Gear Motors can be configured in many different ways. Designing custom gear motors begins with a few defining questions:

• In what voltage will the gear motors operate?
• Do you prefer wall power (AC) or battery power (DC) for your application?
• What speed is required to meet the gear motors application needs?
• What torque is required for the gear motors application?
• What duty cycle will the gear motors operate?
   100% continuous duty or,
   intermittent duty

• What direction of rotation for the gear motors output shaft?
• What type of output shaft is required in the application?
• Are there any dimensional or size constraints?
• What is the ambient temperature surrounding the gear motors when in operation?
• Will the gear motors be subjected to any radial or axial loading?
• Is the load constant or variable?

If you require more detailed information, or prefer custom gear motors, please contact our Applications Department. Should you like to place an order, contact Customer Service.

Examples of Gear motors

Gear motors are used in a variety of applications in the entertainment, automation, packaging, food, drug and cosmetics, and chemical industries, for both factory and consumer uses.

Typical applications for gear motors include:

• Solar Panel Positioning
• Food Service Equipment
• Drug Dispensing Equipment
• Label and Packaging Equipment
• Vending Equipment
• Lubricating Equipment

• Coin Change Machinery
• Pitching Machines
• Peristaltic Pumps
• Valve Actuators
• Damper Actuators
• Auger Motors
• Oil Skimmers
• Fan Oscillators

Tech Tip - AC Gear Motor Advantages and Disadvantages The most common and simple industrial motor is the three-phase AC gear motor, sometimes shortened to AC Motor. Pertinent information can be found about the AC gear motor by checking the nameplate. Advantages of Using an AC Gear Motor • The AC Gear Motor is of a simple design • The simple design AC gear motors: Simply stated, a series of three windings in the exterior stator section with a simple rotating section (rotor). The changing field caused by the 50 or 60 Hertz AC line voltage causes the AC motor rotor to rotate around the axis of the motor. • The speed of AC gear motors will depend upon these three variables: 1. The fixed number of winding sets (poles) built into AC gear motors, which determines the motors base speed. 2. The frequency of the AC line voltage. Variable speed drives change this frequency to change the speed of AC gear motors. 3. The amount of torque loading on AC gear motors, causes slipping. • The AC Gear Motor is of a low cost construction The AC gear motor has the advantage of being the lowest cost motor. The AC gear motor is the perfect for applications requiring more than about 1/2 hp (325 watts) of power. This is due to the simple design of the AC gear motor. For this reason, the AC gear motor is generally preferred for fixed-speed applications, such as in industrial applications and for commercial and domestic applications where AC line power can be easily attached. Over 90% of all gear motors are AC considered an AC gear motor. They are found in air conditioners, washers, dryers, industrial machinery, fans, blowers, vacuum cleaners, and many, many other applications. • The AC Gear Motor operates reliably The very simple design and construction of the AC gear motor causes them to be extremely reliable and are considered to be low maintenance. Unlike DC Brush Gear Motors, there are no brushes to replace. If an AC Gear Motor is used in the appropriate environment, protected by an enclosure, an AC gear motor can expect to replace the bearings after several years of continuous operation. If the application is well designed in a protective environment, an AC gear motor may not require the bearings to be replaced for more than 10 years. • Easily Found Replacements The wide use of the AC gear motor in many different industries has resulted in easily found replacements for existing equipment repairs and/or upgrades. Many manufacturers adhere to either European (metric) or American (NEMA) standards. • The AC Gear Motor is made by many manufacturers, so it is relatively easy to obtain replacements (for basically the same motor) • The AC Gear Motor is designed in a variety of mounting styles (dependent upon the motor manufacturer). Foot Mount, C-Face, Large Flange, Vertical and Specialty. • There are many environmental styles available for the AC Gear Motor, to cover a wide range of applications and industries, called Specialty AC Gear Motors by most. Because of the wide range of environments in which people want to use the AC gear motor, manufacturers have adapted by providing a wide range of packaging/enclosure designs, such as Open Drip Proof (ODP), Totally Enclosed/Fan-Cooled (TEFC), Totally Enclosed/Air-Over (TEAO), Totally Enclosed/Blower-Cooled (TEBC), Totally Enclosed/Non-Ventilated (TENV), and Totally Enclosed/Water-Cooled (TEWC) versions. Disadvantages of Using an AC Gear Motor • Expensive speed control - Speed controllers can be expensive. The electronics required to handle an AC inverter driver are considerably more expensive than those required to handle a DC motor. However, if performance requirements can be met ~meaning that the required speed range is over 1/3rd of base speed ~ AC inverters and AC gear motors are usually more cost-effective overall, than are DC gear motors and DC drives. This is especially true for applications larger than 10 horsepower, because of cost savings in the AC motor. • Inability to operate at low speeds - Standard AC gear motors should not be operated at speeds less than about 1/3rd of the base speed, due to thermal considerations. A DC motor should be considered for these applications. • Poor positioning control - Positioning drivers and controllers can be expensive and crude. Even a vector drive is very crude when controlling a standard AC motor. Stepper gear motors and Servo Gear Motors are more appropriate for applications wherein positioning and speed control is critical.

