Communication Without Restrictions

Bodine Electric Company gearmotors deliver precise motion for satellite antennas C-COM Satellite Systems, a manufacturer of mobile satellite antennas, has integrated several models of Bodine Electric motors across a variety of platforms. These motors are primarily used to drive the Azimuth and Elevation axes on their Fly-Away (portable) and Drive-Away (vehicle-mounted) systems. At the push of a button, these antennas automatically deploy and begin scanning the sky to acquire a satellite signal. Within minutes, users can establish a strong, stable connection, a process made seamless and reliable thanks in large part to the performance and precision of Bodine’s motors. “C-COM needed a small and lightweight gearmotor from us in order to accommodate a highly portable, easily assembled Fly-Away satellite antennas,” said Terry Auchstetter, director of marketing and product development at Bodine. “Our DC planetary gearmotor is the ideal combination of a small permanent magnet DC motor—which is capable of a momentary peak torque much greater than its continuous rating and a small planetary gearbox—which is also capable of a very high momentary peak torque by virtue of the load distribution of the multiple planet gears.” The Bodine type 24A4BEPM-60P2 measures only 2.4 inches in diameter, 7.7 inches long and weighs only five pounds, but it is capable of a peak torque of 245 lb.-in. “C-COM’s Fly-1202 antennas are deployed in some of the world’s most challenging environments, from the subzero temperatures of the Arctic, to the hot and humid regions of South America, to the dry, dusty terrain of Australia,” said Warren Rawlings, purchasing and production manager at C-COM. “We required a motor that could perform reliably in all these conditions. It also needed to deliver enough torque to rotate the antenna while remaining compact enough to fit within our transportable systems. Bodine Electric’s gearmotors met all these demands and more. Their motors offer high precision and minimal backlash, which is essential for acquiring and maintaining a stable satellite connection. As our antennas evolved, so did our collaboration with Bodine, now many of the motors we use today are custom-built to meet C-COM’s exact specifications.”