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Small Motors

A reliable source for Small Motors information and leading Small Motors Companies & Manufacturers.

Small motors convert electric energy into mechanical energy. Depending on the power supply, small motors are an efficient size and incredibly pleasant and practical to operate. Small electric motors are dependable equipment; however, as simple devices, it may be faster to replace a motor than to fix it. Read More…

Small Motors Small motors use a fraction of a horsepower, or 745.7 watts, of power to run and are therefore used in small applications and sometimes referred to as fractional horse power or FHP motors.
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Leading Manufacturers

Stratham, NH  |  844-338-8114

When reliability and power are a must, the universal motors you find at ElectroCraft can operate with high efficiency, low voltage, and at a low cost. Applications that our universal electric motors serve include robotics, packaging, automotive, and medical equipment. Electric motor products include the CompletePower™ Plus Universal Drive, complete with a user-friendly configurable interface....

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ElectroCraft, Inc. $$$

Elma, NY  |  716-652-2000

We began over fifty years ago designing and supplying aircraft and missile components. Over the last fifty years we have grown into the company we are today manufacturing custom fractional horsepower motors and other motors for our customers around the world. We were established in 1951 and ever since then we have been offering excellent customer service that the competition cannot match! We want ...

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Moog Inc. $$$

Northfield, IL  |  800-726-3463

For over a century, Bodine Electric has manufactured the industry's leading & largest line of stock & custom AC, DC & Brushless DC fractional horsepower electric motors, gear motors & controls. Bodine's high-quality, competitively priced motors are available from a national distributor network. Our Bodine gearmotor components can also be modified. Choose from over 1,000 standard FHP gearmotors.

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Bodine Electric Company $$$

Racine, WI  |  262-632-2794

Welcome to Motor Specialty! Since 1947, we have been designing and manufacturing custom universal motors for machine tool, medical, dental, agricultural and a number of other industries. We are also capable of providing dependable shunt wound fractional and integral horsepower motors. Our motors may be enclosed or open, with reversible rotation and internal or external brush structures. At...

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Motor Specialty Inc. $$$
placeholder image ElectroCraft, Inc. Moog Inc. Bodine Electric Company Motor Specialty Inc.

Operating Concept for Small Motors

Small motors use a powerful magnet to create rotation and convert electric energy into rotational motion. The little motor can spin in various directions depending on how the battery leads are connected. Small motors are available as either single-phase or three-phase options. They are frequently inexpensive and simple to maintain.

Small DC Motor

Small Motor Types

These small motors enhance performance when used to improve accuracy. Several examples of small motors include:

Small Brushless DC Motors

Brushless small motors stand out for their incredible speed control and longer operating life. The exceptional velocity and torque of small brushless motors make them a practical choice for many applications. Brushless motors are available as slotless motors or slotted small motors. Slotless motors are built with stators and use an ironless motor with coils fashioned like tubes. These motors are even capable of carrying out sterilizing tasks.

DC Motor with Brushes

A brushed DC motor is suitable for large and small devices. Brushed DC motors have several advantages, including low friction, low starting voltages, negligible iron losses, great efficiency, good thermal dissipation, and a linear relationship between torque and speed. These tiny motors are primarily made to offer outstanding speed-to-torque performance with minimal joule heating.

Motors with Linear Steps

Small motors with linear steps produce translational motion. They are affordable solutions to tasks requiring reliable, controlled motions. Linear motion simplifies the motor design. Removing outside elements boosts the motor’s overall efficiency. The ball bearing variant creates easier load handling and extends the motor's life. With digital management, the motor can be managed by a microprocessor.

Small Linear Motor

Micro Stepper Motor

Micro stepper motors are small brushless DC motors that divide full rotations into equal steps. A micro stepper motor is also referred to as a “tiny step motor” or a “micro-stepping motor.” The motor’s torque and speed should be correctly scaled for specific uses. The position of the motor can be programmed to move or hold at any step without using a feedback position sensor. This is known as an open loop controller.

Micro Stepper Motor

Other types of small motors include:

  • Can Stack
  • Surgical motors
  • Ultra EC motors

Applications

Small motors' features like compact design, resistance, and simple programming, make them useful for many applications, including:

  • Textile and footwear manufacturing
  • Timber applications
  • Plastic and rubber manufacturing
  • Used in toys, and watches
  • Printing industry
  • Nautical purposes
  • Bottling
  • Electromechanical and motorized industries
  • Applicable in medical operations
  • Consumer products such as hairdryers, coffee machines, robotic vacuum cleaners, CD/DVD players & hard drives
  • Fans
  • Pumps
  • Spindle drives within changeable speed applications.

Factors to Consider When Buying Small Motors

When choosing a small motor, it’s important to consider how the motor will be used. Will the motor be running continuously or intermittently? What are the voltage ratings? Do you need a specific weight or customizable speeds? Even if the horsepower exceeds one unit, a motor may still be categorized as a fractional horsepower motor. To assess whether a motor meets the requirements to be classified as a NEMA motor, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) established frame size standards. The one horsepower rule does not apply if the motor's frame size is a 42, 48, or 56.

Choosing the Correct Small Motor Supplier

To ensure the most positive outcome when purchasing small motors from a small motor supplier, it is important to compare several companies using our directory of small motor suppliers. Each small motor supplier has a business profile page highlighting their areas of experience and capabilities, along with a contact form to directly communicate with the supplier for more information or request a quote. Review each small motor business website using our proprietary website previewer to quickly learn what each company specializes in. Then, use our simple RFQ form to contact multiple small motor businesses with the same form.

Small Motors Informational Video

 

Fractional Horsepower Motors Power Pages

Fractional Horsepower Motors

Fractional Horsepower Motors

There are many uses for fractional horsepower motors. Since they produce few vibrations, they can be used in equipment that requires exceptionally high precision. Two types of fractional horsepower motors are stepper and servo motors which allow...

AC Motors

AC Motors

An AC motor is an electric motor that uses alternating current to produce mechanical energy using magnetism blended with alternating current. The structure of an AC motor includes coils that produce a rotating...

DC Motors

DC Motors

A DC motor or direct current motor is an electrical machine that transforms electrical energy into mechanical energy by creating a magnetic field that is powered by direct current. When a DC motor is powered, a magnetic field is created...

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