What Are the Uses of DC Motors?

1. Industrial Production: Core of Drive and Automation

1.1 Machine Tool Equipment

• Spindles or feed systems for precision machining tools (e.g., lathes, milling machines, grinders): Speed needs to be adjusted based on processing materials (e.g., metal, plastic) and processes (rough machining/fine machining). For example, grinders require low speed and high torque to ensure grinding precision; DC motors enable stepless speed regulation via PWM control, preventing machining errors.
• Servo systems for CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines: Some high-end CNC machines still use DC servo motors, which work with encoders to achieve closed-loop control of position and speed, ensuring the accuracy of tool movement.

1.2 Material Conveyance and Lifting

• Conveyor belts: Conveying speed is adjusted according to production rhythms (e.g., different processes in food processing lines require different speeds). The wide speed range of DC motors can meet diverse needs.
• Electric hoists and cranes: High starting torque is required to overcome the static friction of heavy loads. Series-wound DC motors (with high starting torque) are suitable for such short-term, heavy-load starting scenarios (e.g., lifting heavy objects in workshops).

1.3 Printing and Packaging Machinery

• Roller drives for printing presses: Stable speed is essential to ensure uniform ink coverage and avoid blurred graphics; DC motors have minimal speed fluctuation and enable synchronous speed regulation via armature voltage control.
• Packaging machines (e.g., sealing machines, labeling machines): Operating speed is adjusted based on packaging specifications (e.g., bottle size, label dimensions). DC motors have fast response speeds, allowing quick adaptation to production switching.

2. Transportation: From Auxiliary Drive to Main Power

2.1 Electric Vehicles (EVs/HEVs)

• Drive motors for early EVs: Some older EV models (e.g., certain early Tesla models, low-speed electric vehicles in China) once used separately excited DC motors as drive motors, with vehicle speed controlled by adjusting armature voltage. Although they have now been mostly replaced by permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs), they are still widely used in small electric vehicles (e.g., electric tricycles, low-speed mobility scooters) due to their low cost and simple control.
• Vehicle auxiliary systems: The power steering pumps and air conditioning compressors of electric vehicles sometimes use small DC motors (e.g., permanent magnet DC motors), which are compact, low-power, and compatible with the vehicle’s 12V/24V power supply.

2.2 Rail Transit and Special Vehicles

• Auxiliary drives for subways and light rails: The ventilation systems and door drive motors of some trains are DC motors, which require frequent starting/stopping and smooth speed regulation to prevent door jamming.
• Forklifts and AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles): In warehousing, forklifts need low speed and high torque to lift goods, while AGVs require precise speed regulation to travel along paths. The control flexibility of DC motors (especially permanent magnet DC motors) meets these needs.

3. Household and Daily Life: Miniaturization and Low Power Consumption

3.1 Kitchen Appliances

• Blenders and food processors: Speed needs to be adjusted based on ingredient hardness (e.g., high speed for juicing, low speed for dough kneading). DC motors enable multi-speed control via PWM and have high starting torque to prevent ingredient jamming.
• Coffee machines and soybean milk makers: The water pumps and grinding components often use small DC motors to ensure stable water flow or uniform grinding.

3.2 Cleaning and Grooming Appliances

• Vacuum cleaners: Series-wound DC motors operate at high speeds (up to over 10,000 rpm), generating strong suction. Their torque can adaptively adjust when the load changes (e.g., sucking up debris), preventing overload damage.
• Electric toothbrushes and electric shavers: Micro PMDC motors (with diameters of only a few millimeters) are used, featuring precise speed (e.g., stable vibration frequency for electric toothbrushes) and low-voltage (3.7V lithium battery) power supply for safety and portability.

3.3 Other Household Devices

• Electric fans and air purifiers: DC motors offer a wide speed range (from gentle breeze to strong wind) and consume over 30% less energy than traditional AC motors, meeting energy-saving requirements.
• Electric curtains and smart door locks: DC motors start and stop smoothly with low noise, and can be remotely controlled for speed or position adjustment (e.g., curtain opening/closing range) via a controller.

4. Medical and Scientific Research: High Precision and Reliability

4.1 Medical Equipment

• Infusion pumps and syringe pumps: Precise control of fluid delivery rate (e.g., several drops per minute) is required. DC motors work with photoelectric encoders to achieve closed-loop speed regulation, with an error controlled within ±1% to avoid excessive or insufficient medication dosage.
• Ventilators: The fan drives of ventilators use DC motors, which can adjust air volume in real time according to the patient’s breathing rate and operate quietly to minimize patient disturbance.
• Dental tools (e.g., high-speed handpieces): Small series-wound DC motors operate at high speeds (up to 300,000 rpm) with stable torque, ensuring precision in tooth grinding or drilling.

4.2 Scientific Research Instruments

• Laboratory stirrers and centrifuges: Stirrers need to run stably at low speeds (to prevent solution splashing), while centrifuges require speed adjustment based on sample types (e.g., 3,000 rpm for serum separation, 10,000 rpm for cell separation). The speed control precision of DC motors meets experimental needs.
• Precision positioning stages: For applications such as the movement of microscope stages or the adjustment of laser equipment lenses, DC servo motors are used with ball screws to achieve micron-level position control.

5. Consumer Electronics and Toys: Miniaturization and Low Cost

5.1 Consumer Electronics

• Mobile phones and tablets: The vibration motors (e.g., for incoming call vibration) are micro DC motors, which generate vibration via the rotation of an eccentric wheel. They are only a few cubic millimeters in size and have extremely low power consumption.
• Cameras: The focusing and zooming drives of camera lenses use small DC motors (as an alternative to stepper motors) to achieve fast, quiet focusing adjustments.

5.2 Toys and Models

• Remote-controlled cars and drones: The drive wheels of toy cars and propellers of entry-level drones use small DC motors. Speed is controlled by adjusting armature voltage via a remote controller, offering low cost and easy maintenance.
• Electric toys (e.g., robots, train sets): Frequent starting/stopping and speed regulation are required. DC motors have fast response speeds, meeting the interactive needs of toys.

Core Logic Behind DC Motor Applications

• For wide speed range + high precision → Choose separately excited/shunt-wound DC motors (e.g., machine tools, medical equipment);
• For high starting torque + high speed → Choose series-wound DC motors (e.g., vacuum cleaners, electric hoists);
• For miniaturization + low power consumption → Choose PMDC motors (e.g., mobile phone vibration motors, electric toothbrushes).