A custom gearmotor is one that meets your particular application specifications. It has the correct mechanical and electrical interfaces, fits within the envelope available, meets your performance, maintenance, lifetime and aftermarket criteria while it also fits within your budget. There are many questions and considerations involved in specifying the correct gearmotor for your application. They run the gamut from AC or DC, single or three phase, PSC or split phase, PMDC or BLDC, TEFC or TENV, cord or flying leads, parallel shaft or right angle, stub or hollow shaft, keyed or splined, grease or oil lubrication, face or foot mount, just to mention a few! Determining your torque requirement, output speed, overhung load, duty cycle and environmental criteria all add up to a real design engineering challenge. You could spend days perusing catalogs and web sites in search of just the standard product that meets your needs and your “needle in a haystack” search may still not reach a successful conclusion. Of course, if your requirement is for only one or two or a few dozen gearmotors annually and you have some design latitude that will allow you to specify a close, but “good enough”, standard product solution yours may be like thousands of other applications that can be fulfilled with an off-the-shelf, catalog gearmotor. However, if you’re designing equipment that will likely require thousands or gearmotors per year then you should be working with a gearmotor supplier who can give you a truly custom solution that meets all your needs and for which you don’t have to pay extra for features or performance in excess of your engineered requirement. To help you successfully specify and procure the best custom gearmotor solution, here are ten things you ought to know:

1. Involve the Gearmotor Supplier Early in the Design Process: To the extent that you engage your gearmotor supplier’s application engineers early in your design cycle, you will ensure that you meet all of your specifications as well as your budget target. Skilled and experienced gearmotor application engineers can literally save you months of time. If brought in early, they can understand, and possibly even help you design, your test protocol. The time and expense savings are significant if you are then able to avoid gearmotor iterations that may be required when you and the gearmotor supplier are not able to work together early in a team environment. A skilled gearmotor application engineer can also help improve your machine’s performance, lifetime and profitability based on what he and his company have learned from thousands of other successful custom gearmotor applications.
2. Expect Custom Engineered Samples in a Reasonably Short Timeframe: It’s not unusual to see “next day samples” touted in marketing materials. On reading the fine print, though, that only applies to a limited variety of standard, catalog products. If your application only requires slight modification to a standard item, such as shaft detail, cord or connector, gear ratio change, etc. it is not unreasonable to expect such prototypes can be turned around in a matter of a couple weeks or so. Changes to motor windings or designs, new gearheads, castings, or other truly custom solutions will take appropriately longer. However, a good gearmotor supplier will have the resources to significantly reduce leadtimes for prototypes. With today’s rapid prototyping capabilities, it is no longer necessary to wait 16 weeks or more for a custom engineered gearmotor prototype.
3. Can They Scale-Up to Meet Your Volume?: If you are considering changing gearmotor suppliers on an existing high volume project, you need to know if they have a track record of successfully ramping up new, high volume business. They should also have the capability to quickly and effectively “reverse engineer” your existing gearmotor designs. A really good gearmotor supplier is capable of engineering and delivering more than a dozen different gearmotor models that a customer may require to replace his old supplier and ramp up to thousands of units per month production within just a couple of calendar quarters.
4. Value-Added Capability Adds Value: Your gearmotor supplier should be capable of working with you to provide more than just a gearmotor. Increasingly, companies are finding they can increase productivity, reduce inventories and facility requirements by working together with their gearmotor supplier to provide engineered sub-assemblies or assemblies. Your gearmotor supplier should be willing to work with you to supply your needs to level of value add you desire.
5. Get to Know Your Gearmotor Supplier Team: Your gearmotor supplier will be an important element in your company’s supply chain and they should welcome a visit by you and your team. Take this opportunity to assess your gearmotor supplier’s facilities, personnel and quality procedures. In addition to their sales and marketing executives, you want to get to know their engineering, operations and other key executives and managers who will become an important part of your own extended team.
6. It’s Your Specification and Your Business: Your gearmotor supplier should be willing to enter into a nondisclosure agreement with your company to protect the confidentiality of your work. You’ll find that the best gearmotor suppliers often dominate a particular market segment and continue to do so because of their discrete handling of confidential information while working for several competitors in a given market. In addition, the custom gearmotor specification you develop with your gearmotor supplier is your specification that is not to be offered to others in your market, nor to your customers in the aftermarket.
7. Take Lead Time Out of the Picture: A customer-focused gearmotor supplier should be able to work cooperatively and creatively with your supply chain team to develop processes that will ensure that product lead times become a non-issue for you by employing Kan-Bans and other systems.
8. How Customer Continuity and Loyalty Play a Role: You will probably want to do business with a gearmotor supplier that is not only well-established and respected, but also one that builds long-term customer relationships. Keeping customers over periods of five, ten or twenty-five years or more signifies not only the ongoing viability of the gearmotor supplier but also his commitment to continuous improvement and performance excellence. In today’s business world, multinational companies expect long-term supplier relationships that offer ongoing productivity improvement and insulation from erratic commodity markets.
9. The Benefits of an Expanding Product Portfolio: While your short-term focus with a gearmotor supplier may be very well-defined and limited, you will undoubtedly want to align yourself with a supplier whose business model is based not only on performance excellence, but also an expanding portfolio of new products resulting from their own voice of the customer research. Such a gearmotor supplier is more likely to have the more sophisticated, energy efficient gearmotor solutions you may need for your own next generation products.
10. You Deserve a Gearmotor Supplier Who Shows Appreciation and Expresses Thanks for Your Business: The best customer and gearmotor supplier relationships are based on knowledge and understanding of each other’s businesses. The gearmotor supplier should build a strong, personal relationship with the customer that fosters open creative and constructive dialogue that helps ensure long-term success for both parties. The customer should expect to be able to call on any member of the gearmotor supplier team to solicit input, discuss issues and work on joint projects without reluctance.

