Pancake Motors

Pancake Motors from Pelonis Technologies
Applications of Pancake Motors
Pancake ServoDisc Motor Conversion Table
Pancake Motor FAQs
Learn More About Pancake Motors

Known as servo-disc or printed armature motors, pancake motors are a type of DC motor featuring a flat construction with an axial magnetic flux. The unique design and construction of the pancake motor offer considerable reliability and performance advantages over traditional brushed DC motors.

Pancake motors are frequently utilized in industrial high-end servo applications to provide the following capabilities:

Low inductance

Low thermal time constant

Precise electronic motor control

Rapid stop-start

Axially flat, slim profile

Zero cogging

Pancake Motors from Pelonis Technologies

Pelonis Technologies offers a comprehensive selection of powerful, high-precision pancake motors to meet the unique demands of many industrial applications. Design modifications are available for every pancake stepper motor, with specific details listed on each product page.

GP Series Pancake Motors

The GP Series of brushed pancake motors provides an economical servo solution for general industrial applications. These motors are available in 9 cm, 12 cm, and 16 cm armature diameters with options for standard ferrite magnets (GPM) or high-power neodymium magnets (GPN). GP Series brushed pancake motors are available in a wide variety of configurations, with the following custom features:

Brakes
Housings
Encoders
Tachometers

A standard series wound armature is ideal for higher speeds and general use, while lower-torque parallel-wound armatures can handle more specific needs. The ironless, super-flat construction of GP pancake motors eliminates cogging and promotes ultra-low velocity ripple to boost performance and optimize efficiency.

GM Series Pancake Motors

Our GM Series of brushed pancake motors offers extreme accuracy and high power in high-performance industrial applications, operating in ambient temperatures up to 150 ^ºC (302 ^ºF).

The GM Series brushed pancake motors are available in 9 cm, 12 cm, and 16 cm armature diameters with options for standard and high-power AINiCo magnets. The ultra-flat, ironless construction eliminates cogging and creates ultra-low velocity ripple.

Through a specialized build, every motor in the GM Series features parallel winding and low resistance, making them ideal for battery-powered, low-voltage, and/or high-speed applications. Historically, the GM motor series is a common choice for high-end servo applications that need a compact motor with precise control.

GN Series Pancake Motors

The GN Series is one of the flattest pancake motors available, having one-third of the axial thickness of the GM Series. These motors have an extremely accurate high-power motor range and are available in 9 cm, 12 cm, or 16 cm armature diameters.

The GN Series pancake motors utilize rare earth NdFeB magnets, enabling high-performance industrial operation in low ambient temperatures down to -20 ^ºC (-4 ^ºF). Our specialized build scheme allows every motor in the GN series to have low resistance, parallel winding, which is ideal for battery-powered, high-speed, or low-voltage industrial applications.

Applications of Pancake Motors

Pancake motors are frequently used in the following applications:

Automation and robotic systems

Electric vehicles (for regenerative braking or propulsion)

Industrial applications requiring high-precision motion control

Renewable energy systems (such as wind turbines)

Other uses include:

CNC machining
Logistics solutions
Printing machinery
Centrifuges
Marine autopilots
Scientific instrumentation
Flight simulators
Medical mobility
Servo mechanisms
High ambient temperature ventilation
Medical scanners
Valve actuators

