The AC Induction Electric motor (ACIM), sometimes called a squirrel cage motor, is among the most popular motors found in consumer and commercial Ac Induction Motor applications. Induction devices are by considerably the largest group of all commercial electrical machines, converting approximately 70-80% of all electrical energy into mechanical form. The have a very robust rotor construction, making them ideal for high-speed applications. With proper design, they have good overloading and field weakening characteristics.
The ACIM is made up of a simple cage-like rotor and a stator containing three windings
The changing field produced by the AC line current in the stator induces a current in the rotor which interacts with the field and causes the rotor to rotate
The rotor does not have any moving contacts, which eliminates sparking