Did you know that there are over 420,000 machinists in the USA?
This growing industry is part of the backbone of production that has supported recent economic growth.
If you work as a machinist you will know that safety in the workplace is very important. Knowing how to stop a machine effectively depends on the effectiveness of the motor brakes you fit on the machine.
If you are interested in learning more about the most effective types of motor brakes, why not check out our in-depth article.
Electrical Braking System
Electrical braking uses the principles of flux and torque to reduce the speed of the machine. It is very flexible and allows the operator to both stop and slow the machine gradually.
While it is able to gradually slow the speed of the machine, the downside is that it is not suitable for emergency stop braking or even parking braking.
The battery powers the electrical braking system and energizes the electromagnet on the backplate. This power causes the brake shoes to expand and slow the machine. Hence the electrical charge stored in the battery brakes the machine.
DC Braking
DC braking works on a similar principle to electrical braking with some distinguishing differences.
First, the operator must disengage power from the machine. Following this, the DC injection braking will create a static magnetic field. This creates torque which will forcibly slow and stop the machine.
Since this is acting in the opposite direction to the running of the motor, it creates heat. Therefore the braking action should not be allowed to continue for an extended period of time to prevent overheating.
Hydraulic Braking
Whereas the above methods use electricity to push the brake pads towards the moving parts of the motor, hydraulic braking uses different principles.
In a system that uses hydraulic braking, the operator will typically push a pedal. this pedal will force hydraulic fluid into piping leading to the brake pads.
Pascal’s law indicates that this liquid will apply the same pressure to each brake pad simultaneously and so the braking action will be applied evenly through the wheels of the machine.
You may have seen this type of braking system in machine shops or in vehicles on the road. It has the added advantage that liquids used in the braking process will have high burning points and so are predictable and safe.
Everything You Need to Know About Motor Brakes and More
If you work with vehicles and machines you will understand that you need to be able to stop them effectively and efficiently. Choosing the right motor brakes is a crucial part of this.
If you would like to learn more about engineering and production topics, why not take a look at our other blog articles. We research and publish the latest data. Take a moment to see how we can help you today.
