Bipolar Drives and Unipolar Drives for Stepper Motors: A Comparison

 A stepper motor is a type of brushless DC motor composed of connected coils — called “phases.” These electromechanical devices are generally driven in open loop without a feedback sensor, with current applied on the phases without knowing the rotor position. The rotor moves into alignment by means of the stator’s magnetic flux, generated by the current flowing in the phases. At each pulse, the current can be supplied to the next phase, allowing incremental rotational movements, or steps. There are two methods to supply current in the coil: bipolar and unipolar. This blog post will compare bipolar and unipolar motors.

How Encoders Provide Motor Speed and Position Control 

In many mechanical systems, precise motion hinges upon effective monitoring and control of the motor. Encoders make motion control possible by sensing the motor’s speed and position and sending feedback signals to control components. Two square waves, or channels, shifted 90 electrical degrees from each other, along with an optional index pulse that occurs once per revolution, encode the angular position data. 

Stepper Motors Provide the Dynamic Performance Your Medical Application Requires

A stepper motor is an electromechanical device that converts electrical pulses into discrete mechanical movements and therefore can be operated directly from a pulse train generator or a microprocessor. Stepper motors can work in an open loop, the controller used to drive the motor can keep track of the number of steps executed and knows the mechanical position of the shaft. Stepper geared motor have very fine resolutions (< 0.1 degrees) allowing precise metering for pump applications and maintain a position without current because of their inherent detent torque. Excellent dynamic characteristics allow quick starts and stops.

Engage Early with Motor Suppliers for Strategic Decisions that Meet Timelines and Enhance Product Performance

Medical device companies are under extreme pressure to deliver new or improved products ahead of the competition. Engaging with specialist suppliers at the very earliest stages of product design can help medical OEMs maintain a competitive edge.

Did you know: Stepper Disc Magnet Motor Technology Provides Multiple Modes of Operation

Designed and developed in Switzerland, Portescap's Disc Magnet Stepper Motor provide versatility unequaled by any other kind of permanent magnet stepper motor. 

Selecting the Optimum Flat Motor Technologies For Your Application

Many applications today have critical space constraints and require flat motor solutions. However it is not always obvious what technology would work best in this type of situation while still being able to meet performance requirements. Typically, the speed-torque criteria can help provide a guide on what technology may be optimal for the given application. Let’s explore the various technologies available for flat motors depending on design requirements.

Motor Selection Tips: Understanding Thermal Parameters of DC Coreless Motors
With the help of simple thermal modeling

Podiatry Done Right: Ironless Brushless DC Motors for Foot Care Devices

With summertime just around the corner and podiatry studios slowly reopening after the COVID-19 shutdown, taking good care of one's feet is becoming more relevant than ever. To be able to offer a professional treatment a podologist depends on a reliable and well-performing podiatry device. The motor situated in the handpiece of such a device is a critical component, which will strongly influence whether the device simply performs its job or if the same task can be achieved with outstanding user-friendliness and customer satisfaction.

Why Use an Electromagnetic Brake with Your Electric DC Motor?

Electromagnetic brakes are used in industrial and medical equipment to consistently hold a load in position at a specific stopping point. The brake hollow shaft is mounted on an electric motor shaft for a compact integration.

Portescap Motor Technology in Healthcare Simulators

Healthcare simulators are sophisticated training tools for medical professionals that resemble actual patients exhibiting various medical conditions.

Motor Innovations: Differential Compact Drives

What is the need for new gearing technologies?

Miniature motion technology demands flexibility as well as compactness with higher power and efficiency. Conventional gear technologies have some limitations which restricts the development of new concepts. One such new concept is a “Differential Compact Drive” which differentiates with other concepts in such that it provides high reduction, high efficiency, lower noise, and a compact length gearbox. Before reviewing the advantages of this new concept lets first review the limitations of Conventional Planetary systems.

Motion in Dental Applications

The dental market is growing. An aging population and greater demands for cosmetic dentistry are some of the factors driving this growth.

Cost Optimized 40mm Brushless DC Slotless Motors

Portescap is introducing a new cost-optimized brushless DC slotless motors in 40mm diameter. This 4-pole motor offers both high speed and high peak torque capability without compromising on the smooth operation and long life.

Powered Surgical Tool Reliability: Protecting Against Moisture & Corrosion

Powered reusable surgical tools have gained popularity thanks to their ability to reduce procedure times and improve patient outcomes. An array of sensor, feedback, and control components make these advances possible. These parts are prone to corrosion from saline, steam sterilizations, or other contaminants. In order to ensure reliable performance over several years of surgeries and re-use, device OEMs need to protect their tools against moisture ingress. This blog post will explain how moisture, corrosion, and other harsh conditions can compromise reusable surgical tools and offer mitigation strategies to ensure long service life.

When it comes to motion for handheld and miniature medical device designs, a standard electrical mini motor may seem like a good starting point. But while a miniature motor generates rotary movement, applications like medical pipettes or syringes, and mesotherapy devices often move loads linearly instead of rotationally. For these medical tools as well as some industrial devices, engineers must develop their own system to translate rotary motion into linear motion. Here are some of the basics to understand when considering your linear motion options.

Portescap Design Partnership Among Multiple Stakeholders

Medical device development normally involves the coordination of many stakeholders. Original equipment or device manufacturers (OEMs or ODMs) are increasingly utilizing design and manufacturing partners to develop and launch their products. Additionally, start-up companies typically work with investors and incubators to support their nascent businesses. All of these stakeholders add value to the development process, but they also bring unique needs and goals for the project that an OEM or ODM must accommodate.

Portescap E-Store – Mini Motor Purchasing Available On-Line

Portescap has opened our new E-Store where you can find and purchase miniature motion technologies to suit any configuration, environment, or envelope. All Portescap motor technologies are available for review including Brushless DC, Coreless Brush DC, and Stepper (Can Stack, Disc Magnet, and Linear Actuator). You can view all motors within a technology and drive down to an individual motor page for a deeper evaluation. Once your selection is ready, you can purchase directly in the store if available or submit a request for a quote on the product.

Ultra EC: The Ideal Solution for Battery-Operated Power Tools

Ultra EC high-performance motors are an ideal solution for battery-operated power tools. Constructed using the very best technology, Ultra EC motors are built to surpass the rigorous demands of industrial users. 

Miniature Motor Selection on Demand

Portescap has released the MotionCompass™, a virtual environment that allows users to configure specific motion needs, compare performance across motor technologies and select an optimal mini motor solution. By inputting the basic application parameters (speed and torque), the MotionCompass generates motor recommendations for Brushless and Coreless Brush DC motors. All data is dynamically generated in real-time based on the product specifications. Users can compare performance metrics (Speed, Efficiency, Power and Current) and confirm the optimum solution for their application.

Lower Surgical Hand Tool Costs Without Sacrificing Reliability

Surgeons worldwide have come to favor advanced surgical hand tools for their effectiveness and successful patient outcomes. In order to keep costs in check, these sophisticated tools are re-used many times. In between procedures, the tools require steam sterilization, or autoclaving. While Tier-I surgical centers can afford frequent re-use of premium surgical tools, this model is often too expensive for smaller-scale Tier-II and Tier-III operations. However, the right motor can allow designers to create affordable surgical tools with high quality and durability.