Motors & Drives: A Practical Technology Guide, 2nd Edition

This practical guide developed by Dave Polka, an industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience, is an invaluable resource for design engineers, automation and control specialists, maintenance technicians, and students. The basic theories of AC and DC drives haven’t changed but the technology certainly has, and this new edition takes a fresh look at how market demands have advanced motor and drive technology to lead the industry in new directions.

The second edition incorporates significant new material, including discussions on:

• AC drives and machine safety
• Application-specific drives and soft-starters
• Enhanced programmability for AC drives including adaptive, function block, sequential, and IEC-61131-3 programming
• Master(leader)-follower, Ethernet, fiber-optic, and PLC communications
• The principles of DC and variable frequency AC drive technology
• An overview of drive components and types of drives, with special emphasis given to common applications and energy savings
• DC and AC motor and drive operation, as well as AC vector, servo, and permanent magnet motors

Inside you will also find easy to understand explanations, summaries, review questions, glossaries, reference tables for formulas and conversions. Great for a tutorial or desk reference!

Dave Polka has devoted his professional career to training and education in the areas of electronics and motor speed control. He currently serves as Principal Technical Instructor at ABB Inc.'s Robotics and Motion division located in New Berlin, Wisconsin.
He has been involved with AC and DC drives technology for more than 35 years, with the bulk of that time focusing on training for AC drives. His responsibilities include conducting sales partner classes on drive applications, programming, and commissioning. In addition, he conducts customer and service partner classes on drive maintenance, troubleshooting, and operation of AC drives.
He graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Stout in Menomonie, WI, with a bachelor of science degree in industrial education, and an emphasis in electronics and controls.
After graduating, Polka spent eight years at Homestead High School in Mequon, WI, as a technology industrial education teacher. He taught basic electricity and electronics, advanced electronics, instrumentation, and broadcast radio.
He then joined Rockwell Automation's Allen-Bradley's Drives Division, also in Mequon. During his tenure at the company, he spent: three years as a technical writer of operation, maintenance, and service manuals; and seven years as an instructor and supervisor of drives training, which encompassed sales, service, and customer training.
In addition to the Motors & Drives book, Polka has published several trade journal and website articles on such topics as: "What is a Drive," "How to Maintain a VFD" and "Energy Savings with VFDs in Paint Spray Booths".