Fan Pedestal Features¶

Run the Fan Pedestal Features MicroSim Fullscreen

About This MicroSim¶

This MicroSim puts seven numbered markers on FanPedia's drawing of pedestal features (page 85). The main drawing shows a sheet-metal pedestal beside the housing of a single width centrifugal fan, carrying the shaft on two pillow block bearings. An inset below it shows a bare pedestal with a stepped top and purple bearing or motor pads.

The seven features are the top, the pillow block bearing, the hand holes, the sides, the front, the feet and the bearing or motor pads. On a wide screen a label column with leader lines sits to the right of the drawing; on a narrow screen the labels move below it as a numbered list. The pillow block bearing is small, so its marker sits just above it with a short pointer to the bearing.

The quiz describes each feature by its job or its look ("Select the openings that give access to fasteners.") instead of naming it, in a shuffled order. You get two attempts per prompt. The first wrong answer shows a hint about where to look; the second reveals the feature and counts as missed. Mastery is 6 of 7 correct on the first attempt. Explore mode is never scored.

How to Use¶

Explore mode (the starting mode). Point at a numbered marker, or Tab to it, to see the feature's name and description in the panel below the drawing. Click it (or press Enter) to open it; opened features get a ✓ in the label list and the counter shows how many of the 7 you have visited. Clicking a name in the label list opens that feature too.
Quiz mode. Press Quiz. The labels and leader lines disappear and a prompt describes one feature:
- Correct: "✓ Correct:" with the feature name and its description; the marker turns green with a ✓ badge and its label comes back.
- Wrong on the first attempt: "✗ Not quite.", the name of the feature you picked, and a hint. The hint never names the answer.
- Wrong on the second attempt: the answer is marked "Answer" and named, and the prompt counts as missed.
Press Next prompt after each answer. The toolbar shows "Parts correct: n of 7".
After the seventh prompt, the summary shows your first-attempt score, whether you reached mastery (6 of 7), and each missed prompt with its answer. Retry missed practises only the misses (not scored), Start over reshuffles and resets the score, and Back to explore returns to the labels.

Keyboard: Tab moves through the markers in number order and then the buttons; Enter or Space selects a marker. After an answer, focus moves to Next prompt, so Enter goes on.

Data label: "Drawing: FanPedia, Twin City Fan, p. 85", shown under the drawing.

Iframe Embed Code¶

You can add this MicroSim to any web page by adding this to your HTML:

<iframe src="https://moroshek.github.io/FanTASTIC-textbook/sims/ch17-fan-pedestal-overlay/main.html"
        height="984px"
        width="100%"
        scrolling="no"></iframe>

Lesson Plan¶

Learning Objective¶

The learner will identify the top, pillow block bearing, hand holes, sides, front, feet and bearing or motor pads of a fan pedestal on FanPedia's drawing, given each feature's job or look (Bloom: Remember, verb: identify).

Audience¶

Adult professional development: new application engineers, sales staff, representatives and facilities staff.

Duration¶

10 minutes

Prerequisites¶

Chapter 17, sections "Pillow Block Housings: Solid, Split and Totally Split", "Bolting the Bearing Down: Two and Four Hole Mounts" and "Fan Pedestals".

Activities¶

Explore (3 min): Open all seven features. Sort them aloud into the pedestal's structure (top, sides, front, feet), the features that serve the bearings (pads, hand holes) and the part it carries (the pillow block bearing).
Compare (2 min): Look at the inset. Which feature does it add that the main drawing's flat top does not show, and which other feature does the same job?
Quiz (3 min): Switch to quiz mode and find all seven features from their descriptions without going back to explore mode.
Review (2 min): Read the missed list, open those features in explore mode, then press Start over for a new order.

Common Misconceptions Addressed¶

The pedestal is just a stand: it supports the bearings, shaft and often the motor, and it gives the rotating assembly the stiffness it needs to be balanced and meet vibration requirements.
The hand holes are only for looking in: they give access to the bearing and motor fasteners.
Bearing or motor pads are needed on every pedestal: a machined top gives the same flat, stiff surface for bearing alignment.

Assessment¶

First-attempt score shown in the summary as "First-attempt score: n of 7"; mastery is 6 of 7 on the first attempt.
Pointing at markers and opening infoboxes in explore mode is exploration, not evidence.
Follow-up question: a pillow block bearing has to be unbolted for service. Which pedestal feature does the mechanic reach through, and which feature sets how true the new bearing will sit?

References¶

FanPedia: The Fan & Blower Encyclopedia (PDF) - Twin City Fan; pp. 83-87 cover fan pedestals, and p. 85 is the pedestal features drawing used here.
FanPedia online - Twin City Fan's online version of the encyclopedia.
Chapter 17: Bearing Details, Lubrication and Pedestals - the section "Fan Pedestals", where this MicroSim is embedded, and the sections on pillow block housings and bearing mounts.