Maxon motor recently launched its EC22 HD (heavy duty) motor, a 22 mm-diameter brushless motor developed for the exceptionally high requirements in deep drilling technology and capable of resisting the most extreme operating conditions. The electronically commutated EC22 HD motor was developed in collaboration with the oil exploration industry and is designed to operate at depths of around 16,000 feet and in boreholes up to 36,000 feet long.

As part of the motor's development program, a high-temperature test facility was built, and extensive field trials were undertaken. The motor operated at temperatures up to 240 degrees C and under atmospheric pressure conditions from high vacuum to 25,000 psi. It has also been proven to resist impulse and impact forces of 100 G. It can operate while submerged in oil, trebling its 80 W output rating to 240 W because of the improved heat dissipation. Although developed to perform critical downhole actuation functions, maxon believes the new motor will also appeal to other industries where reliability is essential. The motor's efficiency of 88 percent in air (and above 70 percent in oil) makes it particularly suitable for battery-powered applications.