You selected the right AGMA Class gearbox . You calculated the belt tension perfectly. But the moment you hit "Start," the belt snaps or the gearbox makes a terrifying clunk. The culprit is likely your Starting Method . In conveyor systems, the starting torque profile matters more than steady-state power. Note: We previously discussed VFDs as Energy Savers for pumps and fans. For conveyors, however, the goal is not lowering your electric bill—it is preventing your gearbox from exploding. Table of Contents 1. The Physics of Shock Loads 2. Why Soft Starters Stall Conveyors 3. The VFD Torque Advantage 4. Comparison: Cost vs. Protection 5. Final Verdict Advertisement 1. The Physics of Shock Loads When an AC induction motor starts Direct-On-Line (DOL), it draws 600% to 800% of its rated current (Inrush Current). More importantly, it produces a sudden spike known as Locked-Rotor Torqu...
Figure 1: Elastic buckling is a geometric instability. Long columns fail by sudden bowing, not by material yielding. Entering the Euler Domain In Column Design (Part 3) , we established the "Decision Rule." If your actual Slenderness Ratio (KL/r) is greater than the Column Constant (C c ), your column is classified as Long . For these slender members, failure occurs via Elastic Instability . We calculate the Critical Load (P cr ) using the famous formula derived by Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler in the 18th century. Advertisement Search for Mechanical Engineering Handbooks The Euler Formula The critical buckling load is defined as: P cr = π 2 E A (KL / r) 2 We can also express this in terms of the Moment of Inertia (I) by substituting r 2 = I/A. This is often the more convenient form for design: P cr = π 2 E I (KL) 2 ...