Large motor

Motors can be classified into two types based on the material of the coil:
* Copper or aluminum motors
* Aluminum or iron shell motors
The coil of a motor is usually made of purple copper material, with an insulating varnish coating. However, some low-end motors use aluminum wire with a varnish coating. It is difficult to accurately identify the material from the appearance alone. Often, the shell needs to be disassembled to inspect the coil.
Motors can also be classified into two types based on the energy source:
* AC or DC motors
* New energy motors (mainly AC permanent magnet synchronous motors and asynchronous motors)

Motors are widely used in various agricultural, industrial, and living environments. The output of motor scrap is distributed according to population density and industrial concentration. Globally, the United States, Europe, Japan, South Korea, and Australia are the main sources of motor scrap. Due to the high labor required for processing and recycling, these countries mainly export their motor scrap.

Mixed motors consist of different sizes and specifications of scrap motors. The copper content varies among different sizes. For example, small DC motors have a higher copper content, and their iron shells are thinner. Large motors have a lower copper content, around 8%. The value of mixed motors decreases as the proportion of large motors increases.

The processing methods for scrap motors mainly involve mechanical crushing and manual disassembly.
1. Remove the shell
This step can be done mechanically or manually. Manual removal of the shell involves methods such as hammering and oxygen cutting. This step can produce shell-less motors, as well as scrap aluminum and scrap iron from the motor shells.
2. Separate and remove the coil
Next, separate the remaining motor parts into stators and rotors, and remove the coil using methods such as cutting. Separate the clean rotor shaft (20Mn5Cr manganese steel) and stator shell.
3. Process the coil
The processing of the coil depends on the requirements, equipment, and export direction. Some processing plants can sell the coil directly, while others need to remove the insulation layer by burning or crushing it into copper rice.

The detection of scrap motors mainly involves identifying whether the coil is made of copper or aluminum. This can be done by partially or completely destroying the motor shell for inspection. Both buyers and sellers should avoid mistaking aluminum motors for copper motors, as this can lead to disputes.

The processing of scrap motors requires high labor costs, and countries have strict regulations on the import of scrap motors. Therefore, the disassembly of scrap motors is mainly done in Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Pakistan, and India. These countries have more relaxed import and export policies and lower labor costs. Scrap motors are best suited for junk processing plants in these countries.

When purchasing scrap motors, it is essential to pay attention to the authenticity of the pictures provided by the seller. The pictures should be detailed, accurate, and representative of the actual goods. Some suppliers may use the same few photos for their listings, which can be misleading.
It is also important to pay attention to the material of the coil. Is it copper or aluminum? What is the proportion of aluminum motors? These factors are crucial for the quality of the goods. Generally, it is unavoidable to have some aluminum motors mixed in, but the proportion should be around 20%. It is recommended to agree on an acceptable range before the transaction.
Lastly, some motors may contain a small amount of permanent magnets, which are valuable due to their rare earth materials. The shell of these motors may attract iron scraps. Experienced buyers can identify these motors by observing whether the iron scraps are attracted to the shell. These permanent magnets can be separated and sold separately to increase the value of the product.