IN A WORLD WITHOUT CASTINGS


Would Industry Be as Powerful as It Is Today?


In 1888, Nikola Tesla patented the AC induction motor, which today powers


everything from household appliances to heavy industrial machinery. It is cred- ited among the key technologies of the Industrial Revolution. Unlike DC motors with brushed commutators, Tesla’s polyphase AC motor’s


current was created magnetically, not mechanically. Electromagnetic induction eliminated friction and vibration, and the motor’s simple, efficient operation opened up a wide range of applications. Within two years, he had patented more than 20 modifications, designing versions to run at variable or constant speed, start up under heavy loads, etc. Te original design featured cast iron components and copper windings.


Copper remains the material of choice for the windings. Today, the rotor shaft, which turns inside the stator to induce current, is steel. Te stator components tend to be steel, also, and motor frames typically are cast in gray iron or, in some cases, aluminum. Te end plates, conduit boxes and other components are cast in stainless steel for demanding applications such as chemical or food processing. A wide variety of AC motor designs using various metals address a host of specific applications.


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June 2013 MODERN CASTING | 17


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