Examples of Gear motors Gear motors are used in a variety of applications in the entertainment, automation, packaging, food, drug and cosmetics, and chemical industries, for both factory and consumer uses. Typical applications for gear motors include: • Solar Panel Positioning • Food Service Equipment • Drug Dispensing Equipment • Label and Packaging Equipment • Vending Equipment • Lubricating Equipment • Coin Change Machinery • Pitching Machines • Peristaltic Pumps • Valve Actuators • Damper Actuators • Auger Motors • Oil Skimmers • Fan Oscillators

Gear Motors can be configured in many different ways. Designing custom gear motors begins with a few defining questions: • In what voltage will the gear motors operate? • Do you prefer wall power (AC) or battery power (DC) for your application? • What speed is required to meet the gear motors application needs? • What torque is required for the gear motors application? • What duty cycle will the gear motors operate? 100% continuous duty or, intermittent duty • What direction of rotation for the gear motors output shaft? • What type of output shaft is required in the application? • Are there any dimensional or size constraints? • What is the ambient temperature surrounding the gear motors when in operation? • Will the gear motors be subjected to any radial or axial loading? • Is the load constant or variable? If you require more detailed information, or prefer custom gear motors, please contact our Applications Department. Should you like to place an order, contact Customer Service.

Along with the bipolar step motor, Anaheim Automation carries a comprehensive line of drivers and controllers, power supplies, gear motors, gearboxes, bipolar step motor linear actuators and integrated bipolar step motor/driver packages. Additionally, Anaheim Automation offers encoders, brakes, HMI couplings, cables and connectors, linear guides and X-Y tables. If the bipolar step motor is not ideal for your application, you might consider brushless DC, brush DC, servo, or AC motors, and their compatible drivers/controllers.

Along with the bipolar stepper motor, Anaheim Automation carries a comprehensive line of drivers and controllers, power supplies, gear motors, gearboxes, bipolar stepper motor linear actuators and integrated bipolar stepper motor/driver packages. Additionally, Anaheim Automation offers encoders, brakes, HMI couplings, cables and connectors, linear guides and X-Y tables. If the bipolar stepper motor is not ideal for your application, you might consider brushless DC, brush DC, servo, or AC motors, and their compatible drivers/controllers.

Along with the bipolar stepping motor, Anaheim Automation carries a comprehensive line of drivers and controllers, power supplies, gear motors, gearboxes, bipolar stepping motor linear actuators and integrated bipolar stepping motor/driver packages. Additionally, Anaheim Automation offers encoders, brakes, HMI couplings, cables and connectors, linear guides and X-Y tables. If the bipolar stepping motor is not ideal for your application, you might consider brushless DC, brush DC, servo, or AC motors, and their compatible drivers/controllers.

