05.18.23
In the world of engineering, motor design plays a crucial role in the success of electrical applications.
ADVANCED DESIGN-TO-MANUFACTURE SOFTWARE
FOR NEXT GENERATION MOTORS.
YOUR KEY TO THE FUTURE OF MOTOR DESIGN
ECM’s proprietary motor design and optimization software fundamentally changes the way motors are designed and manufactured. A cloud-based CAD/CAM software platform, PrintStator quickly transforms customer application requirements into unique, optimized PCB stator designs. PrintStator offers a reliable, cost-effective and rapid design-to-production cycle of the next generation motor and generator.
MOTOR AS A SOFTWARE
How does it work?
PrintStator enables motor solutions that are designed around systems rather than having to design systems to work with a motor from a fixed catalogue.
Electric motors are not several-sizes-fit all products, but critical system components that should be designed to exact fit. The motor used for exciting, new 21st century applications should have the agility, scalability, and performance matching the applications in which it will be used. The PrintStator motor as a software package is a liberating design platform for innovators, following this vison for electric machines.
EASY OPTIMIZATION
PrintStator eliminates human error and allows considerable flexibility in specifying optimization parameters and design restraints. The software uses application priorities along with operating parameters to produce unique application-specific solutions. Optimization criteria and constraints include but are not limited to specific voltage ranges and current, maximizing efficiency or torque-density, and minimizing costs, weight, or size.
RAPID DESIGN CYCLE
PrintStator allows for swift iterations on designs through the input of altered parameters. With PrintStator, designs are ready in a matter of hours and functioning custom motors are just weeks away. Optimization algorithms take all the heavily lifting out of creating a custom PCB stator, replacing a month plus long process into just a few seconds.
EXACT SOLUTIONS
PrintStator’s advanced algorithms transform discrete motor specifications into optimized PCB Stator designs with exact operating conditions. The software can also consider application specific requirements including weight, size, cost, and efficiency targets to ensure the design of a purpose-built machine. Further, a feedback loop feature guarantees continuously improving algorithms.
Design Opportunity with PrintStator
The flexibility of PrintStator and the unique manufacture of PCB Stators create a number of new design opportunities. Since there is no winding of copper wire, the design of PCB stator motors can be manipulated in ways never before possible. PrintStator has been used to wrap motors around torque multipliers, fit motors into specific shapes, and integrate motors into existing spaces.
STACKING MOTORS
When motor diameter is limited but torque requirements are high, PrintStator can create designs which stack two PCB stators/rotors on the same shaft. This design feature doubles the torque capability without significant losses in efficiency. Even stacking more than two stators/rotors is a possibility.
SEGMENTED STATORS
PrintStator can design PCB stators as segments, only utilizing a fraction of the 360* stator design, to further increase design flexibility and reduce manufacturing costs. This method has been utilized for small generator applications as well as highly intelligent motors which activate specific stator segments to run at different operating points.
RINGS AND OTHER SHAPES
In certain cases where system integration or other unique application specifics require extremely compact form factors, PrintStator has been able to design motors with custom shapes. For example, ECM designed a motor for a robotic application as a thin annular ring, integrating a harmonic drive torque multiplier in the motor cavity. Circles, rectangles, and other shapes are also possible through PrintStator.
Manufacturing with PrintStator
PrintStator leverages the global capacity of the printed-circuit board industry to enable rapid prototyping and full-scaled production. With each unique PCB stator design, PrintStator automatically generates a Gerber file, an open ASCII vector format for 2D binary images ubiquitously utilized by the PCB manufacturing industry. This file specifies copper weight, layout for each layer, vias, solder mask, legend, etc., and can be used to immediately print the stator worldwide. The end result is unmatched flexibility, time-to-market, and scalability.
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DESIGN-TO-MANUFACTURE IN 3 EASY STEPS
1 | MOTOR SPECIFICATIONS
Input desired motor specifications including form factor restrictions, efficiency targets, torque and power, and let PrintStator know what’s most important.
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DESIGN-TO-MANUFACTURE IN 3 EASY STEPS
2 | PCB STATOR MOTOR DESIGN
Sit back and relax as PrintStator designs and optimizes a unique PCB stator motor design with exact operating parameters for your application.
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DESIGN-TO-MANUFACTURE IN 3 EASY STEPS
3 | MANUFACTURE-READY
PrintStator generates a detailed description of the motor design and build characteristics ready for commercial production via Gerber file.
THE FUTURE
Stop designing your system around a motor, and start utilizing PrintStator to design next-generation, purpose-built motors around your system!
ECM will soon be offering software licenses to the PrintStator motor design software.
With PrintStator in your toolbox, you will create your own integrated, custom PCB Stator motors and generators – specialized for your end-use applications – from the comfort of your personal computer. The software will then communicate with local printed circuit board design houses to deliver your complete turnkey motor solution within weeks. You can test use PrintStator today, just send us your motor specifications and we will work with you to design a custom fit motor for your application.
