cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/48636852
…The discovery expands how motors and actuation systems can be designed. Most electromagnetic motors today depend on magnets and copper coils. This new approach can create motion without magnets or rare earth metals, which could be valuable in a world where material resources are limited.
The design could also be lighter and simpler. Since the rotating component can be made from resin instead of metal, devices may become lighter and faster to respond. That could help in robotics, compact machines, and precision systems.
Because the motor does not depend on magnetic fields, it may also work well in places where magnetic noise causes problems, including medical equipment and data storage devices…
I first read this as “plastic engine” and thought we’d reach peak automotive engineer thinking.
A fully plastic ICE engine would be ridiculous. I can’t imagine what that’d take to pull off. Probably some sort of nanotech shenanigans, but at that point could it still be considered plastic?
PEEK polymer engine block maybe? Should be able to take around 260°C continuously.
But can it handle heat and high pressure and vibrations?
Only one way to find out!
I don’t suppose the material manufacturers were kind enough to give a graph that describes yield strength versus temperature…?
Lighter, cheaper ebikes with smaller motors? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Its Low voltage so pumps might be more feasible
Cheap functional lightweight TPM sounds nice to me!
Drone motors.
I’ve seen drone motors used to power a bicycle.
Actually shockingly effective for their small size, but they require a lot of gear reduction … and most importantly, they require a lot of cooling.
