PCBMotor
Pioneering Innovative and Cost-Effective Motion Control Systems

Over a span of twenty years, medical device manufacturing space has evolved by leaps and bounds to reach the stage called the post miniaturisation, and post specialisation era. In such times of growth, the medical device manufacturing industry demands electronic applications to be smaller, cheaper, and more accurate. To achieve this demand, the medical device manufacturers require motion control systems with a free aperture, a small form factor, and high precision. A lot of expensive solutions, fulfilling the requirement, are targeting the lab setups, but prove unaffordable to be used in large scale manufacturing of the medical devices to reach more healthcare providers. With this challenge in the backdrop, arose PCBMotor in 2008, to offer accurate and high-resolution ultrasonic piezoelectric motor mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) that helps reduce the cost by eliminating the cost of screws, wires, connectors, and manual assembly. Also, PCBMotor’s direct-drive capability removes the need for gears that reduces the bill of materials. Under the guidance of Henrik Staehr-Olsen, CEO of PCBMotor, the company, amidst the several new design opportunities, presents the new motor technology that significantly reduces the size, building height, and cost of medical applications while maintaining a high torque motor without slack.

PCBMotor applies rotor on the surface of a stator, which holds the piezo components and electrical connecting circuit, and generates a travelling wave to produce elliptical motion on the rotor interface. This elliptical motion of the contact surface propels the rotor and the connected drive-shaft. Regarding this mechanism, Olsen says, “We offer a simple yet advanced motion control solution, which enables our customers to increase the number of products built and sold by being able to improve the low speed and high resolution achievable in their motion control applications.”

We offer a simple yet advanced motion control solution, which enables our customers to increase the number of products built and sold

PCBMotor has advanced features such as high resolution, ring shape, hollow centre, low building height and weight, and so on. These features enable the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to integrate the motor directly into a device, and its hollow centric feature can be adapted to several devices. “PCBMotor is dealing with the medical device industry’s OEMs who are making physical devices where motor control is quintessential,” remarks Olsen. Thus, the motor is easily modified for devices in industries like Optics and Lasers, Medical, Wireless Networks and Filters. PCBMotor can solve the requirements of the optical industry such as the measure of the hollow centre and the kind of redistribution required by providing a prototype with customised technology to validate that the motor caters to the precise needs of the client. Another significant application of PCBMotor in the medical device industry is in the field of brain wave measurements. The human brain comprising small magnetic pulses needs to be measured with a sensor without any magnetic interference. Thus, with this unique feature, PCBMotor distinguishes itself amidst the traditional magnetic motors.

To exhibit such mastery in the industry, PCBMotor follows an individualistic approach to handle project workflow titled ‘Steps to Success’. In this approach, the company offers a white paper to its customers, describing details on their technology’s capabilities. In addition, PCBMotor provides an evaluation kit for the customers to get familiarised with the technology. If the customer is willing to take the partnership further, the company proceeds with the business by providing a prototype based on the specifications.

PCBMotor, for over a decade, has been successfully implementing piezoelectric motor on PCB that has revolutionised the medical devices manufacturing landscape. With its rich clientele rising to 1000, the company is looking for a future that is majorly customer-driven.