Immediate visibility of entire product range complemented by videos, white papers, new closeout specials and worldwide In-Stock, Instant-Ship capability.

Screen shot from new www.BisonGear.com web site

The new Bison Gear & Engineering Corp. web site offers immediate home page visibility of Bison’s extensive line of fractional horsepower AC and DC gearmotors, electric motors, gear reducers, drives and accessories. Bison Gear’s expanding video library has been added to the new site, along with white papers, featured new products and an ever-changing special “closeouts” section.

 

“In response to our web customers and channel partners, we’ve made it much easier to quickly find Bison products through linked summaries of our entire product range on the new home page, as well as our parametric search tools that enable visitors to find products based on type, voltage, speed, power, torque or gear ratio in any combination,” said Brenda Thiessen, Bison Gear marketing supervisor. “In addition, we have included global web ordering capability for over 550 standard Bison products which are supported with same day order fulfillment through our In-Stock, Instant-Ship (ISIS) program.”

 

Visitors to the new BisonGear.com can now easily link to Bison’s Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube social media sites and also sign up to receive Bison’s “Driving Force” newsletter. 

Bison Gear & Engineering introduces six standard models of new parallel shaft permanent magnet DC gearmotors with continuous torque ratings from 30 to 500 in-lbs. (3.4 to 56.5 N-m). The new VWDIR134 DC gearmotors are available with 1/10 or 1/11 horsepower (74.6 or 67.8 watts) 90 volt brushed DC electric motors. The compact, integral gear reducers feature hardened steel helical and spur gearing for efficiency and durability, with ratios ranging from 10:1 to 266:1 and corresponding fixed output speeds from 152 to 6 RPM. The gearmotors feature built-in face mounting, compatible with Von Weise Genesis mounts, and offer overhung load (OHL) capability of 300 lbs. (136.4 kg.). For added versatility, these gearmotors also accept the new Bison TightDrive™ speed control.

Bison Gear launches 90 volt brushed DC gearmotors providing up to 500 in-lb (56.6 N-m) constant torque at speeds as low as 6 rpm and direct mount speed control option saves energy, space and wiring.

Bison Gear's new VWDIR134 Gearmotor

 

“The TightDrive™ option enables machine builders to put the control, the power and the gearmotor more conveniently at the point of use, while saving installation time and reducing costs,” said Gary Dorough, Bison Gear western regional sales manager. “As a bonus, users can maximize energy savings by easily changing speeds as their requirements change.”

