With the rapid development of intelligent equipment such as humanoid robots and collaborative robots, frameless torque motors have become a core component of robotic joint modules due to their high torque density, compact structure, and direct-drive characteristics. However, performance verification and reliability testing come with multiple challenges, including vibration and noise (NVH).
This article outlines comprehensive testing solutions for frameless torque motors used in robotics, covering testing objectives, key items, methodologies, and practical case insights to serve as a reference for the industry.
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Ⅰ. What is a Frameless Torque Motor for Robots?
A frameless torque motor is a type of direct-drive motor that removes the traditional mechanical structures, such as housings and bearings, retaining only the rotor and stator as the core components.
Its design philosophy is to use electromagnetic force to directly drive the load, enabling high-precision and highly responsive motion control. These motors are widely used in robotic joints, precision instruments, and other demanding applications.
Ⅱ. Types of Robot Frameless Torque Motor Test Solutions
High requirements correspond to high testing standards. The frameless torque motor for robots comprises three main parts: the stator, the permanent magnet rotor, and the complete motor, each corresponding to one of three categories of testing equipment.
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1. Frameless Torque Motor Stator Test
Test Solution | Test Item |
Stator Test | AC Hi-pot, Insulation Resistance, Surge, DC Resistance, Inductance, NTC |
Stator Back EMF Test | AC Hi-pot, Insulation Resistance, Surge, DC Resistance, Inductance, NTC, Back EMF, THD, Hall , Phase Difference |
2. Frameless Torque Motor Permanent Magnet Rotor Test
Test Solution | Test Item |
Permanent Magnet Rotor Back EMF Test | Back EMF, Phase Difference |
Permanent Magnet Rotor Magnetization Test | Magnetic Flux, Peak Magnetic Pole Value, Magnetic Pole Area, Magnetic Pole Angle, Magnetic Pole Half-width, Multi-layer Staggered Angle, Optional Magnetization Function |
3. Frameless Torque Motor Test
Test Solution | Test Item |
Motor No-load Test | AC Hi-pot, Insulation Resistance, Surge, DC Resistance, Inductance, NTC, No-load Performance (Voltage, Current, Power) |
Motor Cogging Torque Test | Cogging Torque, Harmonic Components |
Motor Back EMF Test | RMS Value, Peak Value, Peak-to-peak Value, Phase Sequence, Phase Difference, Back EMF Constant, Harmonic THD, Partial Ke Value, Voltage Imbalance |
Motor Cogging /Back EMF Test | Cogging Torque, THD, Order, Back EMF, Hall, Phase Difference |
Contact AIP now for one-stop robot frameless torque motor test solutions!
Frameless torque motors feature high torque density and direct-drive architecture, which also makes their testing more demanding. The main challenges include:
1. Ensuring precise measurement of back-EMF and cogging torque
2. Evaluating insulation performance under compact structural conditions
3. Detecting NVH issues caused by electromagnetic design
4. Maintaining accuracy during rotor magnetization and flux measurement
Professional testing systems are required to achieve repeatable, high-precision results across these parameters.
Back-EMF testing reflects the motor’s electromagnetic characteristics and is essential for:
1.Verifying coil winding quality
2.Detecting rotor magnetization issues
3.Measuring phase difference and electrical angle accuracy
4.Evaluating harmonic distortion (THD), which correlates to noise and smoothness
Accurate back-EMF analysis helps ensure the motor meets performance requirements for robotic joint applications.
AIP’s testing platforms are designed specifically for high-precision robotic actuators. They improve reliability by offering:
1.Multi-stage testing across stator, rotor, and complete motor
2.High-accuracy measurements of cogging torque, back-EMF, magnet flux, and insulation performance
3.Automated data acquisition and traceability for quality control
4.Configurable test modules to match different motor sizes and specifications
These capabilities help manufacturers improve product consistency and accelerate the development of robotic joint modules.