switched reluctance motors

[jgraber]

Re this thread about brush lockup on quick reversals of motors:

@Paul Copioli

Guys,

These motors have huge gear ratios such that depending upon the manufacturing tolerances in the actual motor brushes inside the motor the motor may, or may not, be able to be back driven. Think of it this way, if we had a 1,000,000:1 gear ratio even with no motor connected at the input, the gear train would seem locked up.

I recommend moving the motor under power when you think it is locked up.

Paul

Hey Paul, Have you given any thought to switching to “switched reluctance motors”? They are supposedly cheap (just steel and wire) construction, no brushes, no rare earth magnets, by depending on high semiconductor content.
Keep an eye out for them.