 

Bison Gear’s TightDrive™ motor-mounted speed control can be easily user installed on the rear of the VWDIR134 gearmotors and offers up to a 20:1 speed range. The TightDrive™ is housed in a durable aluminum extrusion which offers NEMA 1 (IP 30) protection and superior heat dissipation. Speed is controlled with a combination on/off switch and speed potentiometer. In addition, three easily accessible adjustable potentiometers provide settings for minimum RPM, maximum RPM, and current limiting. The simple, yet innovative, SCR control architecture also provides much tighter speed regulation than alternative controls.

 

The TightDrive™ is designed for 115 volt 50/60 Hz operation and comes complete with three foot (0.9m) power cord and NEMA 5-15P plug.
Users can mount the drive directly to the motor in 90° increments to optimize position of cord exit and motor leads.

 

The new VWDIR134 DC parallel shaft gearmotors are designed for high torque commercial, industrial and agricultural applications such as in foodservice, office and medical equipment as well as a wide variety of conveying equipment. 

Bison Gear’s Innopreneurial™ application and design engineering capabilities to customize standard models to meet specific OEM needs are readily available. All of the VWDIR gearmotors are manufactured in Bison Gear’s suburban Chicago facility to Bison’s high quality standards in order to ensure a short supply chain and reliable, long-life operation. The VWDIR and TightDrive™ products are part of Bison’s new In-Stock, Instant-Ship (ISIS) program that offers same day order fulfillment on over 550 standard Bison products.

 

The VWDIR134 DC gearmotors are the thirteenth series to join Bison Gear’s comprehensive line of Von Weise Drop-In Replacement gearmotors. Bison’s VWDIR line now encompasses 90 standard models of right angle, parallel shaft, and offset parallel shaft designs utilizing AC, DC and universal electric motors from 1/30 to 1/2 horsepower (25 to 373 watts), with fixed output speeds from 1.5 to 181 RPM and continuous torque ratings up to 800 in-lbs (90.4 N-m). All of the VWDIR gearmotors are manufactured in Bison Gear’s suburban Chicago facility to Bison’s high quality standards in order to ensure a short supply chain and reliable, long-life operation.

Industrial distribution consultant, Frank Hurtte, posted an excellent article entitled, “The Distributor’s Mid-Recession Checklist“. It offered some excellent advice for distributors in today’s recessionary economy and stimulated us to post the following comment in reply:

Excellent article, Frank. I’d like to suggest that the supplier evaluation step might include the question, “How is our supplier willing to work with us now, under these extraordinary economic circumstances?”

Every product category in industrial distribution is made up of numerous competing manufacturers. A good manufacturer should have a plan in place to not only ensure his success in a bad economy but, more importantly, help his channel partners build their businesses as well with new customers and increased market share.

For example, Bison Gear is a fractional horsepower gearmotor manufacturer. We’ve put in place a plan to enable us and our distribution partners to more aggressively win competitive new business. It works because we work together with our distribution partners. In a competitive situation where a competing distributor has the business with a competing product, we let our channel partners know it’s possible to capture that business if they take the time to do more than just pass along the simple “what’s your best price?” query. To ensure we’re both successful, we ask distributors to provide us with the answers to three simple questions (they should be asking anyway)to get our best offer:

1. Annual unit volume and number of shipments?
2. Who is the competition (i.e., manufacturer X, Y or Z)? (We won’t entertain special pricing to shift Bison business from one distributor to another).
3. More importantly, what is the target price and to whom (you as distributor or customer)?

Of course, we have a 24-hour turnaround goal on these competitive quote requests and support our distribution partners with an In-Stock, Instant-Ship (ISIS) program covering all our standard products.

The point is, that it takes teamwork to be successful today and manufacturer programs enacted to build distributor business in tough times should be capable of being able to continue to grow the relationship and mutual business when good times return.

