Motors, gearboxes, controllers—all drive system components are characterized by their protection class—an IP (Ingress Protection) rating. That’s what this installment of Fun with Drives is all about.
IP54
Protection against dust and splashing water
Typically used in machine shops
IP65
Dust-tight
Protection against water jets
Anywhere where water is occasionally used for cleaning
IP66
Dust-tight
Protection against powerful water jets
Typical application in the food industry
IP67 / IP68
Temporary or continuous submersion in water
Pumps, special applications
IP69K
Resistance to high-pressure and hot-water cleaning
Most common requirement in the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries
Depending on the protection class, different cable entries and connectors, seals at the interfaces, and—in particular—shaft seals are required. And care must be taken to ensure that the seal remains effective throughout the entire service life.
For you as a user, this means: Define the IP rating as low as possible and as high as necessary—because the higher the requirements, the more complex and demanding the sealing design, and the higher the costs.
A note:
The IP rating says nothing about resistance to cleaning agents. Rather, it always refers only to resistance to “pure” water and foreign objects. This means that resistance to cleaning agents and, for example, food contact must be included separately in the requirements.
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Andreas Vonderschmidt: I connect technology with people.
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