this book to be an invaluable resource, both as a tutorial and as a desk reference.

The author draws on over twenty years of experience as an instructor and developer of technical support and training materials for major drive manufacturing companies.

He has written the book in order that it may be used as a resource for people who design, apply, or maintain AC or DC motor speed controls.

Motors and Drives: A Practical Technology Guide is available through American Technical Publishers and sells for £70 (GBP).

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