Parts of a Motor

There are 6 main parts to an electric DC motor:

1. DC power supply-such as a battery to act as the main power source

2. Field Magnet-a magnet that creates an electric field; could be made by wrapping wire around a magnetic core. When the current runs through it, the magnet is created.

3. Axle-usually a magnetic rod where the commutator and armature are located

4. Brushes-they let the electric current flow to the electromagnet, and flip the direction of the electrons at just the right moment

5. commutator-help brushes flip the direction of the electrons and let the electric current flow; attached to the axle

6. Armature-makes an electromagnet when a metal core is wrapped in magnet wire

The Troubles of My Motor

While I was making my motor, I ran into some problems. My electromagnet and my armature were very strong, but I had a lot of trouble with the copper plating and the brushes. There were different things each time; one time it was the gaps between the copper plating were to big or another time was that I had to use steel wool to rub off the copper plating and the brushes to get rid of all the enamel. I also had to reposition the brushes many, many times (they kept getting caught onto the copper plating). But, when I finally got it to go, I felt great. It was the best feeling in the world..........then, there was a big spark and it didn't work any more. I thought the copper wire was too burnt and changed it to tinfoil, but that didn't work so well so I had to change it back. And after a few more readjustments the following morning, I got it to work consistently again and once again, I felt like I was on top of the world (that's an exaggeration).

My Motor

My motor uses an electromagnet made by running an electric current through a coil. I used 16 awg single-strand wire. I wrapped this around the base of two steel L brackets five times. Then I took a rod and cut off some of the end to use as the armature. I then tape the armature to make it even and I start to wrap 24 awg magnet wire around it. This creates another electromagnet and I did this by leaving a little bit of wire to start and I wrap down and back and then I cross over and I go down ad back until I come back to where I started. Farther down the rod, there is a cork with copper plating taped to it and the copper plating has a little bit of space between it. Rubbing up against the copper plating are 16 awg multi-strand wire used as brushes. The circuit is started with one end of the electromagnet attatched to one end of the battery, it goes through the electromagnet, which then leads to a switch (nice little touch, right?), then that leads to one of the brushes. The circuit later continues with the other brush leading to the other end of the battery. For the brushes, I made a makeshift "bridge" over the cork/copper and I drilled holes into them. Then, I tucked the brushes through the hole and make it touch the copper plating.

This is a picture of my motor working: