Integrated electronics motors

maxon motor has launched a range of brushless DC motors with integrated electronics.

The range features established drives EC 20, EC 32 and EC 45 flat, but now they have in-built speed controllers, yet are almost the same size.

The motors available as standard are the 2- and 5-wire versions, with an operating range of 2-50 W. The drives are suitable for use where there is minimal installation space, when long service life and constant speed are required at the same time as simple control operations.

As well as cylindrical drives, the company has been developing and distributing brushless flat motors, known as external rotor motors where the rotating rotor shell encloses the fixed stator.

Advantages of this design include its short overall length, high torque density and its simplicity — and due to electronic current commutation, the motors have an almost unlimited service life.

The EC 20, EC32 and EC 45 flat motors with integrated electronics also reduce the user’s need for control input to the absolute minimum. Current commutation is integrated in the motor through Hall sensors, a 1-quadrant speed controller and numerous protection functions.

In the 2-wire version, speed acts proportionately to the applied operating voltage of 10-28. In the simplest case, the drive is powered directly by the battery.

The 5-wire version offers additional functionality and a wider operating range with set value input, enable and speed monitor. Current limitation, under- and over-voltage switch-off plus temperature monitoring are standard in all models.

New models are also being added to the existing range of flat motors, such as the EC 20 flat, which is available immediately in a 5 W version, with or without Hall sensors. The EC 90 flat is now available with integrated electronics. Due to the two-channel encoder with 2048 pulses per revolution, this drive is suitable for challenging positioning tasks.

A protective cover shields the unit against contamination, which means that it can be used in rough environments. The flexible modular system has also been expanded, so that all flat motors can now be combined with spur and planetary gearheads.