WHITE PAPER

TATTOO MACHINES: ENHANCING THE ART OF

SELF-EXPRESSION THROUGH PRECISION MOTORS
by Vishal Sapale

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.

Rotary Tattoo Machine Types of Tattoo Machines

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 Machine
Coil Tattoo Machines Rotary Tattoo Machines
s Less noise and vibration
s Customized and interchangeable parts s Compact
Pros

s Desired punchy and snappy feeling s Significantly lighter

s Inexpensive s Versatile, as it can be used for lining, shading
and coloring by just changing needle and cam

s Noisy because of electromagnetic switching

s Less responsive to skin textures
s High vibration
Cons

s Less effective with larger needles

s Heating due to alternating current
s Costlier machine
s Heavy, therefore difficult to maneuver during use

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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 battery-powered applications.

In tattooing, there are three main inking strokes: lining, shading, and coloring. For lining, a single needle is used
to penetrate the skin. Hence the throw need not be great to achieve proper skin depth penetration of the needle.
For shading, which generally follows lining, a set of multiple needles is used simultaneously to penetrate the
skin. Here, the throw given by the machine needs to be greater than the throw used for one needle lining strokes.
The last type of stroke is coloring, wherein multiple needles, in a greater number than the number of needles
used for shading, are used. For coloring, the throw needs to be greater than the throw used for shading strokes
to achieve proper skin penetration by the needles.

To change the needle throw for a particular type of stroke, the tattoo machine must be adjusted. Effective
tattooing requires change in the force, speed and depth. For this, many tattoo artists carry three tattoo machines
Three Main Inking Strokes
set for each job; one adjusted for lining strokes, one for shading strokes, and one for coloring strokes. Having
three separate machines eliminates the need for adjustments and speeds up the overall process. However, this
arrangement is costly in that three machines need to be purchased, maintained, and cleaned after each job. New
generation machines have a mechanism with added features that can adjust stroke, speed and forces which
allow one machine to cover all three strokes, in addition to being effective
Effective tattooing requires change in on all types of skin textures.

the force, speed and depth. The new generation battery-operated machines being developed by
manufacturers will be compact, lightweight, and portable. These can be
used anywhere, at any location; a flexibility every tattoo artist dreams to have.

Typical Load Cycle of Rotary Tattoo Machine

10
9 Frequency: 66-166Hz Typ
8
7 Load: 3-9N Typ
Load (N)

6
5 Stroke Length: 1.5-4.5mm Typ
4
3 Linear Speed: 0.2-1.4m/s Typ
2
1
Voltage: 4-10V Typ
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Time Duration (mS)

Impact of Various Mechanisms on Motors

The motor is the driver of a rotary tattoo machine. The output load of tattooing is delivered directly to the motor

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through the specific mechanism.

In a cam-slider mechanism, the rotating motion is converted into linear motion, which reciprocates the needle at
a high frequency and speed. During this operation, the cyclic radial load comes onto the motor shaft through the
cam. This load is ultimately transferred onto the bearing which is at some distance from the cam. Based on the
designed distance between the cam and the bearing, the radial load on the bearing is calculated and the motor
Portescap 16N78
is designed to withstand the radial load on the bearing.
Athlonix Brush DC Motor
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 due to poor design of the
mechanism or the wrong choice of the bearing for the amount of reaction
The motor is the driver of a rotary tattoo machine. axial or radial loads. This generally leads to the wear of bearing balls or
The output load of tattooing is delivered directly to one of the bearing races. The first indicator of a bearing failure in tattoo
the motor through the specific mechanism. machines is either an increase in vibration felt by the artist or an increase
in the motor noise due to the wear of bearings. In most cases, an increase
in vibration is soon followed by an increase in noise until finally, the motor fails.

Bearing life associated with 90% reliability (L10) is as follows:

Cr: Basic Dynamic Radial Load Rating (Refer Bearing Catalog)

n: Speed (rpm)
L10 = (106 / 60n) × (Cr / Pr )3 hrs Pr: Dynamic Equivalent radial load (N)
Fr: Radial Load (N)
Pr = XFr + YFa Fa: Axial Load (N)
X, Y: T he radial & axial load factors for bearing respectively
(Refer bearing Catalog)

In a tattoo machine, the load is typically 3 N to 9 N. It acts radially or axially on the bearing depending on the
nature of the mechanism. Also, there is constant axial preload of 1 N to 3 N acting on the bearing. The speed of
the motor ranges from 4,000 rpm to 10,000 rpm. The life of the bearing is typically 1,000 to 1,500 hours, but it
can vary depending on the mechanism, duty cycle, and handling of the tattoo machine.

