Where to Get Small Brushless DC Motors

AI Thread Summary
Small brushless DC motors can be challenging to find, particularly in the size and price range suitable for projects like a spirograph-type laser light show. Users suggest exploring various online retailers such as robotstore.com, jameco.com, and allelectronics.com, although options may be limited. Cannibalizing computer fans or CD-ROM drive motors is proposed as a practical alternative, as these components can be modified for specific applications. Some participants recommend checking out resources like RC groups for additional information on motor design and sourcing. Overall, while options are limited, there are creative solutions for obtaining small brushless DC motors.
Captain Barbosa
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Hopefully this is the appropriate forum for this sort of question, but I was wondering if any of you might know where I could buy small brushless DC motors online.

I've been Googling around for a while, but most of the ones that I found are too large and expensive for what I need, as they're meant for RC airplanes and the like.

Basically what I want is something with the size and performance of what might be found in a computer case fan, but without having to actually cannibalize a computer fan. (Although this could work.)

I thought some of you people who are into robotics might know where to get them. Thanks in advance.

Just in case anyone is curious, I'm going to use 3 of them to make a spirograph-type laser light show with variable speed controls for each motor. :cool:
 
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Have you tried;

www.robotstore.com[/URL]
[url]www.jameco.com[/url]
[url]www.allelectronics.com[/url]
[url]www.lynxmotion.com[/url]
[url]www.hobbyengineering.com[/url]
[url]www.radioshack.com[/url]

?
 
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I only found one motor on any of those sites that's brushless, and there aren't many specs that they show for it.

Maybe I should just cannibalize a few computer fans. It would certainly be easier than trying to hunt down the motor separately.

Some of those sites are pretty cool though, thanks for those!
 
Captain Barbosa said:
I only found one motor on any of those sites that's brushless, and there aren't many specs that they show for it.

Maybe I should just cannibalize a few computer fans. It would certainly be easier than trying to hunt down the motor separately.

Some of those sites are pretty cool though, thanks for those!

Try http://www.graybar.com/" , they may have some.

CS
 
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Sorry, I didn't realize you wanted brushless motors. I saw DC in your post and for some reason I just assumed brushed. If that's the case the smallest your probably going to find are the the computer fan motors or you can cannibalize CD-ROM drive motors. CD-ROM motors are very easy to modify (used them for many projects) and can be easily tailored to many applications.
 
Captain Barbosa said:
I only found one motor on any of those sites that's brushless, and there aren't many specs that they show for it.

Maybe I should just cannibalize a few computer fans. It would certainly be easier than trying to hunt down the motor separately.

Some of those sites are pretty cool though, thanks for those!

Try this site, not only do they show how, there are some that will sell to you. There is a lot here so spend some time looking through the topics, and threads.

http://www.rcgroups.com/electric-motor-design-and-construction-361/

Ron
 
Wow, thanks for giving me the idea of cd-rom motors! A quick Google showed tons of sites with information on modifying and using them.

I'll be sure to check out that RC groups site.

For my purposes I can probably even just glue the mirrors directly on to the rotor can.
 
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