Version 2 of My First DIY Brushed DC Motor — Faster!
This is version 2 of my very first DIY brushed DC motor — and it’s noticeably faster! I improved the commutator timing and position, and that tweak made a big difference in speed and performance.
What I Changed
I adjusted the timing and position of the commutator. That alone boosted the speed and overall performance — the motor feels much smoother now.
Why Aluminum Commutators Don’t Work Well
But… I ran into a problem again. The aluminum commutator burned and stopped conducting. It disconnected mid-run, which taught me an important lesson: aluminum isn’t the best choice for conductivity or durability in this kind of motor setup.
We should use copper commutators instead.
Aluminum might seem like a good conductor, but it oxidizes quickly and loses conductivity under heat. In a spinning motor, that’s a big problem. I learned it the hard way — next time I’ll test copper for better results.
Still, I’m excited to keep learning and upgrading! Every version brings me one step closer to building the perfect homemade motor.
My Motor Setup
- Insulated copper wire (0.6 mm) for two rotating coils, 40 turns each
- Thin copper wire brushes (0.5 mm)
- Aluminum commutator
- Power source: by 12V, 1.6A
Watch Version 1
Watch my first DIY DC motor — slow and full of sparks but full of learning!
Subscribe to the YouTube channel @MotorCraftLab to follow my DIY motor journey!