In short:Frameless torque motor kits, housed direct-drive motors, linear motors, servo drives and EtherCAT controllers from other makers can replace many Kollmorgen parts, provided torque or force, winding voltage, dimensions, feedback and the drive and network interface are matched to the axis.
What Kollmorgen makes
Kollmorgen is a US motion control manufacturer that became part of Regal Rexnord’s family of brands in 2023. Kollmorgen is a trademark of its owner. Its range covers the whole axis: AKM and AKM2G servo motors, KBM and TBM2G frameless motors, Cartridge DDR direct-drive motors, IC ironcore and IL ironless linear motors, AKD and AKD2G servo drives and PCMM2G machine controllers.
Frameless motors are a particular strength, and KBM and TBM kits are widely designed into robot joints, gimbals, rotary tables and defence equipment.
Why engineers look for a Kollmorgen alternative
- Lead time on a particular kit size or winding.
- Second source for a motor that is built into the product and cannot easily be changed later.
- Budget, especially in cost-sensitive joints or high-volume drives.
- End of life. Kollmorgen states that the PCMM controller is not available for new applications and recommends the PCMM2G. Our find a replacement service can review that route alongside others.
- Different interface, such as a lower-voltage winding, a different feedback protocol or a fieldbus the existing drive does not offer.
What to check before treating a motor or drive as equivalent
Frameless and direct-drive motors
- Continuous and peak torque at your winding temperature limit.
- Stator outer diameter, rotor bore and stack length against the housing.
- Bus voltage and winding constants (Kt, Ke), so the drive can deliver the speed.
- Thermal path: how the stator will be cooled in your structure.
- Commutation: Hall sensors or encoder-based, and the feedback the drive needs.
- Rotor retention and air gap: how the rotor is fixed to your shaft, and whether your bearings hold the air gap the kit maker specifies.
Linear motors
Continuous and peak force, motor constant, attraction force, cogging, magnet track format and cooling.
Servo drives and controllers
Supply voltage, continuous and peak current, feedback protocols, fieldbus (EtherCAT, PROFINET, CANopen), safety functions such as STO, axis count and cycle time.
Our guides on selecting a frameless torque motor, frameless motor sizing for robot joints, selecting a linear motor and selecting a servo drive go into each check.
Alternatives in our supply network
Frameless and direct drive. The Akribis ADR-P frameless kits run from 110 to 360 mm on a 600 VDC bus, with large through-bores; the ADR-F is a compact 48 VDC kit from 45 to 90 mm. The TI Series in-runner frameless motors span 65 to 410 mm stator OD. Where a housed motor with bearings and encoder suits better, the Akribis ADR-A reaches about 1 kNm peak.
Linear motors. The Akribis AUM ironless motor offers zero cogging up to nearly 2 kN continuous, and the AKM iron-core motor reaches several kN continuous with optional water cooling.
Drives and controllers. The ADVANCED Motion Controls DigiFlex Performance drives cover 10 to 747 VDC and 120 to 480 VAC supplies with wide feedback support. The Leadshine EL7 platform spans 400 W to 22 kW with STO. For machine control, the Kinco AK EtherCAT controller runs up to 32 synchronised axes in CODESYS. See also how to select a motion controller or PLC.
How these comparisons are made
The table under this text compares each Kollmorgen series we hold data for with the closest product from our supply network, on published figures only. “Equivalent” means a product that meets the stated specification for your application, confirmed by an engineer, not an identical part. Specify Motion is not affiliated with, authorised by or endorsed by Kollmorgen or Regal Rexnord, and no logos are used. Names identify the products only.
Send us the part number and the axis requirements, and we will be clear about where an alternative fits and where it does not.
