Maxon Precision Motors (Burlingame, CA) has introduced the EC-16 sterilizable brushless motor that has been assembled so that the coils are outside the rotor, providing good heat dissipation. Steam sterilization is specified at 273 °F at up to 2.3 bar for 20 minutes. The motor can be sterilized at least 100 times in an autoclave. The diameter is 0.63" with a length of 2.2". Continuous output power is 40 watts, while maximum speed is 50,000 RPM. Ambient temperature range is -4 to 275 °F, and maximum continuous torque is up to 1.78 oz-in, depending on the winding. The motor uses high-energy samarium cobalt magnets for a mechanical time constant of 5 ms. A sterilizable gearhead is available in 55 ratios ranging from 3.8:1 to 4592:1 with a maximum input speed of 8,000 RPM.



Magazine cover
Motion Control Technology Magazine

This article first appeared in the April, 2006 issue of Motion Control Technology Magazine (Vol. 30 No. 4).

Read more articles from the archives here.