Back electromotive force (back EMF) is a critical factor that influences efficiency, control, and overall performance in electric motors. Whether you're designing motors for electric vehicles (EVs), industrial automation, or renewable energy applications, understanding and managing back EMF is essential.

Smaller Package – More Power: Unlocking High Performance Motors with SMCs

 By now you may have read a blog article or two where we’ve discussed the many advantages of soft magnetic composites (SMCs) on the performance and energy efficiency of new electric motor designs. Often overlooked is the opportunity to reduce both the size and weight of the device, reducing the space needed to house the motor and enhancing the efficiency of the overall design. These two key functional aspects of motor design and end use are of critical importance in electric vehicles, robotics, consumer electronics, home appliances, and drone and aerospace applications. So, is SMC technology the answer to satisfying these demanding specifications without compromising performance?

The concept of the wheel hub motor isn’t new. In fact, Porsche pioneered the technology in the early 1900s with the Lohner-Porsche, an electric car that housed motors inside each of its four wheels. However, the technology never took off due to limitations in materials, manufacturing, vehicle design, and the electric infrastructure to support fully electric vehicles.

The electric motor industry is undergoing a quiet revolution, driving a relentless push for energy-efficient electric motors with compact, high-performance designs. One key driver in this evolution is the yokeless axial flux motor, a revolutionary architecture that redefines power density and torque density across various applications.

Powder Metallurgy, Then and Now

The Metal Powder Industries Federation recently republished an interesting article about the early history of powder metallurgy (PM) that was originally printed in a 1944 issue of the Saturday Evening Post. It notes that General Motors began making significant quantities of PM parts during WW2 as a way to cost effectively mass produce many small intricate parts that helped in the war effort. These parts were often difficult to cast or machine; thus, PM offered the ability to mass produce these components while meeting all design strength requirements in a cost-effective manner.

Engineers who are tasked with designing and specifying electric motors for new and updated applications are now facing three interdependent challenges: optimizing operating efficiency, simplifying the manufacturing processes to reduce cost, and addressing the emerging concern of recyclability and sustainability.