Auto mechanic

An auto mechanic (or car mechanic in British English and motor mechanic in Australian English) is a mechanic with a variety of car makes or either in a specific area or in a specific make of car. In repairing cars, their main role is to diagnose the problem accurately and quickly. They often have to quote prices for their customers before commencing work or after partial dis-assembly for inspection. The mechanic uses both electronic means of gathering data as well as their senses. Their job may involve the repair of a specific part or the replacement of one or more parts as assemblies.

Basic vehicle maintenance is a fundamental part of a mechanic's work in modern industrialized countries, while in others they are only consulted when a vehicle is already showing signs of malfunction. Preventative maintenance is also a fundamental part of a mechanic's job, but this is not possible in the case of vehicles that are not regularly maintained by a mechanic. One misunderstood aspect of preventative maintenance is scheduled replacement of various parts, which occurs before failure to avoid far more expensive damage. Because this means that parts are replaced before any problem is observed, many vehicle owners will not understand why the expense is necessary.

With the rapid advancement in technology, the mechanic's job has evolved from purely mechanical, to include electronic technology. Because vehicles today possess complex computer and electronic systems, mechanics need to have a broader base of knowledge than in the past. Lately, the term "auto mechanic" is being used less and less frequently and is being replaced by the euphemistic title “automotive technician”. Fading quickly is the day of the 'backyard mechanic', who needs little knowledge of today's computerized systems.

Due to the increasingly labyrinthine nature of the technology that is now incorporated into automobiles, most automobile dealerships and independent workshops now provide sophisticated diagnostic computers to each technician, without which they would be unable to diagnose or repair a vehicle.

Mechanic

A mechanic is a craftsman or technician who uses tools to build or repair machinery. Many mechanics are specialized in a particular field such as auto mechanics,bicycle mechanics, motorcycle mechanics, boiler mechanics, general mechanics, industrial maintenance mechanics (millwrights), air conditioning and refrigeration

mechanics, aircraft mechanics, diesel mechanics, and tank mechanics in the armed services.Auto mechanics, for example, have many trades within. Some may specialize in the electrical aspects, while others may specialize in the mechanical aspects. Other areas include: brakes and steering, automatic or standard transmission,engine repairs or diagnosing customer complaints. An auto technician has a wide variety of topics to study.

Iron Core Solenoids

An iron core has the effect of multiplying greatly the magnetic field of a solenoidcompared to the air core solenoid on the left.

Electromagnet Electromagnets are usually in the form of iron core solenoids. The ferromagnetic property of the iron core causes the internal magnetic domains of the iron to line up with the smallerdriving magnetic field produced by the current in the solenoid. The effect is the multiplication of the magnetic field by factors of tens to even thousands. The solenoid field relationship is and k is the relative permeability of the iron, shows the magnifying effect of the iron core.

Induction Motor Actions

Induction motors use shorted wire loops on a rotating armature and obtain theirtorque from currents induced in these loops by the changing magnetic fieldproduced in the stator (stationary) coils.

At the moment illustrated, the current in the stator coil is in the direction shown and increasing. The induced voltage in the coil shown drives current and results in a clockwise torque. Note that this simplified motor will turn once it is started in motion, but has no starting torque. Various techniques are used to produce some asymmetry in the fields to give the motor a starting torque.

DC Motor Operation

This is an active graphic. Click on bold type for further illustration.

AC Motors

AC Motor As in the DC motor case, a current is passed through the coil, generating a torque on the coil. Since the current is alternating, the motor will run smoothly only at the frequency of the sine wave. It is called a synchronous motor. More common is theinduction motor, where electric current is inducedin the rotating coils rather than supplied to them directly. One of the drawbacks of this kind of AC motor is the high current which must flow through the rotating contacts. Sparking and heating at those contacts can waste energy and shorten the lifetime of the motor. In common AC motors the magnetic field is produced by an electromagnet powered by the same AC voltage as the motor coil. The coils which produce the magnetic field are sometimes referred to as the "stator", while the coils and the solid core which rotates is called the "armature". In an AC motor the magnetic field is sinusoidally varying, just as the current in the coil varies.

SIMPLE ELECTRIC MOTOR

This site features award-winning, easy-to-build, and inexpensive electric motors originally designed by Stan Pozmantir for his science fair project in 1997-2000. If you are looking for a simple science project, or if you wish to learn about electricity, magnetism, and electric motors, this web site has it all! It includes assembly instructions, a section devoted to how these motors work, and here you can find all parts necessary to build these motors. The brushless DC motors shown on this site are extremely simple, and at the same time very stable, reliable, and efficient. The reed switch motor is the easiest electric motor anyone can build (and understand how it works!). The motors shown on this page were widely used for educational purposes in different schools and colleges in the United States and other countries. The kits listed here helped the students to learn basics of electricity, magnetism, and electronics. Many people successfully built these motors using simple and clear instructions that were first published in May 1999.

Riders urged to join highvis demo

Motorcyclists have been urged to join a protest this Saturday against the threat of compulsory high-visibility vests and other restrictive new rules from Brussels.

The Motorcycle Action Group is staging a demonstration rally in Birmingham against proposed anti-tampering rules to stop riders modifying their bikes across Europe and plans for compulsory day-glow bibs in France and Ireland. 

A spokesman for the group said: “Mandatory high-vis vests, an end to riders being allowed to modify their bikes and a host of other horrors being foisted on riders by European politicians will be the subject of a major demonstration.

"MAG is joining other rider organisations across Europe to campaign against proposals that have already seen more than 100,000 riders demonstrate in cities across France."

MAG President Ian Mutch said there was a danger compulsory high-vis could "filter through" from France to other member states through EU harmonisation.

French riders are also facing proposals to outlaw filtering and ban bikes over seven years old from entering cities.

Meanwhile the European Commission is proposing measures to prevent engine and drive train modifications on bikes throughout Europe, at the same time as mandating ABS.

Mutch said, "We’re facing an anti-motorcycling onslaught from politicians in different parts of Europe.  We need to show our own politicians that riders do not want to see further interference spread to the UK."

Protestors plan to gather at midday in the Hare and Hounds car park, Lickey Road, Rednall, B45 8UU.