Guides
Technology explained
How the technology works: construction, operating principles, control and the engineering trade-offs behind each type of motion component.
Slip rings
- How slip rings workA slip ring passes power and signals from a stationary frame to a rotating one through conductive rings that turn against stationary brushes, so cables never wind up.
Linear actuators
- How electric linear actuators workAn electric linear actuator turns a motor's rotation into straight-line motion, usually through a screw and nut (lead, ball or roller screw) or a toothed belt; a linear motor skips the conversion and drives the load directly.
Servo and stepper motors
- Closed-loop stepper motors explainedA closed-loop stepper adds an encoder to a hybrid stepper so the drive can detect and correct lost steps, raise current only when the load needs it and alarm on a stall; it lets you size with less torque margin than open loop and run cooler, but a servo still wins at high speed, high torque at speed and with rapidly changing loads.
- How servo motors workAn industrial servo motor is a permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) with an encoder: the drive reads rotor position, commutates the three-phase stator current so it always pulls at right angles to the magnets, and closes current, velocity and position loops around it.
- How stepper motors workA stepper motor turns a fixed angle each time its drive switches the current in its windings: a standard two-phase hybrid makes 200 full steps per revolution (1.8°).
Frameless and torque motors
- Direct-drive torque motors explainedA direct-drive torque motor is a large-diameter, high-pole-count brushless motor bolted straight to the load, with no gearbox or belt.
Gearboxes and harmonic drives
- How strain-wave gears workA strain-wave gear uses an elliptical wave generator to flex a thin toothed flexspline inside a rigid circular spline with two more teeth, so each input turn moves the output back by two teeth.
Encoders and feedback
- Encoder interfaces explainedMatch the encoder interface to what the drive accepts first, then to cable length and data needs.
Servo drives
- How servo drives workA servo drive converts supply power into a DC bus, then switches that bus into the motor's phases with pulse-width modulation so the winding current follows a command.
- Servo drive form factors explainedPut the drive where its heat, wiring and servicing are easiest to manage for your machine.
UK engineering team · Product sourcing · Supply support
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Send your part number or describe what the machine needs to do. We connect your requirement with experienced UK engineering and procurement support to help you get the right products, pricing and supply options. Your matched provider can take the enquiry through quotation and ordering to delivery and after-sales support.
- Source original parts or assess suitable alternatives
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- One enquiry for components, complete axes and ongoing support
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Select the products and performance you need. Our UK engineering team can use your specification to help source the right components, pricing and supply options. See your summary before adding contact details.
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What are you specifying?
Select everything you need. A motor, drive and gearbox can be specified together as one axis.
From component to working requirement
Find a solution, calculate the duty or source the parts
Explore selection questions, replacement routes and complete motion packages. Keep the application requirements alongside the product specifications.
Motors and drives for AGV and AMR traction
A traction selection needs wheel torque and speed across the vehicle duty. Battery limits, regeneration, gearing, holding and steering arrangements also matter.
48V EtherCAT servo drive selection
A nominal 48V supply and an EtherCAT label define only part of the enquiry. Establish voltage extremes, power flow, control modes and exact motor compatibility.
Complete servo motor, drive and gearbox packages
Choose the axis from the load backwards. A matched package is a defined combination of components and interfaces, with the scope of supply agreed before purchase.
Compact low-backlash gearbox selection
Small size and low backlash are useful only if torque, stiffness, life and installation requirements are also satisfied. Evaluate the complete motor-gearbox-load assembly.
UK engineering input · A route to buying the right products
From your enquiry to products, delivery and support
Specify Motion helps turn a part number or application into a purchasing enquiry. We provide recommendations and connect your requirement with a relevant engineering or procurement provider for product selection, pricing, sourcing and supply.
- Tell us what you needSend a code or configure the application, quantities and timing.
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