Along with CNC stepper motors, Anaheim Automation carries a comprehensive line of drivers and controllers, power supplies, gear motors, gearboxes, stepper motor linear actuators and integrated stepper motor/driver packages. Additionally, Anaheim Automation offers encoders, brakes, HMI couplings, cables and connectors, linear guides and X-Y tables. If CNC stepper motors are not ideal for your application, you might consider brushless DC, brush DC, servo, or AC motors, and their compatible drivers/controllers.

Along with the miniature stepper motor, Anaheim Automation carries a comprehensive line of drivers and controllers, power supplies, gear motors, gearboxes, miniature stepper motor linear actuators and integrated miniature stepper motor/driver packages. Additionally, Anaheim Automation offers encoders, brakes, HMI couplings, cables and connectors, linear guides and X-Y tables. If the miniature stepper motor is not ideal for your application, you might consider brushless DC, brush DC, servo, or AC motors, and their compatible drivers/controllers.

Along with the motor stepper, Anaheim Automation carries a comprehensive line of drivers and controllers, power supplies, gear motors, gearboxes, motor stepper linear actuators and integrated motor stepper/driver packages. Additionally, Anaheim Automation offers encoders, brakes, HMI couplings, cables and connectors, linear guides and X-Y tables. If the motor stepper is not ideal for your application, you might consider brushless DC, brush DC, servo, or AC motors, and their compatible drivers/controllers.

Along with the nema 23 stepper motor, Anaheim Automation carries a comprehensive line of drivers and controllers, power supplies, gear motors, gearboxes, nema 23 stepper motor linear actuators and integrated nema 23 stepper motor/driver packages. Additionally, Anaheim Automation offers encoders, brakes, HMI couplings, cables and connectors, linear guides and X-Y tables. If the nema 23 stepper motor is not ideal for your application, you might consider brushless DC, brush DC, servo, or AC motors, and their compatible drivers/controllers.

Along with the step motor, Anaheim Automation carries a comprehensive line of drivers and controllers, power supplies, gear motors, gearboxes, step motor linear actuators and integrated step motor/driver packages. Additionally, Anaheim Automation offers encoders, brakes, HMI couplings, cables and connectors, linear guides and X-Y tables. If the step motor is not ideal for your application, you might consider brushless DC, brush DC, servo, or AC motors, and their compatible drivers/controllers.

Along with step motors, Anaheim Automation carries a comprehensive line of drivers and controllers, power supplies, gear motors, gearboxes, step motors linear actuators and integrated step motors/driver packages. Additionally, Anaheim Automation offers encoders, brakes, HMI couplings, cables and connectors, linear guides and X-Y tables. If the step motors is not ideal for your application, you might consider brushless DC, brush DC, servo, or AC motors, and their compatible drivers/controllers.

Along with the stepper motor, Anaheim Automation carries a comprehensive line of drivers and controllers, power supplies, gear motors, gearboxes, stepper motor linear actuators and integrated stepper motor/driver packages. Additionally, Anaheim Automation offers encoders, brakes, HMI couplings, cables and connectors, linear guides and X-Y tables. If the stepper motor is not ideal for your application, you might consider brushless DC, brush DC, servo, or AC motors, and their compatible drivers/controllers.

Along with stepper motors, Anaheim Automation carries a comprehensive line of drivers and controllers, power supplies, gear motors, gearboxes, stepper motors linear actuators and integrated stepper motors/driver packages. Additionally, Anaheim Automation offers encoders, brakes, HMI couplings, cables and connectors, linear guides and X-Y tables. If the stepper motors is not ideal for your application, you might consider brushless DC, brush DC, servo, or AC motors, and their compatible drivers/controllers.