Bison Gear & Engineering Corp. is offering value pricing on over 35 models of AC electric motors meeting International Electrotechnical Commission standards which are widely used as replacement motors in a wide variety of globally produced production machinery. Ranging from less than 1/8 to over 1.5 horsepower (90 to 1,100 watts) these IEC motors feature:

Value pricing on over 35 models of European standard AC motors from 1/8 to 1.5 hp (90 to 1,100 W) featuring UL, CUL and CE ratings.

• Single phase 115V and three phase 230/460V AC motors
• Die cast aluminum enclosures with IP54 rating
• B5 C face mounting or B14 flange mounting options
• UL, CUL, and CE ratings 
• Terminal board for wiring connections
• Gasketed junction box
• Premium motor duty ball bearings
• Dynamically balanced rotors for low noise
• Class F insulated for operation in 40 deg. C ambient

“This is a unique opportunity and we have over 1200 of these quality IEC motors on-the-shelf available for immediate shipment,” said John Morehead, Bison Gear vice president, strategic planning and marketing. “We know that everyone is looking for a bargain today and we’ve priced these AC motors accordingly. However, this is on a first-come, while they last basis.”

Complete details and pricing on the IEC motors can be found on the Bison Gear web site. 

Dual voltage, dual frequency single-phase permanent split capacitor 1/15 and 1/10 hp (49.2 and 74.5 W) input electric motors offer gearmotor versatility and Von Weise backward compatibility.

Bison Gear's New VWDIR104 AC Parallel Shaft Gearmotor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bison Gear has just added a new parallel shaft AC gearmotor, available in four standard models, to its expanding line of Von Weise Drop-In Replacement gearmotors. The new VWDIR104 AC gearmotors are available with either 1/10 or 1/15 horsepower (74.5 or 49.2 watts) 115/230V, 60/50 Hz permanent split capacitor electric motors. The compact, integral gear reducers feature hardened steel helical and spur gearing for efficiency and durability, with ratios ranging from 108:1 to 266:1. Corresponding fixed output speeds are from 15 to 6 RPM, with continuous torque ratings from 340 to 500 in-lbs (38.4 to 56.5 N-m).   The gearmotors feature built-in face mounting which is compatible with Genesis mounts and overhung load (OHL) capability up to 400 lbs. (181.8 kg.). 

“In response to customer needs, this is the twelfth new Von Weise Drop-In Replacement Gearmotor we have introduced in less than a year,” said John Morehead, Bison Gear vice president, strategic planning and marketing. “We have also made this part of our new In-Stock, Instant-Ship (ISIS) program that offers same day order fulfillment on over 550 standard Bison products for our expanding distribution partner and customer base.”

 

The new VWDIR104 AC parallel shaft gearmotors are designed for high torque, single phase commercial, industrial and agricultural applications such as in foodservice, office and medical equipment as well as a wide variety of conveying equipment. 

U.L. and CSA recognition are standard and CE recognition can be provided for OEMs. Bison Gear’s Innopreneurial(TM) application and design engineering capabilities to customize standard models to meet specific OEM needs are readily available. All of the VWDIR gearmotors are manufactured in Bison Gear’s suburban Chicago facility to Bison’s high quality standards in order to ensure a short supply chain and reliable, long-life operation.

 

 

 

The VWDIR104 AC gearmotors join Bison Gear’s comprehensive line of Von Weise Drop-In Replacement gearmotors. Bison’s VWDIR line has expanded to 79 standard models of parallel shaft, right angle and offset parallel shaft designs utilizing AC, DC and universal motors from 1/30 to 1/2 horsepower (25 to 373 watts), with fixed output speeds from 1.5 to 181 RPM and continuous torque ratings up to 800 in-lbs (90.4 N-m). 

 

What a pleasant surprise today to learn that the gearmotor animation video we posted on YouTube has now been viewed over 40,000 times. Never would have thought that possible in such a relatively short time, particularly given the subject matter. Of course, we’ve now added a total of nine videos to Bison’s YouTube “channel”. Check them out: http://www.youtube.com/user/BisonGear

more about “Bison Gear YouTube Video Receives 40,…“, posted with vodpod

 

 

Scientists at the University of Utah have discovered nanoscale electric motors in the human inner ear. Originally used, 400 million years ago, for balance and equilibrium, they evolved over time to amplify sounds to enable communication. The tiny hair-like liquid crystal membrane tubes are powered by potassium rather than electric current. The discovery of these flexo-electric motors opens up new field of further human motor research. More>

Same day shipment of over 500 standard AC and DC gearmotors, electric motors and gear reducers now available.

