Most manufacturers have various editions of their brushless motors for sale. At Team Power Products I made a change with the release of the web site to allow choices of options to enhance the basic motor through better efficiency gained by tailored component selection and careful assembly. In the past, I called the custom assembled versions 'Team', with the standard version being the 'Race' version. Now you can select the custom assembled 'Team Update' version as an option for any R4 or R5 2 pole motor when you buy them.
With the new year, I also evaluated the time and material spent making Team motors, and they simply consumed so much time that the extra money did not come close to the material and time spent to upgrade them. This is the reason for the change and price increase. And you will read in my other blog post how I feel about and how to use 'Ceramic Bearings', which is a separate option now not connected with the 'Team' upgrade.
What does a Team upgrade do for the basic Team Power Products Motor?
The goal is to have a motor which fires its current to the coils reliably and efficiently as signaled by the ESC to make the rotor power output consistent and strong.
1. Stators are examined for the best average resistance for each coil. The overall average resistance as well as average inductance is also verified to be close to the legal minimum to assure ROAR compliance, if this will be used in a stock spec motor. In a modified motor, I find the lowest average resistance/inductance I have in stock for that wind.
2. Sensor board accuracy is important. Standard deviation is < 5.0, I maintain my motors to less than 3.0. Team motors are 1.1 or less.
3. I have hundreds of new rotors in my collection which have been examined and tested for a high magnetic field. I rate and sort these rotors by their magnetic field and physical properties. An important consideration is the rotors' "Asymmetry", that is the relationship of each magnet half to the other. A perfect (difficult to find in the wild) rotor Asymmetry would be 0.0 (in other words, the rotor magnet halves are symmetric to each other). Standard asymmetry deviation is < 5.0, my motors are maintained less than 3.0. Team motors are less than 1.0.
4. After the two steps above are completed, I find stator and rotor combinations which allow me to place the rotor close to the timing board and still maintain the stator in the center of the rotor's field. This helps to maintain more accurate timing.
5. Careful assembly of the components is next, and examination of how the tolerances have worked out.
6. Testing the results is the final step before going in the box. If I did a good job finding the right stator/rotor combo and shimmed the rotor correctly, you have a Team Motor. BUT in most cases, it requires a few assembly/disassembly steps to get it right, to get the torque I expect at the amperage and RPM.