Developing a Low-Inertia Eddy Current Brake
Problem statement
Dependability is crucial for having happy consumers and a loyal customer base. Imagine using an expensive power tool and the frustration you would feel if the equipment suddenly broke down, making you question how much you can rely on the company’s other products. Milwaukee Tool has used various methods to test the dependability of rotary outdoor power equipment (OPE) including eddy current brakes, magnetic particle brakes, and AC motors, but each method has drawbacks during testing. AC motors have the potential to burn out their coils during in-rush of currents seen during large braking operation, magnetic particle brakes and eddy current brakes both utilize electromagnetic fields (EMFs) to apply a braking torque. This results in substantial heat build-up; current designs cannot handle the workload needed for testing new equipment. These three methods have been utilized by Milwaukee Tool until now, but they need a new and innovative method to test rotary OPEs to make sure they produce dependable equipment. Our solution will allow for Milwaukee Tool to test their new rotary equipment with more rigorous standards such as higher torque loads and higher speeds, offering customers a better OPE through an improved testing method.
Team members
Eddie Shearman – leader
Owen Coulson – communicator
Maxwell Meyer – accountant
Maxwell Meyer – admin
Client
Jack Callen
Milwaukee Tool