Electric Vibrating Motors: Understanding their Mechanical Layout in Devices You Probably Use Everyday

Electric vibrating motors have a range of uses in some of the devices and machinery that you use every day. They are cordless, compact size devices used to produce vibration impulses but no sound. These impulses alert the user of any information given off by the device they are operating, prompting their response. Notably, electric vibrating motors are an integral part of your electronic or mechanical device as they influence the experience you'll have when using that device. By understanding their mechanical layout, you can look at various motor configurations by different manufacturers and go for devices that guarantee the best user experience. Here is everything you need for the mechanical layout of electric vibrating motors:

Direction of Force by the Motor

When motors vibrate, they generate forces called vectors. This means that the energy given off has both magnitude (mass) and direction. For this reason, it is important to consider the direction of the force from the motor's vibrations as it has a direct impact on the quality of the tactile feedback given off by the device. Devices that direct their vibrational forces towards the user produce the best tactile feedback for the best user experience in the end. Take the case of gaming joystick for instance. When using the joystick, you exert a force vertically on the surface of the joystick, meaning that you need a motor that is vertically aligned for you to receive the best haptic feedback. Therefore, you should ask your vendor about the alignment of the motor before buying.

Degree of Freedom

The degree of freedom relates to the way your motor will handle excess force when you are using the device. Without a doubt, you impart varying degrees of force on your device depending on your emotions or the period within which you must respond to the instructions given by your device. For instance, you are likely to use more force on your joystick whenever you are excited about a certain event in the game. Scoring a goal is a good example.

Can the excess force affect your user experience negatively? Yes! This is true if the device you are using doesn't dissipate the excess force efficiently. When buying, you should go for devices with eccentric rotating mass (ERM) motors because of their excellent dissipation of any excess force. They are engineered to revector (redirect) nearly half of any excess force imparted on the device by the user. ERMs will give you the best experience when using things like touchscreens.