PI-WIKI-EE-21 · Electrical Engineering · reviewed 2026-10-31
Electrical Engineering, Tattoo Machine Electromechanics
Critical numbers
Coil Machine Voltage Range3-12 VDC
Coil Inductance10-50 mH
Coil DC Resistance2-10 Ω
Coil Duty Cycle (Operating)40-60%
Coil Operating Frequency80-120 Hz
Rotary Motor Torque5-20 mNm at 6-18 VDC
Rotary Cam Stroke Length2.5-5.0 mm
Rotary Speed Drop Under Load15-30% from no-load RPM
Motor EfficiencyUp to about 90% at best, coreless brushed ; model-dependent [2]
Pen PWM Carrier Frequency20-50 kHz
Pen Needle FrequencyManufacturer range; e.g. 25-140 Hz [3]
Give, Coil MachinesHighest (set by the spring)
Do not
- Coil Overheating
- Rotary Motor Stall Under Load
- Pen Frequency Instability
- Contact Sparking in Coil Machines
- Excessive Needle Bounce
- Noisy Rotary Operation
Applicable standards
- European Union — Tattoo machines are NOT medical devices under EU MDR 2017/745 . Annex XVI…
- United States — FDA does not approve