Pancake ServoDisc Motor Conversion Table

PTI Equivalent Series	Other Series Name	Example Model Numbers
GP Series	PMI Kollmorgen Ferrite Series and UF Series ServoDisc motors	9F, 9FS, 9FST, 9FHB-44, 12FLR, 12FLRB, 12FLRS, 12F, 12FB, 12FS, 12FV, 12FVB, 12FVS, 9FP, 12FP, 12FVP, 12FVS, 12FLRP, 12FLRS, 16FP,U06FNC, U09FS, U09FN, U12FS, U12FN, U16FS, U16FN
GP Series	Yaskawa print motor, minertia motor and P series	PMEE-12CBB, P12D-CG11
GM Series	PMI Kollmorgen U-series, S-series and Platinum series ServoDisc motors	U6M4, U9M4LR(9), U9M4, U9M4LR, U9M4T, U9M4A, U9M4H, U9M4HA, U9M4HA-2, U9M4HT, U9D-, U9D-LR-, U9DT-, U9DLRT-, S9M4H, S9M4HI, U12D-, U12D-LR-, U12DT-, U12DLRT-, U12M4LR(10), U12M4, U12M4A, U12M4H, U12M4HA, U16M4, U6M4T, U9M4T, U9M4HT, U12M4T, U12M4HT, U16M4T, U16M4HT
	SSD Parvex Axem motor, F series and MC series disk-rotor servomotors	F9M4R, F9M2, F9M4, F9M4H, F12M4R, F12M2, F12M4, F12M4H, MC13S, MC17H, MC17B, MC19P, MC19P, MC19S, MC19S, MC19B, MC23S, MC23S, MC24P, MC24P, MC27P, MC27P
	Infranor Mavilor XtraforsMSS and XtraforsEX series	MS-2, MS-4, MS-6, MS-8, MS-12, MS-22, MSS-2, MSS-4, MSS-6, MSS-8, MSS-12, MSS-22, MSS-35, MSS-45
GN Series	PMI Kollmorgen N-series and KN-series ServoDisc motors	N9M4, N9M4T, N9M4LR, N9M4LRT, N12M4, N12M4T, N12M4LR, N12M4LRT, KN06M4, KN09M4, KN09M4T, KN09M4LR, KN12M4, KN12M4T, KN12M4LR, KN16M4, KN16M4T, KN16M4LR
GR Series	PMI Kollmorgen JR-series ruggedized ServoDisc motors	J12M4C, JR12M4CH, JR16M4C, JR16M4CH/W6T19, JR16M4CH-1, JR16M4CHLR-1, JR24M4CH, JR16M4CHLR-2, JR25M6CH, JR33M6CH, JR24M4CH, JR25M6CH, JR33
GPG Series	PMI Kollmorgen FG-series ServoDisc gear motors	9FG, 9FGT, 9FGHD, 9FGCHD, 9FGHDT, 9FGCHDT, 12FG, 12FGT
GPG Series	Yaskawa geared print motor	PMEE-12CBG

Pancake Motor FAQs

The following frequently asked questions address the usage and benefits of pancake motors.

What Are the Main Advantages of Pancake Motors?

Pancake motors have a compact, flat structure that benefits limited-space applications and efficiently dissipates heat. They have a high power-to-weight ratio and can deliver considerable power relative to their small size. Pancake motors also offer rapid deceleration and acceleration.

How Do Pancake Motors Differ From Radial Motors?

Unlike conventional radial motors, pancake motors have a thinner design due to their magnetic flux orientation along the shaft axis. Pancake motors are also more compact and lighter than radial flux motors and typically have lower torque.

Why Are Pancake Motors Suitable for Direct-Drive Systems?

Some e-mobility applications rely on direct-drive motors, as a gearless design helps to reduce maintenance requirements and the overall complexity of the motor. Axial pancake motors deliver nominal torque at 0 rpm.

GM Series Brushed Pancake Motors

Catalog PDF

GP Series Brushed Pancake Motors

Catalog PDF

GN Series Brushed Pancake Motors

Catalog PDF

Innovative Motion Technologies

Catalog PDF

Learn More About Pancake Motors

Pelonis Technologies has over 25 years of manufacturing and product development experience in air movement technologies, induction motors, fans, and more, providing exceptional service and quality at competitive prices. Our team is passionate about developing new solutions that meet the changing needs of our global customer base. We serve the medical equipment, HVAC, aerospace, defense, appliance, and automotive industries with standard and custom solutions.

Request Sample