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About Direct Drive Motors and μDD Motor
Understand direct drive motors and the advantages of micro direct-drive μDD Motors: backlash-free precision, high torque at low speed, quiet operation, and a large hollow shaft for routing cables, optics, vacuum or air lines.
A direct drive motor is a servo motor that drives the load directly without gears or belts. Removing the transmission makes the system backlash-free, quiet, and low maintenance, with excellent repeatability at low-speed high-torque motion.
Long-tail: backlash-free direct drive servo, hollow-shaft direct drive motor, high-torque low-speed servo drive.
High repeatability for metrology, wafer chucking, and precision alignment.
Low acoustic noise for microscopes, optics benches, and cleanrooms.
No gear lubrication or belt tensioning; fewer wear parts.
Simpler stackups and smaller machine envelopes.
Smooth pick-and-place, gimbal control, slow scans.
Accurate current, speed, and position loops.
μDD Motor integrates a high-resolution rotary encoder with a refined stator to achieve smooth low-speed torque and precise positioning. The large hollow shaft simplifies routing of cables, optics, vacuum and air lines through the axis.
Deliver more usable torque per liter of motor volume—enable smaller mechanisms without sacrificing performance.
Among the smallest class of DD motors—ideal for tight envelopes in semiconductor and optical tools.
Works with MTL drivers and popular servo platforms; ask about EtherCAT options.
Explore compact μDD models. Each page includes specifications, dimensions & wiring, cables, MTLParam app, and support.
Ultra-compact hollow-shaft direct drive for instruments and micro stages.
Versatile sizes for indexing, scanning, and alignment.
Higher torque for robotics joints and wafer handling subsystems.
Step 1 — Load & motion profile. Define inertia, required peak/continuous torque at speed, duty cycle, settle time, holding torque, and environment.
Step 2 — Hollow-shaft routing. Decide what passes through the axis (cables, air, vacuum, optics).
Step 3 — Driver & control. Choose an MTL driver or a compatible platform (ask about EtherCAT).
Step 4 — Mounting & safety. Bearings, fixtures, backdrivability, holding torque, and emergency stop strategy.
| Controller / Drive | Interface | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MTL driver family | EtherCAT / analog / digital I/O | Auto-tuning, manual tuning recipes, MTLParam app. |
| Mitsubishi MELSERVO-J5 | Encoder & I/O per model | Common in factory automation; wiring options available. |
| Panasonic MINAS series | Encoder & I/O per model | Widely used in equipment and robotics projects. |
Semiconductor equipment
Back-end assembly, inspection, wafer transfer, and rotary chucks.
Optics & photonics
Laser attenuators, pan-tilt gimbals, precision stages with through-shaft routing.
Life sciences
Quiet, precise rotation inside compact instruments.
Robotics
High torque in a compact body; simplified joint wiring.
Universities & research
Backdrivability and smooth control for haptics and novel mechanisms.
Targets: direct drive settling time, repeatability improvement vs gear, low torque ripple.
Gearless design reduces wear particles—ideal for sensitive environments.
Use drive STO and specify brakes for gravity-loaded axes.
Ask about CE/RoHS and documentation required for your region or OEM process.
| Item | Motor + gear | μDD Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Backlash | Present | None (direct coupling) |
| Space | Larger footprint | Compact layout |
| Noise | Gear whine, friction noise | Very quiet |
| Maintenance | Lubrication / wear parts | Minimal |
| Accuracy | Limited by gearbox play | High repeatability |
| Cable routing | External around reducer | Through the hollow shaft |
| Cleanroom | Higher particles | Low particle generation |
Dimensions & wiring
Connector pinouts, cable part numbers, and mounting drawings are linked from each model page.
Open μDD lineupMTLParam app
Quick setup, auto-tuning, and logging. See guidance and recipes on the model pages.
User portalApplication cases
Wafer inversion mechanisms, compact rotary stages, and custom hollow-shaft integrations.
Browse casesInertia, torque at speed, duty cycle, settle time, holding torque.
Hollow-shaft routing, flange pattern, through-shaft loads, cable paths.
Drive interface (EtherCAT/analog), STO/brake strategy, homing/absolute.
What is a direct drive (DD) motor in simple terms?
How is a μDD Motor different from a regular servo with a reducer?
Can a μDD Motor replace my existing geared motor?
Mechanical play in a transmission that appears as lost motion. Direct drive removes it by eliminating gears.
Periodic variation in torque that causes speed ripple or settling tails. Minimized by μDD’s stator/encoder design.
Through-hole rotor/stator geometry that allows routing of cables, optics, air, or vacuum through the axis.
Selection support
We help choose the right model and driver based on load, duty cycle, and motion profile.
Tuning support
Start with auto-tuning, then refine manually. On-site or remote tuning available.
Warranty
Initial defects covered within one year after first use and within 1.5 years after delivery. After-sales includes repair and root cause analysis.