Question 429Electricity & Electronics - Assistant Engineer

70% to pass

As the brushes ride on the commutator of a DC generator, eventually mica ridges will form between the bars causing sparking and chipping of the brushes. When this happens the mica must be undercut. To what depth is the mica undercut?

AThe mica slots are undercut to a depth 1mm below the surface of the commutator bars.
BThe mica slots are undercut to a depth approximately twice the width of the slot.
CThe mica slots are undercut to a depth approximately equal to the width of the slot.
DThe mica slots are undercut, but the actual depth is unimportant.
AI Explanation

The correct answer is C) The mica slots are undercut to a depth approximately equal to the width of the slot. The reasoning is that as the brushes ride on the commutator, mica ridges can form between the commutator bars, leading to sparking and brush wear. To address this, the mica is undercut, or removed, to a depth roughly equal to the width of the mica slot. This prevents the mica from protruding above the commutator bars and interfering with the brush contact. The other options are incorrect because A) 1mm is an arbitrary depth unrelated to the width of the mica slot, B) twice the width is excessive and unnecessary, and D) the depth of the undercut is indeed important for proper commutator maintenance.

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