Air Gap

If the air gap around a rotor is not uniform the motor may not start in certain
positions. Because the rotor is not centered, probably due to worn bearings,
there is an out of balance magnetic pull.

Radial play in between the shaft and the housing should be

detected by hand and bearing wear detected by feeler gauge between the rotor
and the stator, or armature and field poles may be measured at three or four
fairly equidistant points around the machine. If possible one measurement
should be made at the bottom of the machine and another in line with the
drive. Compare with previous records to check wear. At minimum air gap,
Clearance of the bearings should be renewed to avoid the possibility of the
rotor rubbing on the stator.

On small machines two feelers on opposite sides of the rotor

should be used to avoid error caused by rotor movement from normal position
when only one feeler gauge is used.

In synchronous motors and D.C. motors sparking may occur if the

radial air gaps between the armature and the field poles are unequal. If
necessary renew bearings or add or remove soft iron shims from under the
pole shoes. Unequal field strength has a similar effect of sparking at the
brushes. This might be due to short circuit or earth fault on the field coils, or a
short circuit on the shunt and field coils.

An increase of air gap gives an increase in 'reluctance'.

In a salient pole A.C. generator this fact may be used to produce a sinusoidal
flux density curve by gradually increasing the length if the air gap towards the
pole tips.
 In the induction motor the
air gap should be as small as possible if the motor is to act with a high power
factor. An increase in air gap increases the reactance of the motor and lowers its
power factor. Small motors are accurately machined and centring of the rotor is
very important so ball or roller bearings are fitted.

Air gap Motor size

0.25mm 1kW
0.75mm 10kW
2.0mm 100kW