Brushless DC, Stepper Motors, Motion Control and More…

Find the right magnet for your motor application

Electric motors rely on principles of magnetism in order to operate. Most often, copper windings are powered by an electric current, generating a magnetic field. This interacts with a separate magnetic field – often created by an array of permanent magnets.  Many of the newest, most powerful and most efficient electric motors use permanent magnets in their design. Permanent magnet motors (PM motors) have some key advantages over induction motors:

  • More consistent performance
  • Higher efficiency – less energy loss
  • Small and lightweight
  • High power, high torque

Choosing a Magnet for Motor Applications

EAM’s experienced team can help you with your motor magnet design and selection – when choosing a magnet for a motor application there are several factors to keep in mind:

Size

Dimensions and weight of a motor design can be critical. It is possible to create small, dense lightweight motors using compact powerful magnets like neodymium.

Strength

The choice of magnet is often a critical factor that determines the strength, speed, and torque of a motor design.

Temperature

Electric motors can get hot while operating, some experiencing operating temperatures over 150°C. SmCo magnets or high temp grades of neodymium are often good choice for these applications.

Magnet Materials

Most electric motors are made from ceramic, alnico, neodymium (NdFeB) or samarium cobalt (SmCo) magnets.

Ceramic

Pros:
Stable, inexpensive, resistant to corrosion and temperature

Cons:
Comparatively weak, large, and heavy

SmCo

Pros:
Stronger than ceramic, good for high temperatures (operating temp between 250° and 550°C), corrosion resistant

Cons:
More expensive than ceramic, weaker than NdFeB

NdFeB

Pros:
Strongest magnets available, lightweight, high performance

Cons:
Temperature (standard neo 80°C operating temperature, high temp grades up to 220°C) corrosion, especially along grain boundaries, coating recommended

Why Choose EAM?

Fast prototyping

Experienced team of magnet specialists

High volume capacity

Quality – IATF 16949 certified

Domestic and offshore supply chain options

Local stock, JIT delivery available

Contact us about magnets for motors

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Brushless DC Motors

Brushless DC motors are very common motors that utilize permanent magnets, requiring no power source for the rotor field.

Stepper Motors

Stepper Motors are brushless DC electric motors that divide rotation into a number of steps. The position of the motor can then be commanded to move and hold at any position without the use of a position sensor. Many stepper motors use a permanent magnet rotors paired with an electromagnetic stator.

They are often used in motion control positioning system applications like linear actuators, valve and fluid control equipment, printers and scanners, machining equipment, lighting and optics, and much more.