Micro geared motors are electromechanical integration systems that are composed of a micro gear reducer and a micro motor. They are small, lightweight motors that despite their size are able to carry a huge torque.
They are based on an ac or dc electrical motor, but just in a more compact body- meaning they can be used in various applications. These gears are high torque while low speed, combining a motor with a reducer gear in one system, significantly lowering engineering costs.
Like their macro counterparts, micro geared motors are also energy-efficient. For this reason, they are on high demand, increasingly because of the current global focus on energy saving. This aspect of power saving is also further advanced by proper sizing of the gear motor, thereby prolonging its life.
In the engineering of a gear motor, there’s a variety of designs that can be applied, depending of course on the intended use. For example, a worm gear is assembled at a right angle to fit into assembly lines that require a corner turn like conveyor belts, or planetary and parallel shaft gearboxes.
They can also be joined to permanent magnets as in the case of dc gear motors, or made into ac, brushed or brushless motors.
The selection to use is dependent entirely on your assembling needs. Due to the compactness and general, lightweight nature, they are used mostly in intelligent life applications. However, this doesn’t mean that any micro gear will do for any application.
Some guidelines can help in picking out the best micro geared motor for your application.
First, know the general design and size of your assembly. This includes the sizes, mounting angles, and lubrication that will be required. Consider also the power source and its voltage, maximum current, and controls that will be used if the need arises.
Look at the size, weight, how much noise they produce, the life expectancy, and maintenance. These are called the specifications. An essential step in determining the correct gear motor is evaluating performance.
What is the expected load at full capacity? What torque do you need? What is your required speed? Finally, but no less important, you need to ensure that you pick the right gear motor for the environment that it shall be operating in; in relation to humidity levels, temperature, and ingress protection.
Final Thoughts
Work out your starting and running torque, and together with the output of your machine, select the best motor for your machine. An important step is to ensure that you do sufficient testing on your machine. Be sure to do so within its expected natural environment in order to get a clear picture of its actual performance with that motor.
Observe closely for signs like being too hot, appearing stressed, or unreasonable noise levels. These are signs of unsuitability. Should they occur, take it apart and reassemble. If it persists, it would be best at this point to get in touch with the motor manufacturer for another consult or replacement.
