Lift tables require motors for operation, making them a key component of scissor lift tables. Generally, since the lifting equipment only uses the motor during the upward movement, the operating time is short, and motors usually do not encounter abnormal situations. However, some motor customers have reported symptoms of overheating. What could be the cause of this?

Electric motors, as digital actuating elements, are widely used in motion control systems. Many users have expressed concern about the significant heat generated during the operation of scissor lifts, wondering if this is a normal occurrence. In fact, heat generation is a common phenomenon in motors, but what constitutes normal heat levels, and how can one minimize the heat produced by hydraulic scissor lift motors? This article will provide a brief analysis of these questions.

Why Do Electric Motors Heat Up? The various electric motors we use are internally composed of iron cores and winding coils. The windings have resistance, and when electricity is applied, it results in losses, with the magnitude of these losses being proportional to the resistance and the square of the current – this is commonly referred to as copper loss. If the current is not standard DC or sine wave, harmonic losses can also occur; the iron core experiences hysteresis and eddy current effects, and in alternating magnetic fields, it also incurs losses, which are related to the material, current, frequency, and voltage – this is known as iron loss. Both copper loss and iron loss manifest as heat, thereby affecting the motor's efficiency. Scissor lift motor generally aims for positioning accuracy and torque output, and they are less efficient, with higher current and a higher harmonic content. The frequency of the alternating current varies with the speed, leading to a common overheating issue in hydraulic lift motor, which is more severe than in typical AC motors.