Along with the stepping motor, Anaheim Automation carries a comprehensive line of drivers and controllers, power supplies, gear motors, gearboxes, stepping motor linear actuators and integrated stepping motor/driver packages. Additionally, Anaheim Automation offers encoders, brakes, HMI couplings, cables and connectors, linear guides and X-Y tables. If the stepping motor is not ideal for your application, you might consider brushless DC, brush DC, servo, or AC motors, and their compatible drivers/controllers.

Along with stepping motors, Anaheim Automation carries a comprehensive line of drivers and controllers, power supplies, gear motors, gearboxes, stepping motors linear actuators and integrated stepping motors/driver packages. Additionally, Anaheim Automation offers encoders, brakes, HMI couplings, cables and connectors, linear guides and X-Y tables. If the stepping motors is not ideal for your application, you might consider brushless DC, brush DC, servo, or AC motors, and their compatible drivers/controllers.

Along with unipolar step motors, Anaheim Automation carries a comprehensive line of drivers and controllers, power supplies, gear motors, gearboxes, unipolar step motors linear actuators and integrated unipolar step motors/driver packages. Additionally, Anaheim Automation offers encoders, brakes, HMI couplings, cables and connectors, linear guides and X-Y tables. If the unipolar step motors is not ideal for your application, you might consider brushless DC, brush DC, servo, or AC motors, and their compatible drivers/controllers.

Along with the unipolar stepper motor, Anaheim Automation carries a comprehensive line of drivers and controllers, power supplies, gear motors, gearboxes, unipolar stepper motor linear actuators and integrated unipolar stepper motor/driver packages. Additionally, Anaheim Automation offers encoders, brakes, HMI couplings, cables and connectors, linear guides and X-Y tables. If the unipolar stepper motor is not ideal for your application, you might consider brushless DC, brush DC, servo, or AC motors, and their compatible drivers/controllers.

Along with unipolar stepper motors, Anaheim Automation carries a comprehensive line of drivers and controllers, power supplies, gear motors, gearboxes, unipolar stepper motors linear actuators and integrated unipolar stepper motors/driver packages. Additionally, Anaheim Automation offers encoders, brakes, HMI couplings, cables and connectors, linear guides and X-Y tables. If the unipolar stepper motors is not ideal for your application, you might consider brushless DC, brush DC, servo, or AC motors, and their compatible drivers/controllers.

Along with the unipolar stepping motor, Anaheim Automation carries a comprehensive line of drivers and controllers, power supplies, gear motors, gearboxes, unipolar stepping motor linear actuators and integrated unipolar stepping motor/driver packages. Additionally, Anaheim Automation offers encoders, brakes, HMI couplings, cables and connectors, linear guides and X-Y tables. If the unipolar stepping motor is not ideal for your application, you might consider brushless DC, brush DC, servo, or AC motors, and their compatible drivers/controllers.

Most BLDC Gear Motors need a controller/driver to run. There are many different types of controllers/drivers that are manufactured around the world for different applications. Many come with different options and can be custom made. Most are referred to as Electronic Speed Controller (ESC). In a BLDC Gear Motor, either a Hall Effect Sensor or the Back EMF (Electromotive Force) is used to run the motor. The Hall Effect uses three hall sensors within the motor to help detect the position of the rotor. This method is primarily used in speed detection, positioning, current sensing, as well as proximity switching. The magnetic field changes in response to the transducer that varies its output voltage. A feedback is created by directly returning a voltage since the sensor operates as an analogue transducer. The distance between the Hall plate and a known magnetic field can be determined with a group of sensors, in this case, three, and the relative position of the magnet can be deduced. A Hall sensor can act as an on/off switch in a digital mode when combined with circuitry. The Back EMF, also known as the Counter-Electromotive Force is caused by a changing electromagnetic field. In a BLDC Gear Motor, the back EMF is a voltage that occurs where there is motion between the external magnetic field and the armature of the motor. In other words, the voltage is developed in an inductor by and alternating current or pulsating current. At every moment, the polarity of the voltage is the reverse of the input voltage. This method is commonly used to measure the motor’s position and speed indirectly.