Motors

This electrical component in airsoft guns affects the trigger reaction and rate of fire. Therefore, replacing motors can improve the performance of an airsoft gun.

The division of the motor according to its length:

•     Long axis: used, for example, in the AR15 with the V2 mechabox.
•     Short axis: used most often in AK-type guns with V3 mechabox

Here the motor is used together with a motor cage that holds the motor tightly to the mechabox.

    The motor also includes a pinion gear, which is a small gear that fits into the teeth of the motor wheel and allows the motor speed to be transferred further into the mechabox. There are multiple types such as O,D and others, which is actually the shape of the motor axis. The D type is the best, where there is much less chance of the pinion spinning out on release.

Is it necessary to change the motor as well before a major upgrade ?

The answer to this question is that it is not always necessary. Some replicas already have good quality motors in the base and if we are just doing an upgrade for example of the airbox, changing a spring of the same force etc, there is no need to change the motor as well.

Replacing the motor of airsoft guns can significantly improve the parameters of a given replica, e.g. shooting speed, which is of great importance in dynamic games.

What are the main parts of the motor ?

1. Bottom cover

There are two common materials for the bottom cover, namely plastic and metal. Both bases have their advantages and disadvantages. Plastic bottom cover has low production cost and good insulation, so it is not easy to cause damage to the motor by short circuit when the power cable is broken or loose.

    However, the heat resistance limit of plastic is not as good as that of metal. At high temperatures (above 250 °C), deformation can occur. Fortunately, such temperatures are very difficult to achieve in normal use.

    The opposite is true for the metal bottom cover of the CNC. The disadvantages are the high cost to manufacture and the poor insulating ability (most factories spray an insulating paint on the surface, but the insulating layer can be damaged during disassembly and assembly, but the big advantage is the high temperature resistance

2. Engine casing

    Casings are essentially made of metal and some may have holes for heat dissipation. However, because the motor is installed in the handle, both sides are sealed and therefore there is not enough room for heat dissipation.  This causes the handle to heat up.

3. Fixing spring

    Keeps the motor in a stable longitudinal position in the handle or motor cage.

4. Pinion

    The pinion gear is used to engage the bevel gear of the motor and makes the parts in the mechabox run. There are generally two types of materials: nylon and metal. Metal fabrication is further divided into the method of fabrication namely: powder casting, injection molding and CNC milling of steel.

5. Shaft sleeve

    The shaft sleeve engages the motor bore in the handle and mechabox, thus fixing the lateral position of the motor. If the lateral position is not locked, the gears will not engage properly, which will aggravate wear and cause damage to the gears. A good shaft sleeve and motor shaft will be fixed with bearings for better stability.

6. Electrodes

    There are positive and negative electrodes on the back cover of the motor which are used to connect the power cable.

7. Carbon brush spring

    Keeps the carbon brush in close contact with the rotor commutator.

8. Carbon brush

    Two carbon brushes are connected to the positive and negative electrodes, the inside of which is in contact with the rotor commutator and supplies power to the rotor coil.

    Please note that the carbon brushes are consumables. Once they lose friction they will not be able to supply power to the motor and need to be replaced.

Among the products, airsoft enthusiasts can choose from models with high torque or high rotation speed.

• High torque ( High Torque ) motors can quickly reach maximum speed. It is a great choice for people who frequently use semi-automatic airsoft guns.
• High Torque ( High Speed ) motors, on the other hand, allow for a much higher rate of fire, but will have a slower trigger response.

Upgrade motors that are not labeled as basic are more expensive, but their quality cannot be compared to basic models. These devices surpass the specifications of all the basic motors that are pre-installed in airsoft guns.

The latest product is brushless motors.

Brushless motors (aka AC motors) do not rely on a physical contact wire like brush motors (the carbon brushes themselves wear out and need to be replaced over time), so they do not require the same level of maintenance.

They are capable of more precise positioning and speed variability than DC/brush motors.

They are essentially AC motors, so they need some DC/AC transformation and phase control because your battery only supplies DC current, so that's why they have built-in electronics, whereas DC motors just run directly off the battery.

They are generally reliable, but are more complex than DC and harder to service. They usually generate less heat than DC motors.

If you are using a processor unit, it is important to read the engine manual because it lists the parameters that we will need to adjust or disable on the unit to avoid damaging the engine.