Coventry team to develop 3D printed electric motor

The team has developed a way of producing an electric motor with major components made using additive manufacture.

The result is a motor with increased motor power despite a reduction in the size and mass of key components, a part count reduction making supply chains simpler, increased manufacturing efficiency, lower running costs and reduced assembly and inspection time and costs.

MTC said their work potentially clears the path for the commercialisation of a 3D-printed electric motor, something which has hitherto only been the subject of theoretical studies.

The group has already developed a way of producing an electric motor casing including integrated cooling channels using additive manufacture and the ambition is for the motor to be wholly manufactured using additive manufacture.

MTC chief technologist Steve Nesbitt said the development of electric motors has not received this level of focus for over 100 years, despite costs, quality and performance being high priorities for manufacturers.