White Paper Tattoo Machines
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Tattoo Machines: Enhancing the Art of Self-Expression Through Precision Motors Tattoos have become popular worldwide because many people enjoy the form of self-expression that tattoos offer. Seeing them on our favorite pro athletes, musicians, and celebrities only adds to the popularity of this artform. Tattoos have even crossed over into the fashion and beauty industry. Tattoos are symbols, images or drawings, permanently marked on the human body. This is done by reciprocating needles that repeatedly penetrate a person’s skin at a high rate of frequency, depositing insoluble ink with each penetration into the dermal layer of skin. A handheld tattoo machine uses a miniature motor that reciprocates the needle arrangement up and down in order to perform the penetration strokes. The first prototype of a tattoo machine was invented and patented by Samuel F. O'Reilly. It was based on an electric pen invented by Thomas Alva Edison. Types of Tattoo Machine There are two types of commercially marketed tattoo machines: Coil Tattoo Machines and Rotary Tattoo Machines. They are named for their construction and the way the mechanism operates. A coil tattoo machine utilizes an electromagnetic circuit to provide linear motion to the needle. Generally, a coil tattoo machine has one or more DC coils and spring points coupled with armature bar to move needle groupings. A conventional rotary tattoo machine uses an electric motor with a rotating shaft having an offset cam mechanism at its end. The cam is coupled perpendicularly or axially with the mechanism to provide linear motion to the needle. Coil Tattoo Machines • Customized and interchangeable parts • Desired punchy and snappy feeling • Inexpensive • • • • Noisy because of electromagnetic switching High vibration Heating due to alternating current Heavy, therefore difficult to maneuver during use Rotary Tattoo Machines • Compact • Significantly lighter • Versatile, as it can be used for lining, shading and coloring by just changing needle and cam • Less noise and vibration • Less responsive to skin textures • Less effective with larger needles • Costlier machine

Typical Load Cycle of Rotary Tattoo Machine 10 New Development in Tattoo Machines Conventional rotary tattoo machines are trigger-activated, in which the cam-slider and motor assembly are perpendicular/aligned to the needle-armature assembly. Nowadays, pen type tattoo machines are in demand. In a pen type design, the mechanism and needle arrangement are in line in a cylindrical casing, offering an ergonomic design for the tattoo artist. Pen type tattoo machines are easy to maneuver. Also, manufacturers have been developing more efficient and compact machines, which are ideal for...

between the cam and the bearing, the radial load on the bearing is calculated and the motor is designed to withstand the radial load on the bearing. In some rotary machines, a tapered cam and oscillating follower mechanism are used to convert rotating motion into linear, reciprocating motion. In this design, cyclic axial load comes directly on the bearing. Deep groove ball bearings are used in motors to withstand cyclic radial and axial loads. Preload is applied for rigidity and life enhancement of the bearings. In tattoo machines, the dominant failure mode for motors is the bearing failure...

Motor regulation (R/K2) is the critical parameter of the motor which defines the speed torque characteristics. The lower the motor regulation, the more powerful the motor. As the torque (load) increases, the speed decreases. If the motor regulation is better, then there is less speed drop with the increase in load. This gives better stability for tattooing, as there is less speed variation with respect to load, resulting in less vibration and noise of the tattoo machine. Less vibration is desirable for good quality tattooing and healing. Also, there is less fatigue on the artist’s hand due...

Portescap 22DCT Athlonix Brush DC High Torque Motor Portescap 16DCT Athlonix Brush DC High Torque Motor Features in Portescap Motors Suitable for Tattoo Machine In motors, the joint between the shaft and bearing is critical because of the cyclic axial and radial load of the tattoo machine. Portescap has developed optimized preloading of the bearing and the rigid shaft-bearing joint to withstand these load cycles. Hence, Portescap motors produce lower noise and increased reliability in tattoo machines. Portescap offers miniature coreless DC motors in 16 and 22 mm frame sizes well suited for...