Baldor Motors
Known for their top-notch quality, toughness, and performance, Baldor Reliance motors can be found in a wide range of industrial applications. The Baldor Electric company was eventually bought out by the ABB brand and now operates as a member of the ABB Drives and Mechanical Power Transmission division.
Baldor provides a variety of motor types, ranging from AC and DC motors to servo and gear motors. Each is designed for certain applications. The company does a lot to ensure that its electric motors are exactly what any given customer needs. For instance, take the company's AC motors. They're offered in both single- and three-phase types. At first glance, these motors are not seen as being particularly different—except maybe for the fact that their base speed is 1,750 rpm instead of the 1,440 to 1,620 rpm of competing AC motors.
Baldor motors are reliable. They are made with top-notch materials and sophisticated manufacturing techniques, which ensure that they will perform for a long time and not go down way too soon. By "top-notch materials," I mean that whatever goes into these motors, even if some other manufacturer might also use some of the same stuff, virtually none of them has the manufacturing sophistication, or the capability, to use these materials as well, and at such a high level, as Baldor can.
Products
FAQs
Are Baldor Reliance NEMA motors part of the mechanical power transmission products?
Yes, Baldor Reliance NEMA motors are part of the mechanical power transmission products offered by Baldor Electric Company.
Which Baldor motors have mounted bearings and enclosed gearing?
Baldor gear motors have mounted bearings and enclosed gearing, providing a compact and efficient solution for applications requiring integrated motor and gearbox assemblies.
Motor Starters, Soft Starters & VFDs
Motor Starters
Motor starters safely start and stop a motor in industrial applications. They are designed with a contactor, overload and circuit protection. They are used when basic motor control is required, where torque on the motor is not a concern and speed control is not needed. The advantages of motor starters include: lower cost, allows for remote operation, allows for monitoring of motor state (with the use of auxiliary contacts) and they are safe and efficient. The disadvantages include: high inrush current that can cause fuses to blow and breakers to trip if the inrush is too high, and the starter will allow a full torque to start the motor which can cause the motor to ramp up to full speed very quickly potentially causing the motor to wear and degrade prematurely.
Soft Starters
Soft starters protect motors from inrush current by gently ramping up the motor to full speed. They provide all of the same functions as a traditional motor starter. The advantages of soft starters include: they are less expensive than a VFD when only startup control is needed, they are a smaller system than a VFD where space is a concern and they prevent unwanted torque upon startup, prolonging the life of the motor. The disadvantages include: they are more expensive than a traditional motor starter and they do not allow for full speed control.
Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs)
Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) allow for the slow ramp up of a motor during startup and the slowing down of the motor during shutdown. They also allow for full speed control during the entire run cycle of the motor. VFDs provide the same functions as both the traditional motor starters and soft starters. The advantages of VFDs include: full speed control (start, stop and in-between), more custom control and monitoring, energy savings due to efficient motor usage and less wear and tear on the motors. The disadvantages include: they are more expensive and larger than other motor control options and they generate heat that may require fans or AC units.