Forming the Torque-Speed Curve

Given an Arbitrary Motor

Group 7: Jack Boyd, Sean Kowalik, Eric Perkey
3047 Data Analysis/Experimental Methods
Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder

Abstract
At a constant voltage, a DC motor outputs a speed (RPM) and current (A) given an applied torque. The relationship between these values can be experimentally measured and shown visually in a
Torque – Speed plot. The plot can determine maximum efficiency of motors and be able to categorize any motor. The results in this experiment were captured from three different motors, two of
which specifications were known.

Motivation and Background Experimental Results Analysis

Experimental Question Linear Regression
How does a supplied voltage to an arbitrary DC motor affect Encoder Data • Lines of best fit were
performance? • The encoder records a change in voltage as fitted to the torque
the motor’s shaft position changes and current plots.
• By recording the number of pulses in a given
No Load Speed timeframe, we can calculate the motor RPM • The x and y intercept
Stall Current
of the lines are the
• Each motor expresses different resulting Torque Speed Curves. stall torque and stall
• Motor 1 specifications were unknown. current, respectively.
• RPM may be faster than calculated if there exists an internal gear
box. • The 12 V data set
Stall Torque has the most spread
No Load data of the voltage
Current
levels

Objectives • Motor 1 shows larger

• Quantify Torque-Speed curve from an arbitrary motor at set differences in average
voltage levels. 𝑟 2 values as well.
• Develop an intuition for motor performance based on calculated
specifications. • Comparing voltage levels on Conclusions
motor 1 show that higher In general, our findings confirm the following:
voltages result in faster RPM
Mathematical Model and lower as more torque is 1. The higher voltage input to a motor, the faster
Controlled Parameters: applied. the shaft will rotate, and the motor can actuate
• Voltage Levels - 6V, 8V, 10V, 12V under larger loads.
• Motors – Three DC brushed motors 2. Higher torque loads limit the RPM and draw
Left to right:
Motor 1, Motor 2, Motor 3 more current. The higher the voltage, the
Equations: From data, Motor 1 Specs at 10 V: more current is drawn.
Regression Approximation: 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏 • Stall Torque: 0.63 Nm 3. Motor performance depends on Torque. Less
Speed: 𝑚 • Stall Current: 731 mA torque allows for faster rotation and less
Torque[1] : 𝐹 ∗ 𝑟 = 9.81 ∗ 𝑚 ∗ 𝑟 • No Load Speed: 4434 rpm current.
Current: 𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑀𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 • No Load Current: 195 mA
Power[1] : 𝑇𝑜𝑟𝑞𝑢𝑒 ∗ 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 References
[1] 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑂𝑢𝑡 (𝑇𝑜𝑟𝑞𝑢𝑒∗𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑)
Efficiency : = 1. Calculations. 2015 January 1. Simple
𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝐼𝑛 (𝑉∗𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡)
Electric Motors.
The Test Apparatus
simplemotor.com/calculations/