HOW TO MAKE AN ELECTRIC MOTOR

New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 10, 1 September 1939, Page 27

HOW TO MAKE AN ELECTRIC

MOTOR

-Mostly From Odds and Ends

PART II. HE commutator of an electric motor seems to me the hardest part to make. On the drawing, A are the large ebonite washers, B the copper tubing, C are cuts dividing the copper tubing into three equal parts, D the ebonite centre and E the eighthinch hole the axle comes through.

I expect many of you have an old crystal or battery radio set lying around that has an ebonite panel. If so you could make several small washers a quarter of an inch in diameter with Yin. hole in the centre for the axle to come through. This would do away with the ebonite rod. The washers A-have 5-16in. holes drilled in them and fit over both the copper segments, and the ebonite centre. The brushes are made from spring copper, such as may be found in old electric light switches or sparking coils. Spring brass could be used. In the drawings below, A are the brushes, B the terminals, C the ebonite on which the brushes are mounted.

The bearings are made from the 3-16in. brass tubing and from the hoop iron or heavy tin. D is the tubing and E the iron. The iron is cut and bent to the shape shown.

Below is a small drawing of the layout of the motor. The magnet is broken away so that the inside of the motor can be seen. A armature, B bearings, C commutator, D one of the brushes (there is one pressing against each side of the commutator), E axle, F terminal, G ebonite base of brushes, H baseboard, J magnets, K wires from armature to commutator.

(By " Modelmaker,’ who will broadcast from 1YA on September 5) The building details of this motor will be broadcast on September 5.

For Your Entertainment SUNDAY: 1YA: 6p.m. Children’s Song Service 2YA: 6p.m. Children’s Song Service, conducted by Uncle William. 3YA: 5.30 p.m. Children’s Song Service, conducted by Pastor J. S. Binnie. 4YA: 5.30 p.m. Children’s Song Service, conducted by Big Brother Bill. MONDAY, 5-6 p.m. 2YA: Talk by Ebor on Nicknames: Special Talk for Scouts. 3YA: Stampman: Part 1 of "Sir Christopher Wren" 3ZR: Legends of Umbogu: "The Story of the Owl." TUESDAY, 5-6 p.m. 1YA: Talk by Modelmaker. 2YA: "The Major" tells about Egypt. 3YA: Tiny Tot’s Corner-Harmonica Band. WEDNESDAY, 5-6 p.m. 2YA: Chief Operator gives a Further Talk on the Control Room. 3YA: Kay and the Book Lady. 4YA: Travel Man. THURSDAY, 5-6 p.m. 2YA: Games Night. 3YA: Rainbow Man and the Kiwi Club, FRIDAY: 2YA: 5-6 p.m. Talk by Traveller on "Freighters and the Queen Mary." 2YC: 8 p.m. Continuity programme featuring compositions for Children written by well-known composers. 3YA: 5-6 p.m. "Niccolo" and Puzzle Pie. SATURDAY, 5-6 p.m. 2YA: Swingtime Harmonists in spec ial programme for children. 3YA: Riddleman and " neste of the World."