What are the housings of gearmotors?

The quality of a geared motor depends on many different factors. In addition to elements such as the quality and type of gears in the gearmotor and the type of motor used, the housing material also plays a role in determining the quality and performance of the gearmotor.

Some common types of materials used in gearmotor housings include various aluminum housings, cast iron, and stainless steel. Aluminum housings vary depending on the manufacturing technology, and the common ones are sand casting, die casting, permanent die casting, or aluminum billet processing.

Other materials available include cast iron and stainless steel, but also more expensive, such as cast zinc and even injection-molded magnesium. For example, a good general-purpose enclosure is usually made of cast iron, while a stainless steel enclosure is more suitable in corrosive environments or where a high level of hygiene is required. However, in food and beverage applications, special stainless steel enclosures for washdown cost twice or more than conventional and common aluminum or cast iron enclosures.

In addition to the material itself, other factors also determine the quality and performance of the housing. For example, material thickness and reinforcements can change the housing strength of a gearmotor, and thus its service life.

Stainless steel gearmotor housings are specifically designed to minimize contamination in food and beverage applications.