Quote Originally Posted by skimask View Post
A couple of extra windings or something on the end, just enough to give it a bit of a kick?
Yep, that is why synchronous motors do not have good starting torque.

Have basically the same types of things on the aircraft. Gyro motors are 3 phase motors, but they'll run on 2 phases as long as you don't lose the common ground. Got an emergency inverter for a backup system. Takes DC and outputs 2 phases and a ground. I have a heck of a time trying to explain to the younger guys why the emergency inverter isn't designed to start the gyro motors (even though that's how the pilots check out the inverter and end up burning them up occassionally), it's only designed to keep them running in the event of a power failure.
About the 1 vs. 2 vs. 3 phase thing...I get that too. A lot of people seem to think they've got 3 phase power because they've got 220 hooked up to a dryer. I let them think that 'cause you just can't explain things to people who won't listen.
I do not bring the 2 phase thing up often. You should see the look on an inpectors face when I label a sub panel "2 PHASE".

Ok, so it sounds like I really do need some magnetic material between my copper wire on the rotor. I've got an idea of stamping out some recetangles from an old car hood I've got laying around, epoxying a bunch of layers together, enough to make the thickness of the 20ga wire on the rotor, or more to make the air gap even tighter, and then mounting that mess to the rotor somehow. Maybe screw it down, or tape it up with some heavy duty plastic tape.
Might be able to use welding rod. Laminates are used in transformers to suppress eddy currents, in small motors for cost. Large motors are cast iron/steel with a second pour for the aluminun. Air gap should be the same for magnetic and non magnetic parts. Sounds like you have punch press, How about a lathe? To attach things for testing, J B Weld.

Shaded pole and that sort of thing?
Yes, again that is why the rated HP is low on these motors. Back to top^.

I'm all about getting confused...as long as I get this thing spinning soon!
Can you imagine the spinning in Tesla's head. He reportedly modeled this all in his head.