Today’s advancements in digital technologies is a testament to how far people have come from the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution, which started in the 1760s. However, it does not mean that mechanical power is no longer relevant in present times.
In fact, many vital industries today still rely on the power of motors and machines—and many such components have found applications in ultra-compact devices machinery. The evolution of motors is largely driven by such application requirements for increasingly smaller sizes that are still uncompromising when it comes to power and reliability.
The evolution of motors
This trend has given birth to micro brushless motors that find increasing use in many consumer electronics, industrial devices, and other types of equipment. These components are often required to withstand demands such as cost-efficiency as well as repeated and long-term operation—sometimes in harsh or delicate environments.
Here are just some of the top applications of high-speed miniature motors:
Medical Respiratory and Ventilation Devices
Life-saving medical equipment such as automated respirators depend on highly efficient and fail-proof slotless, brushless DC motors. Given their use in hospitals, clinics, and other medical settings, these motors also need to be sterilizable or autoclavable so that they don’t contribute to the spread of illnesses. Easy and efficient operability of medical equipment is another important requirement, and thus medical motors need to be ultra-compact, lightweight, and energy efficient.
Laboratory Automation
Micro motors are also vital in laboratory equipment in order to automate repetitive and frequent processes and tasks such as handling or analyzing fluids and other medical and research samples. Apart from helping reduce the risk of human error, automated machines also protect people from contamination hazards and other occupational dangers when handling chemicals and biohazardous substances.
Miniature Pumps
Liquid or gas pumps are another important category of medical equipment that utilize high-tech miniature motors. These devices are usually employed in patient care and need to be ambulatory as well as extremely silent in operation. They should also be highly reliable and energy-efficient, often relying on battery power to function.
Power Hand Tools
A popular application of miniature motors is in the manufacturing of power tools such as drills, screwdrivers, saws, and the like. As power hand tools evolve toward more compact, lightweight, easy-to-use, and versatile models, so are micro motors being designed and manufactured to meet these requirements. Safety is a primary consideration for hand tool manufacturers, and thus, extremely reliable yet high-power micro motors are essential.
Textile Yarn Guides
Textile manufacturing has been around for the past several hundred years, but it has definitely become more efficient and accurate with the help of micro motor technology. Miniature motors help guide and position thread yarn during winding, and innovations such as disc magnet motors combine the precision of a stepper motor with the high power and acceleration of a brushless DC motor.
High-speed micro motors in other industries
There are countless other equipment, devices, and implements in other industries that utilize high-speed miniature motors—from the mundane such as barcode scanners and tattoo machines to the extremely specialized such as stage lighting and even deep-sea oil drilling and extraction. It is therefore very important for manufacturers of these products to find the right micro motor components that will provide them with top-quality performance at a price that is value for money.
The market of such components is huge and vendors are plenty, but only the most reliable and trustworthy motor manufacturers are sought after by discerning businesses and the largest brands in the world. These clients recognize the importance of investing in the right components such as miniature motors, in order to deliver on their promise of product quality to end-consumers.
