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The professional tattooist will tell you the rotary machine is a part of you, which is not a tool, but a lengthening of your creative will. You have invested in a high-end machine because of its performance, reliability, and consistency. However, as with any fine tool, the motor, which is the heart of any of them, will eventually wear out.
Knowing when to revive it to health and when to say goodbye to it is a serious business choice. Making the wrong decision results in expensive downtime, damaged art, and a tarnished image.
This document will assist you in making diagnoses of the most common motor problems, and give you a clear outline to make a choice on what to do with each problem: repair or replace, and protect your investment and have your art run.
Here are Some Common Motor Symptoms
You must first diagnose the problem correctly before making a decision on the course of action. Not all issues are terminal. The most obvious symptoms of a motor in distress are as follows:
1. A soft hum evolving to a grinding, rattling, or clicking sound is one of the first signs of bearing failure or an off-centre armature.
2. The machine suddenly loses torque in the middle of the line, or the machine cannot start. This may indicate a problem with the internal brushes of the motor (where it has brushes), winding damage, or failure of electrical connections.
3. This involves the motor casing being very hot to the touch, even after short usage. This is usually associated with overworking bearings that were not tightened properly or a fault in the electric system that makes the motor work harder.
4. The most notable manifestation. You step on the foot pedal and get nothing.
Taking the Call Between Repair Vs Replace
This logical flowchart can be used to make decisions and reduce the time spent in the studio.
What Can You Fix?
You can eliminate the easy-to-fix, user-serviceable problems before you conclude that the motor is dead.
1. Check your RCA cord, foot pedal, and power supply. A defective connection resembles a motor power failure, usually.
2. Take to pieces (where possible) the machine housing, and wipe the interior by taking out every single drop of ink, blood, and particle of skin. Developed debris may lead to a tie-up and overheating. Apply an electrical contact cleaner.
3. In case your machine has bearings that can be serviced, one drop of synthetic lubricant of good quality can perform wonders. Pro Tip: Precision Bearing Oil is designed to maintain the life of your moving parts by reducing friction and heat, and it does not attract dust.
Check the Core Value of The Motor
It is the point where the calculation of Return on Investment (ROI) starts. Ask yourself:
1. Is the motor a mass available, a common part? Various expensive machines have proprietary/custom-wound motors. A normal motor is usually less expensive and readily changeable.
2. How old is the machine? When it is a workhorse that has served you perfectly for over 5 years, then the replacement of the motor is like introducing its new heart, and hence, it becomes a new machine.
Cost-Benefit Analysis
At this point, compare the physical expenses and the value of the intangible.
Choose REPAIR if:
1. Replacement motor (which requires professional installation will be less than half the price of a new similar machine.
2. The machine is highly sentimental or custom (i.e., a unique build).
3. The problem is a familiar part, such as a defective bearing. This is an economical long-term solution using our Replacement Bearing Kits for the most popular models of machines.
Choose REPLACE if:
1. The cost of repair (parts + labor) is approximately or more than 60-70 per cent of the price of a new machine.
2. The motor has had a fatal accident, like a seized armature or an armature burnt out.
3. The technology used on the machine is old. An upgrade to a newer model, such as the Axiom R Series, might give you better performance, better battery life, and other features that will enhance your efficiency and art, which would be paid back in the long run.
How to Protect Your Instruments?
The most appropriate approach is to prevent this predicament. They will help you extend the life of your motor:
1. A brief wipe of an alcohol pad will stop the corrosive ink and moisture spillage into the motor housing.
2. Have the full disassembly, cleaning, and restoration of the lubrication of the bearings and other moving parts using our special Artist Maintenance Kit every couple of months.
3. Keep your machines in a clean and dry case. Do not leave them in hot or cold.
4. Attentively hear the sound and sense the slightest variation. A slight new vibration can be corrected in time to avoid a complete bearing failure in the future.
The prototype of your business is your tattoo machine. It is not only convenient to look at its upkeep and inevitable replacement from the perspective of a savvy ROI, but it is also a key to a successful career. By understanding how to diagnose something wrong, make a good repair or replacement choice, and invest in preventive maintenance, you are not only repairing a tool.
You are guaranteeing that the tools you are using to make your art are as professional and as trustworthy as your art itself. Never have the motor quit your studio; spend money on durability and make sure your attention is where it should be on your craft.
FAQ
What are some common signs of motor bearing failure?
The most frequent ones include new grinding or rattling noises and excessive vibration that can be experienced in the handpiece. This means that the bearings are worn out and generating friction, hence resulting in overheating and loss of power.
Is it possible to fix the motor all by ourselves?
Check the RCA cable and power supply first. In case they are okay, a major cleaning and oiling could be useful. In case stuttering does not go away, then there is a probability that there is an electrical fault inside, which needs to be repaired by a professional or the motor changed.
How often should we lubricate the motor?
In the case of artists who have to work on a daily basis, it is best to have the motor bearings lubricated every 3-6 months to make them last. Never use a low-quality or heavy synthetic lubricant to represent an instrument because it may attract debris.
Will repairing save your money?
Repair makes economic sense when it is less than half the price of buying a new machine to buy of the new motor and labor. This particularly applies to custom or high sentiment units.
What are the reasons behind the overheating issue?
Often, yes. Causes of overheating could be due to excessive friction by the failed bearings or an internal electrical fault. Once the dirty handpiece has been eliminated, the motor becomes the most likely victim, and it is required to be checked.
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