New generation rotary tattoo machines are developed with additional features. In these, lining, shading and
coloring can be easily done by adjusting stroke length (cam change), speed (voltage change) and force (spring
force setting). These new feature settings are responsible for variable load amplitude with variable frequencies
on the motor.

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Essential Motor Qualities for Tattoo Machines

Cyclic radial and axial load due to working of tattoo machines is directly transferred onto the motor shaft
and bearing inner raceway contact. This cyclic load causes structure-borne vibration and resulting noise of
the motor, which is not desirable. If the reciprocating vibration in the machine is high, it generally results in
damaging the skin.

It falls on the motor designer as well as the driving mechanism for proper selection of bearing, designing the
mechanism for distributing the reciprocating load on the motor shaft, and preloading the bearing properly. The
motor should have sufficient torque and speed, i.e. power, to get proper lining, coloring, and shading for good
quality tattoos. Insufficient speed and torque cause vibrations, which does not
Motor regulation (R/K2) is the critical allow the coloring liquid to spread within the skin uniformly. This is because the
parameter of the motor which defines the pigment does not have the time to be absorbed by the epidermis when the tip
speed torque characteristics. of the needle reaches the end position. It is noted that to improve the diffusion
of the color within the skin, the artist is often forced to apply more pressure
to the tattoo machine and to incline it, increasing the penetration of the needle and accordingly the pain of the
person receiving the tattoo, as well as causing trauma to the skin.

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 to less vibration. Good motor regulation gives high power density of the motor, meaning
less power losses and better efficiency.

Speed Torque Slope (∆N / ∆T) = (30000 / π) × (R / K2)

9000
16N78 (Ø16x28mm)
8000 17N78 (Ø17x26mm)
22S78 (Ø22x26mm)
7000
Load Point1
6000 Load Point2
Speed [rpm]

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Torque [mNm]

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Efficiency is the critical parameter for next generation tattoo machines, which will be battery-operated. Higher
efficiency will result in less power losses and less current consumption, which will increase the battery life.

The motor should be compact in size for proper ergonomics and handling of the tattoo machine. The motor
should also be lightweight to reduce the overall weight of tattoo machine, which will give less fatigue on the
artist’s hand over time. This will be beneficial for longer tattooing operations. A tattoo machine that is light and
compact offers improved diffusion of the coloring liquid in the skin, simplifies the tasks of the artist, reduces
the pain caused by the piercing action and increases its safety for the person
Tattoo applications require variable being tattoed.
speed, torque and time, hence motor Tattoo applications require variable speed and torque, hence motor selection
selection is critical. is critical. In the above generalized example, the 22S78 motor has the
best speed torque characteristics, while the 16N78 motor has moderate
performance within the smallest diameter. Similarly, the 17N78 motor offers moderate performance with
moderate length and diameter. Optimized motor selection can be based on space constraint, i.e. available
diameter and length, or by the motor performance. Portescap has launched new DCT motors, which can deliver
increased performance.

Portescap 22S78 Portescap 22DCT Athlonix Portescap 16DCT Athlonix

Brush DC Coreless Motor Brush DC High Torque Motor 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 tattoo machines.
Along with lower inertia and high acceleration capability, these motors offer better motor regulation and efficiency,
as well as high power density and a good price to performance ratio, all in a compact and lightweight package.

Portescap motors are typically operated at high frequencies of 66-166Hz (4,000 - 10,000 rpm) and can go for
even higher frequencies. Customization is available to meet customer requirements, including for the shaft,
mountings, connections, aesthetics, and many more features.

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Conclusion
Tattooing continues to grow in popularity every year, hence rotary tattoo machine manufacturers have been
developing new machines with additional features to improve and enhance the process. The most critical aspect
of these new machines is the motor. It should deliver the required performance, as it is the prime mover —
sustaining all the reciprocating loads created by the mechanism. Motor performance and reduced noise should
also be considered, as these are the key quality parameters for motor and machine reliability.

As new generation machines continue to develop, so too does the demand for motor customization. Compact
and lightweight motors with high power density are at the heart of every new generation tattoo machine.

Vishal Sapale
Assistant Manager - Design Engineering, R&D

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

110 Westtown Road
West Chester, PA 19382
T: +1 610 235 5499
F: +1 610 696 4598
[email protected]
www.portescap.com

CONTACT AN ENGINEER:
www.portescap.com/contact-portescap

© 2019 Portescap. All rights reserved. Lit Code: 0219V052019