Brush Motors
The Brush Motor is designed for high volume OEM applications with low cost being the primary objective. The Brush Motor comes in sizes from 0.29" to 3.6" diameter. Anaheim Automation offers many models to choose from including off-the-shelf options or custom options. Custom options include optimizing the maximum speed, torque, current, voltage, cabling, wiring, connectors, and shaft modifications. With our Brush Motor products you get great quality, great customer service, and competitive prices. Please note that not all small dc motors are stock items, and that minimum purchases will be required for most part numbers listed. However, for most applications, going to another dc motor series, or just a size larger, may provide the solution for your requirements.
Brush Drivers/Controllers
Power up your Brush Motor with Anaheim Automation Speed Controllers. Our Brush Drives/Controllers are high quality products, offered at a low prices. Anaheim Automation's Brush Speed Controllers offer internal or external potentiometer speed control, external voltage speed control, 2-quadrant operation, and an open-loop velocity mode. With Anaheim Automation's Brush Speed Controllers, you know you're getting a great value!
Brush Gearmotors
Anaheim Automation's Brush Gearmotors are designed and priced for high volume OEM applications with low cost and high quality being the primary objective. Choose from our wide selection of Brush Spur Gearmotors and Brush Planetary Gearmotors to give you high precision at a very affordable price. With a variety of power and ratios to choose from, Anaheim Automation will surely have a Brush Gearmotor that's right for your application.
  • How a Brush Motor Works
  • Applications for a Brush Motor

How a Brush Motor Works

Brush Motor has permanent magnets on the outside and a spinning motor or generator inside which is also called the armature. Since the permanent magnets don’t move they are stationary and are called stators or the stator, and the rotating armature is called the rotor. Inside the armature there is an electromagnet that creates a magnetic field when electricity is put into that causes to repel and attract the stator magnets. To keep the rotor spinning the poles of the electromagnet must be changed, otherwise the armature only spins through 180 degrees. As the rotor spins the brushes make contact with the spinning electrodes attached to the armature changing the polarity.

The Brush Motor is simple to make and understand. Although Brush Motor is simple enough to understand there are a few downsides about them. These motors have brushes inside that make and break connections causing these brushes to wear down. Also, since connections and breaks are being made there are sparks you can see inside the motor and you can hear some electrical noise. The maximum speed of the motor is actually limited by the brushes; also the brushes limit the number of armatures. Because the electromagnet is in the center of the motor this makes it much harder for the motor to keep cool.

The great thing about the Brush Motor is that the speed is proportional to the input voltage applied to the motor. The speed is changed along with the input voltage. In order to change the direction, you must switch the input voltage. Brush Motor is used for many different types of applications. These motors have been and continue to be used all around the world. Although they are cheap and easy solutions, there are a few downsides with the motors, but they will still perform to your needs.

Applications for a Brush Motor

Brush Motor products continue to be used for many rotating applications all around the world. Depending on your type of application, there are four different types of Brush Motors. The first type and most commonly used is the Permanent Magnet Brush Motor. As you can tell by the name, this motor has permanent magnets set inside this is to produce the stator field. The stator field is constant and the motor response is very quick to the change in voltage. The voltage versus speed and current versus torque are linear to each other. Most commonly used applications for this type of Brush Motor is anything that uses fractional horsepower. The motors are cost efficient although, over time the permanent magnets may lose their magnetism over time. Some motors have windings built into them to prevent that from happening.

The Shunt-wound Brush Motor is typically used in applications that require five or more horsepower. These motors have a field coil that is parallel to the rotor or also known as the armature. The loss of magnetism in these types of Brush Motor products is not a concern. The series-wound motors are used for applications that require high-torque. The field coil in this case is in series with the rotor. Unlike the Permanent magnet and shunt-wound motor, it does not have the precise speed control needed. Last, but not least the compound-wound Brush Motor is a combination of the series and shunt wound motors. The Brush Motor is able to produce high-torque as well as provide speed control. The speed can vary just by changing the applied voltage. The direction is changed by reversing the input signal into the motor. This is possible because of the h-bridge configuration circuit.

The Brush Motor is known to be used in rotational applications, such as automotive starters, treadmills, car lifts, etc. As you can see these applications only require the motor to rotate in a clockwise direction or a counter clockwise direction. They come in all shapes and sizes and are cost efficient as well. They continue to be used all around the world.