Kit motors, also known as built-in motors or kit motors, offer a unique type of drive technology where the motor itself does not have its own housing or bearings. Essentially, they consist of the active components of a motor. As a kit, the customer receives both the rotor and stator of the motor, providing them with the flexibility to seamlessly integrate the motor into their own mechanics or application. For more information, please visit our "Embedded Motion" technology page.

In many cases, kit motors are designed as torque motors. Torque motors are characterized by a specific geometry optimized for high torque rather than high power output. The form factor of a torque motor is typically short with a large diameter. This design choice helps to keep copper losses and electrical time constants of the motor low. Additionally, compared to conventional servo motors, these motors usually have more poles.

There are numerous reasons to utilize modern kit motors as a drive technology for both rotational and linear movements. The ability to flexibly integrate the motor into one's own mechanics enables optimized design and tailored solutions for specific requirements. Kit motors offer high power density, efficient energy transmission, and precise controllability. They are ideal for applications that demand high torque, such as machine tools, robotics, medical technology, and aerospace.

Furthermore, kit motors allow for direct power transmission without the need for additional mechanical translations or gearboxes, resulting in higher efficiency and accuracy. Due to their compact design and lack of housing, kit motors can also be accommodated in limited spaces.

The modern drive technology of kit motors provides a wide range of benefits and opens up new possibilities for implementing sophisticated motion applications. MACCON is proud to offer high-quality kit motors and assist customers in finding the optimal solution for their individual requirements.

There are a number of advantages to using this modern drive technology - both for rotatory and for linear motion control. It is not only a question of performance. Often secondary issues of mechanical assembly are of equal importance, such as:

  • High acceleration capability
  • High dynamic performance (ratio max./min. speed)
  • Hetter stiffness and damping
  • Hetter position accurarcy and repeatability
  • High reliability
  • High efficiency
  • Good, consistant performance over a wide temperature range
  • No wearing parts, long life
  • Lower operational noise level
  • Hollow shaft
  • Short motor length or smaller cross-section
  • Frame size or form

Do you have technical questions or need a quote?

Contact us today to talk to an experienced MACCON engineer!

Motivation and reasons to use direct drive torque motors

There are a number of advantages to using this modern drive technology - both for rotatory and for linear motion control. It is not only a question of performance. Often secondary issues of mechanical assembly are of equal importance, such as:

  • High acceleration capability
  • High dynamic performance (ratio max./min. speed)
  • Better stiffness and damping
  • Better position accurarcy and repeatability
  • High reliability
  • High efficiency
  • Good, consistent performance over a wide temperature range
  • No wearing parts, long life
  • Lower operational noise level
  • Hollow shaft
  • Short motor length or smaller cross-section
  • Frame size or form

The main reason to employ a direct drive still remains servo-performance. This is generally better than for a conventional servo-drive with mechanical gear reduction. The explanation lies in the extremely stiff connection between the motor and the load which can be achieved in this mechanical configuration.

Do you have technical questions or need a quote?

Contact us today to talk to an experienced MACCON engineer!

Embedded Motion

What do we mean by embedded motion ? In essence, it's a technical approach to building machines which are less expensive, more mechanically efficient, smaller and even use less electrical power.

Think about it like this: if you need to drive a shaft inside your machine which has its own bearings and housing, why use a housed motor, which in turn has its own bearings, own shaft, own housing ? It makes more sense to use a framless motor (a.k.a. "kit motor"). The rotor drives the machine's shaft directly. There is no unnecessary coupling between a motor shaft and the driven shaft. The stator is attached directly to the machine's own housing. In doing this we save cost, weight and space. Not only that, we improve the mechanical qualities of the machine by eliminating the coupling normally required to connect the motor shaft to the driven shaft. Electrical power consumption is reduced, as the motor only has to overcome the friction of the machine's own bearings. All of these arguments apply to either rotary or linear motors (see images on the right hand side). As well as the motors, linear or rotary encoders can also be supplied in kit-from, for direct integration into the customer's machine. Last but not least, the drive electronics can also be installed inside the machine.

The economic benefits of embedded motion can be summarised as follows:

  • Lower material cost (save two bearings, one shaft, one coupling and one motor housing).
  • Motor takes up less space and weighs less.
  • The machine shaft is shorter and no longer comprises two parts. It is stiffer and has less inertia. This makes the machine more dynamic and eliminates unwanted resonance frequencies.
  • The motor's drive electronics and the machine's control electronics can be integrated onto the same circuit board.
  • By integrating the electronics into the machine, cable lengths can be made shorter and connectors can be eliminated. All of this saves cost, and, improves EMI/EMC characteristics.
  • Some machines with special geometrical and weight requirements simply could not be built without applying the principles of embedded motion.
  • Costs are also reduced by eliminating unnecessary installation steps.


Please contact us to discuss your embedded motion project. We provide kit motorsencoders and drive electronics along with our 33 years of engineering expertise to help you get the economic and technical solution you are looking for.

Do you have technical questions or need a quote?

Contact us today to talk to an experienced MACCON engineer!