Description
These small 10 x 2.7mm flat vibration motors can be used to provide vibration feedback like in a cell phone and can be useful in a number of applications like bristlebots.
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
- Qty 5 – 3V DC Flat Vibration Motor
KEY FEATURES OF 3V DC FLAT VIBRATION MOTOR:
- Small 10mm diameter x 2.7mm high
- 2cm leads with glue strain relief
- Adhesive back for mounting
- 1.5 to 4VDC operation range
- 80mA current draw @ 3V typical.
The motors operate by using voice coils to rotate an internal disc that has an offset counter-balance and hence causes a vibration as it rotates.
These devices are also sometimes called pancake motors and were designed for cell phones and pagers to provide vibration as a form of haptic feedback, but they can be used in a number of other interesting applications.
A popular use is with bristlebots, where the vibration motor is attached to the back of a small bristle brush and powered from a 3V coin battery cell. The vibration causes the bristlebot to move around on a smooth surface. This can be a fun introduction to robotics for younger kids.
The vibration can also be used in applications such as game play like the old operation game to provide tactile feedback when the buzzer sounds or to add a vibration to a small feeder mechanism to help things move along a feeder chute.
Here is a zombie operation game we made one year for my wife’s company Halloween party. She is testing it on the coffee table in her evil doctor costume.
The vibration motor was attached to the handle of a large pair of tweezers so that when the tweezers touched the sides, the motor would vibrate the tweezers while at the same time the LEDs flashed and the zombie eyes turned red while it roared in pain. The overall effect was quite good.
The motor is designed to run at 3V nominal. At lower voltages such as 1.5v, the motor works but the vibration is weaker. At 4V the vibration is quite strong. These motors are designed for intermittent use. That becomes more important as the voltage increases.
The back of the motor has adhesive with a liner so that it can be easily mounted. The front has a thin layer of rubber to prevent rattling against an adjacent surface
1.5 to 4VDC Power is supplied via small red/black wires. The red wire connects to the positive voltage, black connects to ground. The wires have a dab of epoxy to help strain relieve them at the motor body.
Our Evaluation Results:
These pack a fairly strong vibration for their size.
The wire leads are small gauge, appearing to be about 30AWG, so be prepared to break out the reading glasses to hook things up. Soldering will likely be required.
Also keep in mind that the whole purpose of the device is to create a vibration, so be sure to stabilize the leads to avoid constant flexing which can result in lead breakage. Taping them down with something like Kapton tape often works well for this purpose.
Notes:
- None
Technical Specifications
Operating Ratings | ||
Motor Voltage | 1.5 – 4VDC (3V typical) | |
Motor Current (typical @ 3V) | 80mA | |
Dimensions | Motor ( Dia x H) | 10 x 2.7mm ( 0.4 x 0.1″) |
Lead Length | 2cm (0.8″) |