The bearing motor

[Magluvin]

Quick check?  Tin says it doesnt start till you give it a spin, in either direction of rotation and continues in that direction of rotation no matter the polarity of input. Are you saying he lying?

From what I understand, a rail gun is directional and doesnt require a push start.

Mags

I stand corrected.  If only a metal object, with no magnets, it does need an initial start. 

So, the intial rotation of the balls, sets up some angular fields that corespond to the fields in the rails/races to produce continuous motion.  These offsets of the balls fields most likely become greater with higher speed of rotation, giving more push/pull.

So larger balls, or bearing diameter should be more efficient with this setup I believe. More outer dia torque and the ability for the balls to spin faster giving more offset.

My apologies mh.   my mind was more on coil guns.

Mags

[Pirate88179]

I stand corrected.  If only a metal object, with no magnets, it does need an initial start. 

So, the intial rotation of the balls, sets up some angular fields that corespond to the fields in the rails/races to produce continuous motion.  These offsets of the balls fields most likely become greater with higher speed of rotation, giving more push/pull.

So larger balls, or bearing diameter should be more efficient with this setup I believe. More outer dia torque and the ability for the balls to spin faster giving more offset.

My apologies mh.   my mind was more on coil guns.

Mags

Mags:

I submit that the balls in the bearing have nothing to do with the rotation.  How do I know this?  I don't, I am just speculating.  I believe that if the bearings were of a thin V groove in the end plates, with the shaft sitting in the V...maybe a little lubrication added, it would spin the same as it is now except for more friction.

I just think the bearing are conducting the power to the shaft and nothing more.

Again, just my thoughts, no evidence or proof here.

Bill

[Magluvin]

Searl SEG

Mags

[Magluvin]

Roller or needle bearings will have more surface contact area for less losses at connections of moving parts.

Just seen a vid on yt that shows the addition of mags at the ends of the shaft seems to help with self starting. Just an iron rod with 2 strips of tin foil on a flat surface. With mags on the ends of the rod, self starting. No mags, needs a push. Might want to give that a try on your axle shaft. Different mag polarity may have to be tried on each end to see if it helps or not.

Mags

[tinman]

AC has it right, it works on the magnetic component of the Lorentz force.  So, it works just like just about any other motor, they are just making it difficult to visualize how and where the Lorentz force is acting.

I think that it's important to mention that even before you even start, you already know how it works.  That's a fundamental realization.It's not surprising that when you change the polarity of the applied voltage the motor continues in the same direction.  Figure the motor out, and the reason for this will become self-evident.
Tinman said that it can rotate in either direction.  I did a quick check and I disagree, it looks like the motor will always turn in the same direction, for both a regular and a reversed battery connection.  I looked at the rail gun and noted that the rail gun will also shoot in the same direction when you change the polarity.

Well you better go back to the drawing board on this one MH,as it spins in either direction,and that direction is dependant on which direction you spin it before applying the current.