Motors for industrial applications Precise drives for machines and positioning systems
Industrial applications place high demands on precision, availability, installation space, and service life. Whether a laser measurement system, rotary and lifting unit, machining center, or high-precision positioning system: the drives must carry out movements reproducibly, operate reliably in continuous use, and be flexibly integrated into machine design.
TQ-RoboDrive offers frameless motor solutions for industrial applications, customer-specific actuators, and integration services. Our ILM and ILM-E servo motors combine high precision with a compact design, large hollow shaft, and high torque density. Different diameters, stack lengths, and winding configurations enable targeted adaptation to torque, speed, voltage, and installation space.
Which motors are suitable for industrial applications?
Frameless servo motor are particularly suitable for compact and precise industrial drives. Since they are integrated directly into the application, the stator and rotor as well as the housing, shaft, bearings, sensors, cooling, and, if necessary, a gearbox can be specifically matched to the application.
For particularly precise, thermally demanding, or custom-designed systems, the ILM series is often the right choice. Its encapsulated stator supports efficient thermal coupling. The series is suitable, among other things, for laser measurement systems, high-precision positioning axes, and demanding machining and automation solutions.
The ILM-E series is the lightweight, cost-optimized alternative for scalable industrial applications and higher production volumes. Hall and temperature sensors are integrated as standard. As a result, the series is suitable, among other things, for all applications in the semiconductor sector as well as high-precision measurement systems, positioning axes, hexapods, stabilization gimbals, and demanding machining and automation solutions.
Regardless of the selected series, different diameters, stack lengths, and winding configurations are available. This means the motor can be matched to the load profile, speed, supply voltage, and installation space.
What are the most important characteristics of motors used in industrial applications?
Highest precision
Industrial measuring, machining, and positioning systems must execute movements with precision and repeatability. Smooth motor operation, low torque fluctuations, efficiency, low thermal resistance, and precise controllability support both slow fine positioning and dynamic travel movements. Especially in laser measurement systems, machining centers, and high-precision positioning axes, even a slight deviation can affect process quality.
Long service life and low maintenance requirements
Industrial systems are often in operation for many years and with high duty cycles. A directly integrated BLDC frameless motor can, depending on the drive concept, dispense with additional mechanical transmission elements. This can reduce the number of wear-prone components. In the actuator, bearings, electronics, or other mechanical components are generally the elements that limit service life, while the motor itself is usually designed to be highly durable. The actual service life depends on the load profile, bearing arrangement, thermal design, and the integration of the entire drive.
Large hollow shaft
A large hollow shaft creates space for cables, media lines, sensors, optics, or mechanical components. This allows cables to be routed safely through the drive axis and enables compact machine structures. This design advantage is particularly relevant for laser measurement systems, rotary axes, rotary-lift units, and modular positioning systems.
Which TQ motors do we recommend for which industrial application?
Laser measurement systems
Laser measurement systems require precise and smooth movements to reliably align beams, sensors, or optical components. Even slight vibrations or torque fluctuations can affect measurement quality.
In addition to the highest precision, smooth operation at very low speeds, low cogging, and high control accuracy are therefore important. The frameless design enables direct integration into azimuth and elevation axes. The large hollow shaft allows the laser beam, optics, cables, or data lines to be routed through the axis.
Specifically for laser measurement systems, both the ILM and the ILM-E can be specifically adapted with regard to the torque constant kT (Nm/A) to optimally match the desired operating point of the existing electronics.
Rotary, lifting, and linear units
Rotary, lifting, and linear units combine rotational and linear movements in a compact installation space. They are used, for example, for positioning, feeding, aligning, or handling workpieces.
Important requirements are compact integration, high repeatability, and reliable operation with frequent movement cycles. The large hollow shaft makes it possible to route cables or mechanical elements through it, thereby simplifying the design of combined axes. In lifting and linear units, TQ-RoboDrive motors are often combined with a ball screw to convert the rotary motor movement into a linear movement with precision.
Depending on the requirements, ILM and ILM-E motors can be used directly or in combination with a gearbox. For scalable machine modules and larger quantities, the ILM-E series is often an economical solution. For particularly high demands on precision and custom design, the ILM series may be the more suitable choice.
