DC servo motors: which is better, brushed or brushless?

In the field of servo motors, DC servo motors are favoured by the industry for their unique performance characteristics and application advantages. And in the classification of DC servo motors, brushed DC servo motors and brushless DC servo motors are the two most common types. So, for users, brushed or brushless is good? This is a question worth exploring in depth.

Firstly, let's learn about brushed DC servo motors. Brushed DC servo motors rely on brushes and commutators to perform the work of commutation of current, and the friction between brushes and commutators is the key to the operation of such motors. As a result of this design, brushed DC servo motors have a quick response and high torque at startup, and are able to provide a large power output. Also, brushed DC servo motors are relatively low cost, which is one of the reasons for their popularity in some applications.

However, brushed DC servo motors also have some significant drawbacks. Due to the friction between the brushes and the commutator, this can lead to greater noise and vibration during operation of the motor. At the same time, brush wear is unavoidable and needs to be replaced periodically, which not only increases maintenance costs, but may also affect the stability and reliability of the motor. In addition, due to the presence of brushes, the efficiency of brushed DC servo motors is relatively low, which is one of the reasons why they are limited in high-performance demanding applications.

Brushless DC servo motors are designed to commutate current through an electronic commutator, eliminating the need for physical contact between the brushes and the commutator. This design allows the brushless DC servo motor to provide smoother operation with less noise and low vibration during operation. At the same time, because there is no wear and tear problem with brushes, brushless DC servo motors have a longer lifespan and lower maintenance costs. In addition, the efficiency of brushless DC servo motors is relatively high, which can meet the needs of high-performance requirements.However, brushless DC servo motors also have some shortcomings. Since they use an electronic commutator for current commutation, they require a more sophisticated control system for precise control. This leads to the relatively high cost of brushless DC servo motors.