Page 15 - Industrial Technology EXTRA 8th February 2021

Portescap engineers recommended the Athlonix
22N brush DC motor with the F16 magnetic
encoder and K24 gearhead, combined with the
required mechanical customisation. With a
continuous torque delivery up to 15.7 mNm from
the 22 mm motor diameter weighing just 53 g, the
motor achieves a high power density. The small
footprint is largely a result of the coreless design,
removing the need for the rotor’s laminated iron
core and replacing it with windings which create a
self-supported design. The mini motor’s neodymium
magnets also add to its performance and high-
power density within a compact package.
The coreless design also assists with smooth vibration, factors which were important for bedside
pump control, avoiding any peaks in the rate of hospital use.
flow. As the Athlonix™ motor doesn’t include iron For portability, the enteral feeding pump features
laminations, torque ripple is very low, resulting in battery power, meaning that energy efficiency is a
smooth pump delivery even at very low speeds. The key requirement. The Athlonix™ motor was
ironless design also reduces the inertia and mass of recommended as it features precious metal
the rotor which enables greater pump control commutation with low generated friction, providing
precision. Accuracy of control was further enhanced operational motor efficiency up to 90%. Efficiency
with the addition of the Portescap F16 magnetic was further enhanced with the addition of the K24
encoder. Providing position monitoring in a compact spur gearhead to provide low current consumption
package, the encoder features Hall sensors for at the require output torques.
reliability over position and speed sensing. The motion solution also provided the long
An additional benefit of the coreless design, the lifetime required of 2,500-plus hours’ operation.
Athlonix motor operates with low noise and low The Athlonix motor’s precious metal commutation,

February 2021 • INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY EXTRA • p15