Kollmorgen series and the closest match from our supply network
Each row compares the highest published figures for the series. A match here is a starting point: an engineer confirms the fit for your load, duty, mounting and interface before recommending anything.
| Kollmorgen series | Type | Closest match |
|---|---|---|
| PCMMLegacy | Motion controller | Kinco AK (AK8 / AK840) meets or exceeds the figures compared Meets or exceeds the figure compared |
| PCMM2G | Motion controller | Ask an engineer |
| Cartridge DDR | Housed direct-drive motor | Akribis Systems ADR-A Same product type |
| KBM / KBMS | Frameless torque motor | Akribis Systems ADR-P meets or exceeds the figures compared Meets or exceeds all 2 figures compared |
| TBM2G | Frameless torque motor | Akribis Systems ADR-P meets or exceeds the figures compared Meets or exceeds the figure compared |
| EC Series electric cylinders (EC1-EC5)Discontinued | Rod actuator | Tolomatic RSA-ST (standard thrust) meets 2 of 3 figures Meets 2 of 3 figures compared |
| N2 Series electric cylindersDiscontinued | Rod actuator | Tolomatic ERD (incl. ERD-SS1 / ERD-SS2 stainless options) Same product type |
| IC / ICD Ironcore DDL | Iron-core linear motor | Akribis Systems AUM meets 1 of 3 figures Meets 1 of 3 figures compared |
| IL Ironless DDL | Ironless linear motor | Akribis Systems AUM meets or exceeds the figures compared Meets or exceeds all 2 figures compared |
| AKD | AC servo drive | ADVANCED Motion Controls DigiFlex Performance Servo Drives (DP, DZ, DV) meets 2 of 3 figures Meets 2 of 3 figures compared |
| AKD2G | Multi-axis servo drive | Leadshine 2ELD2 Two-Axis DC Servo Drives meets 3 of 4 figures Meets 3 of 4 figures compared |
| AKM | AC servo motor | Ask an engineer |
| AKM2G | AC servo motor | Ask an engineer |
Specify Motion is not affiliated with Regal Rexnord Corporation. Brand and series names are used only to identify products. Comparisons use published figures; always confirm against the current datasheet.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an equivalent to a Kollmorgen KBM frameless motor?
Frameless kits from other makers cover similar outer diameters, bores and torque ranges, but rotor and stator dimensions rarely match exactly. Compare continuous and peak torque, stator outer diameter, rotor bore, stack length, pole count, bus voltage and thermal resistance against your housing. Because the motor is built into your structure, any dimensional change means a housing check, so do it early.
Can I run a Kollmorgen motor on a different servo drive?
Often, if the drive supports the motor's feedback device and you can enter or load the motor parameters. Check the encoder or resolver protocol, the current rating against the motor's peak current, the bus voltage and the thermal sensor type. Some single-cable feedback systems are drive-specific, so confirm that point before you plan the change.
What replaced the Kollmorgen PCMM controller?
Kollmorgen's PCMM product page states that the PCMM is not available for new applications and recommends the PCMM2G. For an existing machine, the PCMM2G is the maker's own route. If you are open to other platforms, CODESYS-based EtherCAT motion controllers from our supply network can be checked against your axis count and cycle time.
What should I send to get a Kollmorgen equivalent proposed?
Send the model code, the torque or force and speed profile, bus voltage, feedback type, mounting dimensions or housing drawing for frameless parts, cooling, ambient temperature and the drive or controller you use. For drives, add the motor list, fieldbus, safety functions and supply. That lets an engineer check equivalence on published figures.
Do alternative linear motors use the same magnet tracks?
No. Magnet track pitch, height and mounting differ between makers, so a linear motor change normally means changing the forcer and the magnet track together. Compare continuous and peak force, motor constant, attraction force for iron-core designs, cogging, bus voltage and cooling, and check the stage design for the new envelope and any change in attraction load.
Sources
- Kollmorgen: SPS 2026 event page (Kollmorgen part of Regal Rexnord since 2023)
- Kollmorgen: AKD2G servo drive
- Kollmorgen: PCMM controller (not available for new applications)
Figures are summarised from the sources above and from manufacturers' published data on the date shown. Always confirm against the current datasheet for your exact part.