Machining centers for precision and micromechanics
In machining centers for precision and micro-mechanics, electric drives are used, among other things, to adjust, position, and swivel tools, workpieces, or machine components. The movements must be reproducible and carried out with the required rigidity.
In addition to precision and service life, thermal stability, overload capability, and robust mechanical integration are critical here. Temperature-induced changes can affect positioning accuracy and must therefore be taken into account during the design phase.
Frameless motors can be integrated directly into rotary axes, swivel units, and adjustment mechanisms. Depending on torque, speed, and rigidity requirements, they can be used as direct drive, QDD, or with a conventional gearbox.
Precise positioning systems
Precise positioning systems are used in test stands, production facilities, optical systems, semiconductor applications, and industrial metrology. They must reach target positions accurately, repeatably, and often with high dynamics.
This requires smooth motor operation, low inertia, and precise coordination of motor, encoder, control system, bearings, and mechanics. A direct drive can operate without gearbox-related backlash and is therefore particularly suitable for applications with high requirements for motion quality and repeatability.
The ILM series is recommended for particularly demanding or individually designed positioning axes. The ILM-E series can be a cost-optimized alternative for standardized, scalable systems.
Robotic axes
Robotic axes form the moving joints of industrial robots, cobots, and other robotic automation systems. They must deliver high torque in a compact installation space and perform movements precisely, dynamically, and reproducibly.
Frameless motor can be integrated directly into the mechanical structure of the axis. This allows the motor, gearbox, bearings, sensors, and housing to be precisely matched to one another. High torque density, compact design, and precise controllability support powerful and integrated axis concepts.
For scalable robotic axes and larger quantities, the ILM-E series is often an economical solution. For particularly high requirements in precision, synchronism, or custom design, the ILM series may be the more suitable choice.
Collaborative robots are a typical application for robotic axes. Detailed information on cobots, humanoid robots, and other robotics applications can be found on our Robotics page.
FAQs about motors for industrial applications
Why are frameless motors suitable for industry?
Frameless motor are suitable for industry because they combine high precision, compact integration, and great design flexibility. Direct integration makes it possible to tailor the motor, housing, shaft, bearings, and sensor technology precisely to the respective machine. A large hollow shaft also makes it easier to route cables, media lines, optics, or mechanical components. Depending on the drive concept, the number of additional wear-prone transmission elements can also be reduced.
Which motors are suitable for laser measurement systems?
Frameless servo motors with smooth motor operation, low cogging, and precise controllability are well suited for laser measurement systems. The drives must position optical components or measuring axes quietly and reproducibly. A large hollow shaft can additionally allow the passage of a laser beam, optics, cables, or sensor lines. Depending on the requirements profile, both ILM and ILM-E motors can be used and matched to the desired operating point in terms of their torque constant.
What advantages do frameless motors offer in rotary, lifting and linear units?
Frameless motors enable compact rotary, lifting, and linear units and can be integrated directly into the mechanical structure. In lifting and linear units, TQ-RoboDrive motors are often combined with a ball screw, which precisely converts the motor's rotary motion into linear motion. Key requirements are high repeatability, compact integration, and reliable operation under frequent motion cycles. Depending on the application, the motors can be used directly or in combination with a gearbox.
Which motors are suitable for machining centers?
Precise and thermally stable integrated frameless servo motors are suitable for machining centers used in precision and micromechanics. They can be used, among other applications, in adjustment, rotary, and positioning axes. In addition to precision and service life, stiffness, overload capacity, thermal stability, and robust mechanical integration are crucial. Depending on torque, speed, and stiffness requirements, the motor can be used as a direct drive, QDD, or in combination with a conventional gearbox.
Why is a large hollow shaft advantageous in industrial motors?
A large hollow shaft makes it possible to route cables, media lines, sensors, optics, or mechanical components through the motor axis. This protects the lines and enables compact machine structures. This design advantage is particularly relevant in laser measurement systems, rotary axes, rotary and lifting units, and modular positioning systems.
Are frameless motors low-maintenance?
Frameless motor are brushless and can therefore be designed to be very durable and low-maintenance. Depending on the drive concept, additional mechanical transmission elements can also be eliminated. In a complete actuator, bearings, electronics, or other mechanical components are often more limiting to service life than the motor itself. However, the actual service life and maintenance requirements depend on the load profile, bearing arrangement, thermal design, gearbox, and integration of the entire drive.