Products

Why Choose Drum Motors over Gear Motors for Your Conveyor Systems?

Selecting the right motor for conveyor systems in the food processing industry is critical. This article dives into the differences between drum motors and external gear motors, focusing on design, ease of assembly, components needed, and energy efficiency. 

Written by Justin P. Caris, NGI DriveTech

”Did you know external gear motors need around 27 components like bolts, bearings, sprockets and drip guards? This complexity burdens your sanitation, maintenance, and engineering teams. Simplifying this could save you hours and reduce headaches.

Components Needed

Drum Motors:

  • Minimal Parts: Typically only one component—the drum motor itself. Modular options may include a few additional parts, but still far fewer than external gear motors, simplifying the entire process.

External Gear Motors:

  • Numerous Parts: Requires about 27 components including bolts, bearings, drive shafts, sprockets, and drip guards. This complexity increases the workload for sanitation, maintenance, and engineering teams.

Drive System Design

Drum Motors:

  • Integrated Design: The motor and gearbox are enclosed within the drum shell, creating a smooth or grooved rotating shell for belt drives. This results in fewer external components and easier cleaning.
  • Durable Construction: Typically made from 304 (A2) stainless steel, drum motors are highly resistant to corrosion.

External Gear Motors:

  • External Mounting: These motors are mounted outside the conveyor frame with additional components for belt drive, often featuring squared gearboxes and ribbed motors for cooling.
  • Hygienic Design Variations: Some models include rounded surfaces and stainless steel construction, but flat surfaces and bolted connections can complicate cleaning.

Ease of Assembly / Mounting

Drum Motors:

  • Simple Installation: Drum motors can be easily mounted using simple slots in the conveyor frame, allowing tool-free assembly and quick removal for maintenance and sanitation.

External Gear Motors:

  • Complex Assembly: These motors require additional plates, alignment accessories, and multiple hardware components. Assembly and maintenance are more labor-intensive, requiring careful handling to avoid contamination.

Energy Efficiency

NGI’s Synchronous Permanent Magnet (SPM) Drum Motor:

  • High Efficiency: Uses permanent magnets to reduce energy losses and eliminate rotor slip, achieving about 90% efficiency with minimal power loss.

External Gear Motors:

  • Lower Efficiency: Induction motors experience significant energy loss due to rotor current induction and slip, typically operating at 62%-75% efficiency.

Conclusion

Choosing the right motor for food processing conveyor systems impacts hygiene, efficiency, and operational effectiveness. Drum motors, with their streamlined design, minimal components, and higher efficiency, offer clear advantages for hygienic environments. Conversely, external gear motors, despite their versatility, present more challenges in terms of assembly, maintenance, and cleaning.

By understanding these differences, industry professionals can make informed decisions to enhance the performance and safety of their equipment. Drum motors emerge as a compelling choice for modern food processing, aligning with the highest standards of hygiene and operational efficiency.

Learn more about the author, Justin P. Caris: 

I have 15 years of experience in the food industry, specializing in hygienic equipment design, product development, and implementation. My expertise lies in working closely with customers to understand their needs and designing and specifying the right equipment to meet those needs.

Throughout my career, I have held various roles, including Design Engineer, Product Development Engineer, Director of Applications Engineering, and Product Manager. These positions have equipped me with a comprehensive understanding of product innovation and market demands, enabling me to deliver solutions that align with industry standards and exceed customer expectations.

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