Types of Electric Motors

Electric motors are now more diverse and adaptable than ever before. When planning a motion control system, the choice of motor is extremely important. The motor must align with the purpose and overall performance goals of the system. Luckily, there is a motor design suitable for any imaginable purpose.

Some of the most common electric motors used today include:

AC Brushless Motors

AC brushless motors are some of the most popular in motion control. They use induction of a rotating magnetic field, generated in the stator, to turn both the stator and rotor at a synchronous rate. They rely on permanent electromagnets to operate.

DC Brushed Motors

In a DC brushed motor, brush orientation on the stator determines current flow. In some models, the brush’s orientation relative to the rotor bar segments is decisive instead. The commutator is especially important in any DC brushed motor design.

DC Brushless Motors

DC brushless motors were first developed to achieve higher performance in a smaller space than DC brushed motors, and they are smaller than comparable AC models. An embedded controller is used to facilitate operation in the absence of a slip ring or commutator.

Direct Drive

Direct drive is a high-efficiency, low-wear technology implementation that replaces conventional servo motors and their accompanying transmissions. In addition to being far easier to maintain over a longer period of time, these motors accelerate more quickly.

Linear Motors

These electric motors feature an unrolled stator and motor, producing linear force along the device’s length. In contrast to cylindrical models, they have a flat active section featuring two ends. They are typically faster and more accurate than rotatory motors.

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Servo Motors

A servo motor is any motor coupled with a feedback sensor to facilitate positioning; thus, servo motors are the backbone of robotics. Both rotary and linear actuators are used. Low-cost brushed DC motors are common, but are being superseded by brushless AC motors for high-performance applications.

Stepper Motors

Stepper motors use an internal rotor, electronically manipulated by external magnets. The rotor can be made with permanent magnets or a soft metal. As windings are energized, the rotor teeth align with the magnetic field. This allows them to move from point to point in fixed increments.

Before work begins on any new system, think carefully about the competing properties of the different motors. The selection of the right motor gets any project off to a better start.

Ready to learn more? Check out the Fundamentals of Electric Motor Design course offered by our A3 Motion & Motor College.

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