Bison Gear's In-Stock, Instant-Ship Program

In order to keep customers productive in uncertain times, Bison Gear & Engineering Corp. unveils its new “in-stock, instant-ship” (ISIS) program covering over 500 standard models of AC and DC fractional horsepower gearmotors, electric motors and gear reducers. The objective of Bison’s ISIS program is same-day shipment for all orders received prior to noon (CST).

“We strive to maintain on-the-shelf inventory of every Bison Gear standard product featured in our catalog and on our web site,” said Mike Niemela, Bison Gear director of distribution. “This extensive inventory is in support of our distribution partners to meet their customers’ unanticipated low-volume requirements, as well as the requirements of those customers whose immediate product needs may be best fulfilled by ordering through Bison’s web site.”

Expedited next day, two day and three day delivery options are available with Bison’s ISIS program and orders receive email shipment confirmation with tracking data. In addition, Bison does not charge a “handling fee” on web, Canadian and other international orders. The in-stock quantity and replenishment schedules are continually reviewed and adjusted to ensure the highest service levels and customer satisfaction.

All of Bison’s 500+ gearmotor products are American made to Bison’s high quality standards in order to ensure reliable, long-life operation and direct supply chain fulfillment from Bison’s modern St. Charles, Illinois facilities. In addition, Bison’s Innopreneurial™ application and design engineering capabilities to customize or adapt standard products to meet specific OEM needs are readily available.

Compact, multi-featured SCR variable speed drive attaches directly to permanent magnet DC motors and gearmotors to conserve energy by changing speeds with requirements, while offering tighter speed regulation.

  Bison Gear’s new TightDrive™ permanent magnet DC (PMDC) speed control was designed for applications that require a convenient location for the motor control … on the motor! The majority of PMDC gearmotors and motors used in industry today require speed controls in order to operate. Typically, the control is wired to the motor through a relatively expensive cable and the motor and control can be many steps away from each other. Bison’s voice of the customer research indicated a need for a convenient “point of use” motor speed control that was robust for the industrial environment and offered practical features and exceptional value.

Bison Gear & Engineering’s new TightDrive™ motor-mounted speed control can be easily field mounted on Bison PMDC gearmotors up to 1/6 horsepower (124 watts) and offers a 20:1 speed range with maximum output of 90 Volts. The TightDrive™ is housed in a durable aluminum extrusion which offers NEMA 1 (IP 30) protection and superior heat dissipation. Speed is controlled with a combination on/off switch and speed potentiometer. In addition, three easily accessible adjustable potentiometers provide settings for minimum RPM, maximum RPM, and current limiting.  The simple, yet sophisticated, design also provides much tighter speed regulation than alternative controls.

 ”Simple solutions are often the best,” said Matt Hanson, Bison Gear vice president, portfolio management. “The new TightDrive™  enables machine builders to put the control, the power and the gearmotor more conveniently at the point of use, while saving installation time and reducing costs. As a bonus, users can maximize energy savings by easily changing speeds as requirements change.”

  
The TightDrive™ is designed for 115 volt 50/60 Hz operation and comes complete with three foot power cord and NEMA 5-15P plug.

Users can mount the drive directly to the motor in 90° increments to optimize position of cord exit and motor leads. The TightDrive™ speed controls are available from Bison’s distribution partners or directly from Bison’s web site.

Like all of Bison’s gearmotor products, the TightDrive™ speed controls are American made to Bison’s high quality standards in order to ensure reliable, long-life operation and direct supply chain fulfillment from Bison’s modern St. Charles, Illinois facilities. In addition, Bison’s Innopreneurial™ application and design engineering capabilities to customize or adapt these controls to meet specific OEM needs are readily available.