Glossary
Original editorial content, made for people who want to understand before they buy.
Stroke
Stroke is the distance the needle travels during each cycle of the machine's movement, usually expressed in millimetres. On some machines it is fixed, on others adjustable or interchangeable: the declared value depends on the manufacturer and the model.
Give
Give describes the perceived elasticity in the needle's movement, that is, how soft or direct the impact on the skin feels. It is not a quantity with a universal scale: it depends on the machine's mechanics, the cartridge (in particular its membrane) and the configuration.
Direct Drive
Direct Drive refers to a type of rotary machine in which the motor's movement reaches the needle through an eccentric, without the arms or levers found in other systems. Manufacturers use the term with slightly different meanings.
Rotary
A rotary machine uses a rotating electric motor and a mechanism that turns the rotation into the needle's linear movement. Most cartridge machines belong to this category, including those in pen format.
Coil
A coil machine uses two electromagnetic coils that attract and release a metal bar, producing the needle's movement. The adjustments (such as the distance between components) are mechanical and vary from model to model.
Pen
Pen refers to the machine's format: a cylindrical, pen-like body held as one. It describes the shape, not the internal mechanism: most pens are rotary and use cartridges, but the name alone does not establish that.
Wireless
A wireless machine runs on a battery instead of a power cord. The battery may be built into the body or interchangeable, depending on the model.
Voltage
Voltage is the electrical potential, expressed in volts (V), applied to the machine's motor. In general it determines the running speed, but the relationship between volts and speed depends on the motor and the mechanics. The operating voltage range is declared by the manufacturer.
RPM
RPM stands for revolutions per minute of the motor. On eccentric rotary machines one revolution generally corresponds to one needle cycle, so revolutions and hits per minute coincide; with other mechanics this ratio can change. The declared value depends on the test conditions.
Torque
Torque is the rotational force the motor can exert. In a machine it indicates the ability to keep its speed when the movement meets resistance. Units and measuring methods vary, so values from different manufacturers are not always comparable.
Motor
The motor is the component that generates the machine's movement. Rotary machines use brushed and brushless motors (often labelled BLDC), which differ in construction, noise and wear of components.
Balance
Balance describes how weight is distributed along the machine relative to the hand holding it. It depends on total weight, the position of motor and battery, the grip and the mounted cartridge. There is no standard value to measure it.