Frameless torque motor: highly adapted to robot joints

IC694MDL660  The frameless torque motor is a frameless frame type permanent magnet motor with output torque as the measurement index. The principle of the frameless torque motor is the same as that of the traditional permanent magnet motor, the difference is mainly in the structure: the frameless torque motor does not have a shell, only the rotor and the stator 2 components.

Frameless torque motors are very suitable for robot joints. The structural design of frameless torque motor gets rid of the traditional housing constraints, and uses the machine’s own bearings to support the rotor, which seamlessly integrates the motor into the machine design. The frameless torque motor has the characteristics of small volume, high torque and high stability and is very suitable for the requirements of robot joints.

IC694MDL660  The current global market size of torque motor and frameless motor is about 5 billion yuan. According to technavio’s data, in 2022, the global torque motor sales scale was 610 million US dollars, and the global torque motor sales scale is expected to reach 900 million US dollars in 2027, with a CAGR of 8% in 2022-2027. According to QY Research, in 2022, the global frameless motor sales scale was $670 million, and it is expected that the global frameless motor sales scale will reach $1.17 billion in 2029, with a CAGR of 9% in 2022-2029. In terms of the competitive landscape, overseas companies are still in the lead. Major manufacturers engaged in the frameless torque motor industry include Wittenstein (Germany), Kohlmorgen (USA), Nideco (Japan), Parker Hannifin (USA) and other companies. Among domestic enterprises, Buke Shares and Haozhi Electromechanical also launched related products.

IC694MDL660

3.1.3 Related objects

IC694MDL660  Mingzhi electrical appliances, hollow cup motor domestic leading enterprises. The company focuses on the research and development and operation of core technologies and system-level solutions in the field of Motion control. Through the joint venture establishment of Ampu Mingzhi Automation, the acquisition of the United States AMP and Switzerland T Motion, two internationally renowned professional motor drive control products and motion control core technology development enterprises. Integrated and formed the world’s leading motor drive control product development and manufacturing platform, the company’s stepper motor, DC brushless motor, hollow cup motor, motor + lead screw module, motor + reducer module and other products are widely used by domestic and foreign customers.

Wei Chuang Electric, actively expand the robot motor business. The company established the robot industry Department in 2022 to cut into the robot industry chain. At present, it is mainly based on the robot supporting, mainly for the mobile class, cooperation class, service class robot field, providing low-voltage servo, hollow cup motor, special frameless torque motor and other core components. In 2023, the company released hollow cup motor products ECH13 series, frameless motor FO1 series.

3.2, reducer: the core power transmission mechanism

The reducer is the core power transmission mechanism in humanoid robots, which can be likened to human joints. The reducer plays a role in matching speed and transferring torque between the prime mover and the actuator, and mainly has precision planetary reducer, harmonic reducer, RV reducer and other categories. In the Tesla Optimus robot, which contains 14 harmonic reducers and 12 planetary reducers, the electric motor accounts for up to 17% of the total value.