Devices driven by brushless motors have several advantages over those with brushed motors and this makes them very popular commercially. Many power tools have this type of motor and it makes them lighter and more powerful, since they have more torque per weight than brushed motors. They are highly efficient and much less likely to wear than motors that have brushes. In addition, when a motor has brushes, the friction of the brushes causes some loss of power. Another advantage of the brushless type is that they do not spark. This makes them eminently suited for use where sparking is dangerous. Sparks can cause fire and often that is preceded by an explosion. It can cause a great deal of damage and even loss of life if this happens. Therefore the choice is to use a tool which can be trusted not to spark. A brushless motor does not get very hot and so there is no need to have an opening for cooling. This means that they can be fully sealed to keep out dirt and dust, making them ideal for use in places where the environment is full of dust or where they are likely to come into contact with dirty conditions. This in turn makes the tool more reliable as no dirt can get in to wear the motor out. Brushless motors are considered by many to be not quite as rugged as the brushed motor, and they are more costly to make, however the advantages seem to outweigh these considerations. Of course, brushed motors are unlikely to be superseded completely as there is still the need for them. They were the first type of motor on the market and continue to keep their share of it. The brushless type of motor did not make a commercial appearance until 1962 and even now there are some areas where its use has not been fully developed. For instance, those who are into the radio controlled hobby will know that the motors often have to be hand-wound. But the brushed motors are machine wound. Brushless motors can be found on many things apart from power tools. They are used for fans in electronic devices such as computer hard drives, electric and hybrid vehicles, electric bicycles, industrial robots, linear actuators, model aircraft, cars and boats and in the refrigeration industry. This ensures that such motors are going to be with us for many years into the future.
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