Glossary15 January 2026 · 1 min read
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.
Why it matters: The type of motor and mechanism determines noise, available adjustments and maintenance. It is the constructive alternative to coil machines.
Related: Coil, Direct Drive, Motor, Pen.
You may also like
- Article6 min read3.5 mm vs 4.2 mm stroke: what changes and how to read itStroke is the needle's travel: 3.5 mm and 4.2 mm are two common values on tattoo machine spec sheets. This article explains what they mean, how they compare, and why there is no universally better stroke.
- Article4 min readCheyenne Hawk Pen 2 vs Critical Torque Lite comparedTwo fixed-stroke pen machines side by side: 3.5 mm vs 3.8 mm stroke, weight, voltage and battery, from the manufacturers' own data in the Odisage database.
- Article4 min readCheyenne SOL Nova Unlimited vs Unlimited II comparedThe two generations of Cheyenne's SOL Nova Unlimited side by side: stroke options, batteries, runtime and weight, from the manufacturer's declared data in the Odisage database.
Stay one step ahead.
New tattoo gear comparisons, guidesand insights,straight to your inbox.