DC fan motors

Case Study on Optimal Customization: Environmentally Resistant Fan Motors

Case Studies

Drones and Drone Ports (AC/DC Fan Motors)

IP68 Waterproof Fans: Stable Cooling in
Severe Environments

Problems

Conventional fan motors^*1 are primarily designed for usage in protected indoor environments. Therefore, when used in drones or outdoor drone stations (charging and standby bases), they are highly susceptibility to rain, dust, salt spray, and oxidizing gases (in industrial zones). This exposure leads to the degradation of grease in the built-in ball bearings and corrosion of the circuit boards, potentially resulting in unstable drone flight or station shutdowns.

^*1Compared to our standard products

Solution

Adopting IP-rated fan motors engineered with advanced potting (resin filling) and coating technologies physically protects coils and circuit boards, preventing the ingress of water, dust, and oil. This effectively reduces drone maintenance and replacement costs. Furthermore, the extended lifecycle of the product minimizes unnecessary resource, contributing to waste reduction and a lower environmental impact.

Product Merits

Reducing maintenance and replacement costs
4 levels of environmental resistance

Water resistance test of
environment-resistant fans

Fan Motors with 4 IP Levels

MinebeaMitsumi offers 4 levels of environment-resistant IP fan motors based on the processing method of the potting assembly (coil and PCB). You can choose the optimal model for your drone's operating conditions to ensure high reliability.

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^*2Based on internal test results

IP22 equivalent^*2 (Level 01): Conformal coating / silicone coating

A basic drip- and dust-proof type with an conformal or silicone coating applied to the circuit board. Although it offers lower environmental resistance than the premium hot melt or potting models, it allows for low-cost implementation.

IP55 (Level 02): Hot melt coating / high conformal coating

A waterproof and dust-proof type, featuring a stator and circuit board molded with a nylon-based material. It prevents the ingress of dust and strong water jets from any direction, making it a versatile grade suitable for a wide range of environments.

IP68 (Level 03): Potting 2

Features a stator and circuit board assembled in a casing and filled with epoxy resin, providing resistance to salt water and sulfur gas. "Potting 2" is recommended for severe environments demanding rigorous waterproof and dust-proof capabilities above IP55 (Level 02).

IP68～IP69K (Level 04): Potting 1

Utilizing an epoxy potting process, the drive circuit, stator, and windings are molded with epoxy resin to achieve advanced environmental resistance. IP69K-compliant models withstand oil mist environments, salt water and sulfur gas.

Various Applications for IP-rated Fan Motors

IP-rated fan motors are utilized in a wide range of fields beyond drones, from everyday household washing machines to suburban energy storage systems. The required IP level varies depending on the application and environment. Choosing optimal specifications are primarily by considering with conditions such as “Where is the fan used, indoors or outdoors”, and “How far the environmental resistance is needed besides waterproof and dust-proof protection”.

Typical applications for each IP and environmental resistance levels are listed below. Even for applications not listed here, IP-rated fan motors are ideal for use in harsh environments exposed to water and dust.

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Various Applications for IP-rated Fan Motors

Waterproof Connectors

We offer a wide range of waterproof connectors compatible with our IP-rated fan motors. There are variations of in-line, PCB, and splitter types, enable flexible connections tailored to your system design.

In-line type