Electric motors are everywhere—in your fan, your car, your robot vacuum, your 3D printer—and they’re capable of doing some truly incredible things. But for makers, hobbyists, and hardware hackers, motors can feel like a black box: powerful, essential, but intimidating to understand and control.
That ends now.
With Motors for Makers, engineer and lifelong tinkerer Matthew Scarpino hands you the keys to unlocking the full potential of electric motors. Whether you’re building your first robotic arm or designing a high-performance drone, this is the practical, project-driven guide you’ve been waiting for.
Unlike traditional textbooks or overly academic resources, this book is not bogged down in heavy theory or obscure math. Instead, it’s laser-focused on what you can do—and how you can do it—using clear explanations, real-world examples, and hands-on projects that bring concepts to life. No fluff. Just making.
What makes this book different? It’s written for people who want to build, not just learn. For those who want to move beyond blinking LEDs and step into a world where their projects can move, spin, drive, fly, and think.
You’ll start by understanding the inner workings of electric motors—what makes them tick, why they behave the way they do, and how different types compare. You’ll explore brushed DC motors, brushless DC motors, stepper motors, servomotors, induction motors, and linear actuators, each with their own unique strengths and ideal applications.
Then, you’ll dive deep into the practical side: learning how to control motors using affordable, widely available platforms like the Arduino Mega, Raspberry Pi, and BeagleBone Black. You’ll build circuits from scratch, write control code, and test your motors in action—all with guidance from step-by-step tutorials, full-color photos, and downloadable files from motorsformakers.com.
Inside, you’ll learn how to:
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Understand the core principles of electric motor operation in a clear, digestible way
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Compare and choose the right type of motor for your project’s specific needs
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Build the necessary circuits to control motor speed, direction, and torque
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Use pulse-width modulation (PWM) to precisely regulate motor power
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Program motor control systems using Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or BeagleBone Black
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Work with gearmotors to achieve optimal torque and mechanical advantage
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Use linear motors to enhance the speed and precision of motion in CNCs, plotters, or automated tools
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Design and build a fully functional electronic speed controller (ESC)
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Construct a custom quadcopter—from motors and ESCs to flight control and stabilization
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Peek behind the curtain of cutting-edge electric vehicle tech with a close look at Tesla’s patented motor innovations
Every chapter is designed to build your confidence as well as your skill set. Whether you’re an aspiring roboticist, an electronics enthusiast, or a seasoned maker looking to expand your capabilities, Motors for Makers gives you the knowledge and hands-on experience to turn your creative visions into working, moving reality.
By the time you turn the last page, you won’t just understand electric motors—you’ll command them.
So if you’ve ever dreamed of building projects that buzz, hum, roll, crawl, or soar, now’s the time. Stop dreaming. Start making. More informaton…
