What maxon makes
maxon is a Swiss drive specialist headquartered in Sachseln. maxon and its product names are trademarks of their owner. It is known for precision brushed and brushless DC motors, often in small diameters, sold as modular drive trains in which motor, gearhead, encoder and controller are configured together.
The range includes coreless brushed motors (DCX and RE), brushless motors (EC-i, EC flat and EC-max), EC frameless DT and HT kits, GPX planetary gearheads, ENX encoders, EPOS4 positioning controllers, ESCON and ESCON2 servo controllers and IDX compact drives, which combine a brushless motor, an EPOS4 controller and an optional gearhead in one industrial housing.
Why engineers look for a maxon alternative
- Lead time on a specific configured motor, gearhead and encoder combination.
- Second source for a drive train that would stop production if it were late.
- Budget, especially in higher-volume products.
- Lifecycle. maxon marks the ESCON 70/10 as not recommended for new designs (it remains available), and its current catalogue lists the ESCON2 family. Our find a replacement service can check options.
- Integration, for example a frameless kit built into the product, or a motor with the drive on board.
What to check so a DC motor really is equivalent
- Envelope. Diameter, length, mounting face, threads and shaft.
- Winding. Nominal voltage, terminal resistance, torque and speed constants.
- Operating point. Torque and speed must sit in the continuous range, not only under the peak line.
- Thermal. Winding thermal resistance and maximum winding temperature at your ambient.
- Commutation. Brushed (precious metal or graphite) or brushless with Hall sensors or sensorless.
- Gearhead. Ratio, continuous and intermittent torque, efficiency, backlash and input speed.
- Feedback. Encoder type, counts per turn, line driver, and absolute or incremental.
- Special needs. Sterilisation, vacuum, high temperature or medical documentation.
Our guide to selecting a DC motor works through the motor constants and thermal check, and selecting a servo drive covers the controller.
Alternatives in our supply network
Small DC motors. The D-Series coreless DC motors have cog-free, low-inertia rotors in 13 to 40 mm frames and up to 15,200 rpm, with encoder and gearhead options. The DINGS ZWWC slotless brushless motors run from 10 to 42 mm diameter at up to about 50,000 rpm, and the DINGS ZYT brushed motors cover 8 to 80 mm.
Low-voltage servo motors. The Leadshine ELVM series runs from a 25 mm 33 W unit up to 2 kW on 24 to 60 VDC buses.
Frameless kits. The Akribis ADR-F is a 48 VDC frameless kit in 45 to 90 mm frames; see also selecting a frameless torque motor.
Drives. The palm-sized Leadshine ELD3 covers 50 to 750 W on 24 to 70 VDC with EtherCAT, CANopen or Modbus and STO. The Novanta Everest delivers 45 A continuous on 8 to 72 VDC, and the Denali is a very small 48 VDC drive for micro-automation.
Integrated motor-drives. The Kinco iSMD (400 W to 1 kW, 60 and 80 mm flanges) and Leadshine iSV2 (200 to 750 W on 24 to 48 VDC) combine motor and drive in one unit, as IDX does. Neither includes a gearhead as standard, so add one where IDX is fitted with a GPX.
How the comparison is made
The table under this text compares each maxon 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 maxon, and no logos are used. Names identify products only.
Send the configured part numbers and your operating points, and we will tell you whether an alternative drive train fits or whether the original maxon combination is the better choice.
maxon replacement and alternative options 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.
| maxon series | Type | Option for engineering review |
|---|---|---|
| EPOS4 | Motion controller | Kinco AK (AK8 / AK840) Same product type; engineering check required Check this option and request pricing → |
| DCX | Coreless DC motor | Ask an engineer |
| EC-max | Coreless DC motor | Ask an engineer |
| RE | Coreless DC motor | Ask an engineer |
| ENX | Optical incremental encoder | Bogen AKP18 meets or exceeds the figures compared Limited published data; check exact variant Check this option and request pricing → |
| EC frameless DT / HT | Frameless torque motor | Motion Control Products TI Series In-Runner Frameless Direct Drive Torque Motors meets or exceeds the figures compared Limited published data; check exact variant Check this option and request pricing → |
| GPX | Planetary gearbox | APEX Dynamics AD / ADR / ADS meets or exceeds the figures compared Limited published data; check exact variant Check this option and request pricing → |
| ESCONLegacy | DC servo drive | Leadshine ELD2 Series Low-Voltage DC Servo Drives meets or exceeds the figures compared 2 published figures compared; check compatibility Check this option and request pricing → |
| ESCON2 | DC servo drive | Leadshine ELD2 Series Low-Voltage DC Servo Drives meets or exceeds the figures compared Limited published data; check exact variant Check this option and request pricing → |
| EC flat / ECX FLAT | DC servo motor | Leadshine ELVM Series Low-Voltage DC Servo Motors meets or exceeds the figures compared Limited published data; check exact variant Check this option and request pricing → |
| EC-i | DC servo motor | Kinco SMC Series Low-Voltage DC Servo Motors meets or exceeds the figures compared Limited published data; check exact variant Check this option and request pricing → |
| IDX | Integrated servo motor | Kinco iSMD Integrated Servo Motors (iSMD60D/80D) meets or exceeds the figures compared Limited published data; check exact variant Check this option and request pricing → |
Specify Motion is not affiliated with maxon group (maxon motor ag). 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 maxon DCX or RE coreless motor?
Coreless brushed DC motors from other makers offer the same low-inertia, cog-free construction in similar diameters. Compare diameter and length, nominal voltage, no-load speed, nominal and stall torque, terminal resistance, torque constant and the mounting face and shaft. Then check the gearhead and encoder fit, because these are matched to the motor in maxon's modular system.
What replaced the maxon ESCON controller?
maxon's product page for the ESCON 70/10 marks it as not recommended for new designs, while it remains available, and the current maxon catalogue lists the ESCON2 family. For existing designs, ESCON2 is the maker's own route. Compact DC servo drives from our supply network can also be checked against your current, voltage, feedback and interface needs.
Can a different drive run a maxon brushless motor?
Often, yes. Most low-voltage servo drives can run a brushless DC motor with Hall sensors and an incremental or absolute encoder, provided you can enter the motor parameters and the current ranges suit. Check the commutation sensors, encoder protocol, current loop bandwidth and thermal protection. For very small, high-speed motors, check the drive's minimum inductance as well.
What should I send to get a maxon equivalent proposed?
Send the full part numbers of the motor, gearhead, encoder and controller (or the configurator code), the load torque and speed at each operating point, duty cycle, supply voltage, space envelope, shaft and mounting details, environment and any sterilisation or medical requirements. With the operating points, an engineer can check the motor in its continuous operating range.
Sources
- maxon: compact drives and product overview (maxon international ltd., Sachseln)
- maxon: ESCON 70/10 servo controller product page
- maxon: product catalogue 2026/27 (ESCON2)
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.