12mm Plastic Gear Motor

A 12mm plastic gear motor pairs a brushed DC motor with an engineering-plastic gear train inside a Φ12mm housing. Three rated-voltage configurations are available — 3.7V, 6V, and 12V — with motor stall torque running 10–18 g·cm and no-load speeds up to 20,000 rpm before gear reduction.

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12mm micro brushed motor with plastic gearbox for low-voltage drives
Overview

Plastic Gear Motor Overview

This 12mm gear motor pairs a brushed DC motor with a compact plastic gearbox in a Φ12mm envelope, a plastic gearbox motor in the same footprint as our metal-geared N20/N30 units.

  • Compact Size: Φ12mm envelope, plastic gearbox motor
  • Plastic Build: Housing and gears are engineering plastics, not brass or PM alloys
  • Quieter Running: Plastic gearing lowers weight, unit cost and running noise
  • Lower Ceiling: Heat and load limits sit below a metal-gear equivalent
  • Typical Fit: Smart locks, robotic joints, dosing mechanisms, office actuators
technical Specs

Motors Specifications

Motor Model Rated voltage No-load No-load Rated speed Rated torque Rated current Output power Stall torque Stall current
VDC r/min mA r/min g.cm mA W g.cm A
FM1215-002 3.7 20000 50 17200 3.12 250 0.55 18 1.4
FM1215-021 6 12000 18 10000 2.1 70 0.22 10 0.3
FM1215-016 12 20000 16 17000 2.86 70 0.5 16 0.3

For additional customization or reference configurations, please feel free to contact us.

Comparison

Plastic Gearbox vs. Metal Gearbox

Plastic gearing wins on weight, cost, and noise: it runs quieter with no metal-on-metal contact and stays lighter.

Plastic gears soften and wear faster under high stall torque, so a plastic gearbox suits intermittent duty; for sustained load, step up to a 20mm Planetary Gearbox & Reducer.

  • Quieter running: No metal-on-metal contact between teeth
  • Lighter assembly: Matters in handheld or moving-mass applications
  • Lower cost: Less expensive to tool and produce at 12mm-class volumes
  • Load limits: Softens under high stall torque or continuous duty
  • Quieter Running

    A plastic gear train runs quieter than a metal one because there is no metal-on-metal contact between teeth.

  • Lighter Assembly

    The finished plastic assembly is lighter, which matters in handheld or moving-mass applications.

  • Lower Cost

    Plastic gearing is less expensive to tool and produce in the quantities most 12mm-class devices need.

  • Load Limits

    Plastic gears soften and wear faster than brass under high stall torque.

Comparison

How the 12mm Compares to the 10mm Plastic Gear Motor

  • Same Build

    Both the 10mm and 12mm plastic gear motor share a brushed motor and plastic gear train.

  • More Headroom

    The larger 12mm envelope supports higher ratios and output torque than the 10mm at the same voltage.

  • Tighter Option

    If space is tight and the load light, the 10mm Micro Brushed Motor with Plastic Gearbox stays the tighter option.

Applications

Plastic Gear Motor Applications

Smart Locks

This plastic gear motor suits smart locks and access-control latching mechanisms, where compact size and reliable torque matter.

The plastic gear motor drives the latch quietly and consistently, making it a practical fit for access-control hardware.

Explore Access Control Applications
Robotic Joints

Small robotic joints and light actuator linkages are common uses for this micro gear motor with plastic gearbox.

Its compact body and plastic gearbox keep the assembly light, which helps small joints move without added bulk.

Explore Robotics Applications
Medical Dosing Devices

Medical dosing devices and small dispensing mechanisms rely on controlled, repeatable motion from the gear motor.

The plastic gearbox motor delivers steady rotation for dispensing, supporting accurate and consistent dosing.

Explore Medical Equipment Applications
Office Equipment

Office equipment actuators such as feed rollers and small positioning stages also use this plastic gear motor.

In these actuators the motor provides the compact drive needed for feeding and positioning tasks.

Explore Vending & Office Equipment Applications
Built to Your Design

Customization & OEM/ODM Options

  • Gear Ratio Tuning

    Adapt the gear ratio to hit a specific output speed and torque point for your application.

  • Shaft & Wiring Fit

    Match shaft length and end style to your coupler, and set lead wire length and exit direction to suit enclosure routing.

  • Drop-In Assembly

    Connector or wire-harness assembly is available for drop-in installation.

  • Bare Motor Option

    If your design calls for the bare motor without a gearbox, the 12mm N20 Micro Brushed DC Motor 3V–6V covers that configuration, and our low voltage dc motor range covers other rail options.

Related options

Explore Related Gear Motor & Gearbox Options

  • 13mm Spur Gearbox & Reducer

    A metal spur gearing option close to this footprint, for mechanisms that need a metal gear train instead of plastic.

  • 10mm Spur Gearbox & Reducer

    A metal spur option at the smaller diameter, when the design calls for a more compact gearbox.

  • 20mm Planetary Gearbox & Reducer

    A higher-torque metal planetary alternative for applications that need more torque than a plastic gearbox motor can give.

  • Brushless drive option

    For a brushless drive instead of brushed, this option pairs a coreless motor with a planetary gearbox.

Quote

Request a Quote

Send your target speed, torque, available envelope, and expected duty cycle, and we'll confirm whether the 12mm plastic-gearbox platform fits or whether a metal-gear alternative is the safer call. Minimum order quantity and sample lead time are confirmed per configuration when you Get a Quote, and production is arranged for both small-batch and bulk runs.

Moving from a handful of prototypes to a full production order doesn't mean re-qualifying with a new supplier.

Source

Why Source from SLW Motor

SLW Motor runs a 2,400 m² factory in Shenzhen with 56+ staff and 15+ years of R&D experience, including engineering work for Japanese manufacturing clients.

  • Factory

    A 2,400 m² factory in Shenzhen with 56+ staff and 15+ years of R&D experience, including engineering work for Japanese manufacturing clients.

  • Tolerancing

    That background shows up in how tightly the plastic gearbox is toleranced against the motor shaft.

  • Inspection

    Every unit passes incoming inspection, in-process testing, and final verification before it ships.

  • Certified

    Production is ISO 9001:2015 certified and RoHS compliant.

  • Global

    Clients across 30+ countries source from us for exactly this kind of size-and-torque decision.

"Their engineering team responded quickly and provided accurate technical guidance. Our prototype passed all tests on the first run." — Elena Rodriguez, Product Developer, Meditech Instruments

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Plastic gears handle light-to-moderate torque well and run quieter than metal.

How strong are plastic gears?
Plastic gears handle light-to-moderate torque and run quieter than metal, but soften faster under sustained high load or heat than brass or powder-metallurgy gears. For intermittent-duty mechanisms like locks or small actuators, that strength is usually sufficient.
What is the cheapest gear motor available?
Plastic-gearbox brushed motors are generally the lowest-cost gear motor tier, since plastic tooling and material run cheaper than metal gearing. Exact pricing depends on ratio, voltage, and volume — request a quote for your specific configuration.
Who makes plastic gears?
SLW Motor builds plastic gear motors and gearboxes at its own Shenzhen factory, with engineering-plastic gear trains offered alongside brass, stainless-steel, and powder-metallurgy alternatives; loose gear sets are supplied under precision gears.
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