The Trend towards Miniaturization

Authors Name: Coline Chase


Designing electronic and mechanical devices has become a task in reducing things in size while still maintaining functionality. We expect smaller, portable, highly precise equipment that can be used in rugged field conditions over long periods of time. Measuring devices are reduced in size and upgraded in accuracy. Electric motors can fit inside cramped spaces and yet perform as well as engines that are larger.

This move towards miniaturization and precision is a result of technology developed during the Cold War. Specifically, the need for more computing power and more reliable machines that could be used in different situations, such as in space missions and with ICBMs, made it a necessity to find a way to decrease the size of motors, processors, and other electronic and electric devices.

These advances translated into a demand by the general public for motors that must be designed, engineered, and built for increased level of reliability. If we can get a man to the moon, after all, why can’t we have motors that fit on a desk top or in an assembly line robot that can be efficient as well as accurate?

In fact, as the technology got better, the standards to which we held that technology also got higher. These motors were now tested to rigorous standards with the help of the additional testing of resolver and encoder options.

Now we can find motors and servos in areas outside the military. These motors are generally found in those applications that need coordinated and precise motion control.

For example, a robot putting together parts for an automobile on an assembly line might contain several servo motors, many of them small and able to accurately perform the same motion over and over again. An industrial welding robot can move at a great speed and in a six axes motion because of motors that are reliable and able to fit in tight spaces.

In fact, as important as it is for a small motor to be precise, it should also be rugged and reliable as well. After all, a small motor that is delicate does nothing to increase productivity. Small parts that break easily are no good to anyone. Just as humans can suffer from repetitive stress injuries from performing the same task over and over again, so too can motors and servos get worn out from the actions performed on the assembly line.

There is also the environment on the assembly line that must be dealt with. Small motors may be developed in laboratories but they do no good if they are never introduced in the field. Such harsh conditions can further cause the deterioration of materials, so these machines should be able to stand up to them.

With deterioration, motor repair becomes necessary. With age, motors become less reliable, less precise, and because of their small parts, all this can lead to additional costs. Thus, it becomes necessary to do research into the types of small electric motors and servo motors you purchase for your application. Nowadays, a servo motor which has the ability to withstand harsh conditions is much more affordable than in years that have passed due to advancements in design.

When selecting a servo motor, one must keep in mind the accuracy, speed, and the performance factors, along with it the reliability, which is its ability to suit to varied harsh environments. It must again have the proper voltage and power ratings, be able to handle close temperature, vibration, and harsh conditions. These should be all balanced out with cost factors. With well built components, unexpected repairs and costly shut-down time can be avoided.

The computing power that once resided in a cavernous basement is now able to sit on a corner on your desk. Motors can guide machines to put together other machines. Electric devices just keep getting smaller and smaller and yet, precision and durability are not sacrificed. As time goes on, we will see this trend continued, as it has continued since the 1950s.

The Cold War, the Space Race, and the turbulent upheavals that came after World War II contributed to the creation of smaller electric motors, components, and measuring devices that are portable and accurate. It is important to realize that if you are looking for a motor or servo for some application, that miniaturization is a trend that will continue and it will bring innovations that you should stay abreast of.