1. What is Motor Lamination Thickness?
Motor lamination thickness refers to the individual sheet thickness used in stacked motor cores. The primary function of motor laminations is to reduce a significant losses in electric motors: eddy current losses. Eddy current losses, particularly crucial for motor efficiency, arise when changing magnetic fields induce circulating currents in conductive materials. These currents lead to unwanted heat generation, thus reducing overall motor efficiency and power conversion performance.
To tackle eddy current loss effectively, manufacturers utilize thinner laminations, which significantly reduce the cross-sectional area available for these circulating currents, minimizing their magnitude and associated heat generation. According to the eddy current loss formula:
where Pe is the eddy current power loss, and t is the lamination thickness, showing lamination thickness clearly plays a pivotal role.
2. The Relationship Between Motor Lamination Thickness and Efficiency
The key here is that lamination thickness t directly affects eddy current losses, but it doesn’t inherently change the magnetic flux density. Instead, it influences how much flux density the motor can handle before the core losses become excessive.
By redistributing the total loss budget from the combination of hysteresis and eddy current losses, engineers are allowed to increase the toleration of a higher magnetic flux density that the motor can manage thus allowing a higher torque production from the motor.
Thinner laminations not only boost efficiency but also significantly impact heat dissipation and motor durability. By minimizing eddy current losses, they reduce heat generation in the core, keeping operating temperatures lower.
This is critical for durability, as high heat can degrade insulation and materials, shortening motor life. Lower heat output may also allow for a simpler cooling system, cutting costs and size.
3. How 0.15mm to 0.35mm High-Grade Lamination Materials are Key to High-Performance Motors
As more and more industries are leaning towards the development of high-performance motors, high-grade electrical steel motor lamination thickness ranging from 0.15mm to 0.35mm are taking the lead to fulfill this requirement.
As the manufacturing capability improves over time, lamination stacks with thinner lamination thickness are also contributing to the increase in motor efficiency.
From the table of “Motor Lamination Thickness Material Data,” we see the big differences in terms of the minimum core losses and the maximum magnetic flux density between the 0.5mm and 0.35mm materials.
Motor Lamination Thickness Material Data
According to the proportional relationship between core losses and magnetic flux density, the higher the core loss the higher the magnetic flux density we get. However, what we observe from the table above is that we are getting a lower core loss but remains the higher magnetic flux density thanks to the 0.35mm thickness high-grade material.
Conclusion
Ultimately, selecting the right lamination thickness is a decisive lever for squeezing every watt of performance out of an electric machine. Sheets in the 0.15 – 0.35 mm range slash eddy-current pathways, dropping core losses without sacrificing magnetic flux density, as the 35CS250 data clearly illustrates.
Lower thermal load means lighter cooling hardware, longer insulation life, and higher permissible torque per frame size—exactly the attributes demanded by EV drivetrains, humanoid robots, drones, and other high-performance platforms.
Conversely, thicker options may look attractive on a cost spreadsheet, but their extra iron loss steals efficiency and erodes the design’s competitive edge across the motor’s service life. By partnering with a lamination specialist who understands the nuanced trade-offs among thickness, grade, and stacking technique, designers can deliver motors that are cooler, quieter, and demonstrably more energy-efficient from day one. Yucca Manufacturing stands ready with the materials, tooling, and know-how to turn that theory into your next market-winning machine, starting today.
