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About MagnaDrive Drives Couplings News Links Home

Operational Questions Q: When installing MagnaDrive's products, do you need costly laser equipment for alignment? A: The fact that the two components have no physical connection means that vibration will not transfer between shafts, so the time-consuming and costly laser alignment process typically needed for conventional coupling installation is no longer necessary. Q: Do MagnaDrive's products create heat when running? A: On a centrifugal application with a varying torque load the magnet rotors do not get hot but the conductor does rise in temperature. The heat generated in the conductor is dissipated by airflow. Q: Does the MagnaDrive ASD work on high voltage applications? A: Yes. The MagnaDrive ASD is a simple mechanical device - the product works the same regardless of the power supply voltage. The MagnaDrive ASD is also unaffected by power quality. So-called "dirty" power, which is typical of many international markets, will not affect MagnaDrive ASD performance, but will destroy a Variable Frequency Drive. Q: What type of maintenance does the MagnaDrive ASD require? A: There are two bearings and four pivot assemblies in the MagnaDrive ASD that require periodic greasing. The grease fittings are easily accessible and can be serviced when the maintenance person greases the motor. Q: I have one brand of actuator in my plant, is the unit compatible or do I need a special actuator? A: Any actuator that has a 90-degree stroke will work with the MagnaDrive ASD. Q: What kind of power supply is needed for positioning the actuator? A: Electric 110-volt AC power, or instrument air pressure. The system is designed to easily retrofit and accepts a 4-20 mA or 3-15 psi control signal. Q: What happens if the load freezes up during operation? A: Because the rotor dynamics are split and no physical connection is present in the unit, a shear pin effect will take place saving the motor and shafts from costly damage. Q: Will the MagnaDrive ASD hold a process to a given set point? A: Yes. When pumping water at 100 gallons per minute, the MagnaDrive ASD can hold its set point to .50 of a gallon. Q: How much misalignment can the MagnaDrive ASD tolerate without affecting the performance or creating vibration? A: Because there is no physical contact between shafts, parallel misalignment up to .200 inch is tolerated without creating vibration. In conventional shaft connection technology, misalignment results in vibration, significantly reducing equipment life. Q: What is the distance required between the motor and load device? A: This depends on the size of the MagnaDrive product. The distance between shaft ends (DBSE) for ASDs ranges from 12 to 64 inches. The Coupling DBSE ranges from 4 to 10 inches. Q: How much slip loss will there be when a MagnaDrive product is fully coupled? A: Typically, when the MagnaDrive product is operating at full speed, it will slip around one to three percent depending on the application. Q: Does the MagnaDrive ASD create any electrical harmonics when operating? A: There are no electrical harmonics. Unlike a VFD that can cause serious vibration problems such as bearing failures and fluting due to electrical harmonics, the MagnaDrive ASD does not create any electronic frequencies. Q: How can I save energy by using the MagnaDrive ASD over a valve or damper? A: By using the MagnaDrive ASD to control flow in a process instead of a control valve or damper, you save energy by slowing the load speed to maintain flow. This means the flow becomes unrestricted, unloading the motor and saving energy. Also, this technology has the ability to start the equipment completely disconnected from the load, which means shorter duration of in-rush current to the motor at start up and reduced shock loading from hard starting the equipment. General MagnaDrive Questions | Competitive Questions | Operational Questions | Magnet Questions FAQ | Contact Us | Home Copyright © 2008 MagnaDrive Corporation, All Rights Reserved.