How does a gunless tattoo machine work?

The field of wireless technology regularly offers us more and more new achievements. One of them, the most interesting for tattoo artists and long-awaited, is a permanent makeup machine that can work without access to the network.

Not all specialists working in this field are ready to try out a new product and abandon such familiar wired tattoo machines. But those who have already “taken a risk” and appreciated all the advantages of wireless models are unlikely to refuse the new level of comfort that such autonomous devices offer.

And for those who have not yet met them personally, we have prepared a review article - it will help you understand what cordless machines are and why they are becoming so popular.

The importance of wireless tattoo machines in the modern tattoo industry

Every tattoo artist knows from his own experience how important it is to maintain precision and a high level of maneuverability - without this it is impossible to create exceptionally thin and even contours, exquisitely drawn individual hairs, uniform shading and smooth transitions from tone to tone.

Wires running from the power supply to the machine and/or to the foot pedal can, to a certain extent, limit the movements of the master and reduce his level of comfort. This will not prevent a professional from creating the perfect tattoo, but fatigue increases from session to session, and at the same time the quality of work decreases.

A wireless tattoo machine is completely devoid of this drawback: it does not require a network connection (except for the battery charging period), and it in no way hinders the movements of the artist.

But before you change your usual tattoo machine to a wireless version, it is important to understand the principles of its operation and the features of choice.

Technical features of the wireless tattoo machine

In fact, everything, all the electronics that previously equipped the tattoo artist’s workspace, are now concentrated in one small device. A current converter and stabilizer, a voltage regulator, a motor, indicators - all this is placed in the body of a battery-powered tattoo machine.

Did it make her heavier? Yes. Did this make her less comfortable? No. This is explained by the fact that modern technologies have moved far from the “primitive” ones, which used bulky printed circuit boards, electromechanical relays, etc. Using semiconductors, microprocessors and other technical advances, manufacturers were able to place everything that a tattoo artist needs for convenient and high-quality work in miniature device without making it inconvenient or too heavy. All the “filling” is located in the body in such a way that the weight balance is maintained. Therefore, although the weight of the wireless device is greater than that of a wired handpiece, it does not create tension in the hand, and working with it is still comfortable.

Types of wireless tattoo machines

A wireless permanent makeup machine is a relative newcomer in the tattoo industry, so there are not many varieties of it yet. But if you have never dealt with such versions of your main working tool, you will be interested to know about their features.

Car shape

First of all, all wireless models are designed in the form of a pen - this is the most compact and ergonomic form factor for such devices. The housing can house virtually all the electronics needed for high-precision stylus movements, control of power, impact force, and stylus plunge.

Car engine

All wireless tattoo machines are based on rotary-type electric motors. This eliminates the excess weight of the induction coils from the device, and in addition, ensures high stability of movements when working with the device. The needle stroke is uniform, its vibrations on the sides are minimized, so tattooing errors caused by uneven or inaccurate needle strikes are practically eliminated.

Among wireless rotary tattoo machines, just like their wired counterparts, you can find an internal division into direct and sliding motors. The first, so-called “directs”, create a translational movement of the needle through an eccentric - a rotating disk mounted on a motor, on which, in turn, a pusher for a cartridge or a pin for a traditional needle is fixed.

In the second type of rotors, “sliders,” a slide mechanism, a slider, is located between the eccentric and the pusher or pin. It ensures smooth transmission of movements from the eccentric to the working mechanism, and the uniformity of movements of the slider itself is ensured by a return spring. The second option can be called more preferable, since the machine provides additional protection against unnecessary oscillatory movements. But if the artist is used to working with direct-acting rotors, a wireless permanent makeup machine of the same type will take less time to adapt his hand to the “unusual” device.

Control and display

Another unusual aspect of cordless clippers is the ability to adjust its settings directly from the body. There are buttons or sliders on the handle that can be used to turn the device on and off, and with one movement to lower or increase the engine speed. Worries that during a session you will accidentally change the settings to inappropriate or downright “harmful” ones are unfounded. Manufacturers have taken into account all the nuances of the master’s work and provided the machines with protection from such incidents. Any parameters that you want to change during operation can only be changed at your request, and in no case by accident or by mistake.

Indication of charge level, voltage and other criteria depends on the model of the selected machine. This could be an LED system in which a certain power level is illuminated with its own color or number of dots/stripes. More advanced models have a full-fledged display on which the technician sees all the necessary indicators of the device’s operation.

Functional

Functional differences also vary from model to model. This may be the simplest option, without any additional options: all that such a tattoo machine “can” do is turn on and off, change the power level and needle protrusion. This set of functions is quite enough to perform all types of tattooing, but if you need more, pay attention to models with a memory function, changing operating modes, and a timer. The function of remembering the latest settings will be useful for saving the technician’s time, and the timer will help accurately determine the duration of the session. It is also very important to choose a model that matches the type of work performed. This can be a liner, a shader, or a universal option in which the operating mode can be quickly changed during the session.

Compatible with replacement parts

Also, when choosing a cordless machine, it is important to pay attention to what components it is compatible with. This is necessary because some models are designed to only work with a certain type or manufacturer of tattoo needles/cartridges.

Thus, Kwadron cartridges can be installed on most branded tattoo machines, but machines of unknown origin or from a dubious manufacturer may require only needles and cartridges of the same name - produced under the same brand.

Battery

One of the really significant design differences can be found between cars with a built-in, removable and replaceable battery. This difference can have an impact on the productivity of the master, so you need to be very careful when choosing a machine based on this criterion.

• Built-in battery. These models are equipped with a battery built into the body of the machine. Once it runs out (battery life can vary significantly depending on battery capacity), you will have to stop to charge the battery.
• Removable battery. Models with such a battery are often equipped with a spare power supply. After one of them is completely discharged, you can replace it with a charged one and continue working. And the one already used at this time is put on charge.
• Replaceable battery. This is a cross between models with built-in and removable batteries. The actual slot for installing batteries is built into the body of the machine. But after the batteries are discharged, you can remove them and place them in a charger of the appropriate type to restore the charge, and place already charged ones in their place.

Before purchasing a wireless tattoo machine, be sure to make sure that you can easily purchase a spare battery or charger for it in case the original components fail. And this can happen regardless of the quality of the battery - due to excessive exposure to moisture, accidental mechanical damage, etc. By the way, the issue of component compatibility is irrelevant for the vast majority of models from well-known brands, since they are designed for unified batteries and chargers.

Battery life

This criterion completely depends on the battery capacity and the power of the machine - the higher the power you set in the settings, the faster the battery drains.

Therefore, when choosing a particular model, focus on the specifics of your work. If you are planning to purchase a wireless tattoo machine as an emergency option, models with battery life of 2-3 hours (with a 500 mAh battery) may be sufficient. If this is your main tool, the battery capacity should be at least 1000 mAh, which in translation means up to 4-6 hours of battery life.

Advantages of wireless tattoo machines over wired ones

Almost all masters who decide to change a wired machine to a wireless model emphasize that getting used to it did not take much time. The tattoo pens are really so precisely and qualitatively balanced that some excess weight is simply unnoticeable, and the machine lies comfortably in the hand.

This circumstance will be especially useful to know for masters who are worried about a possible long period of adaptation and a decrease in productivity/quality/speed of work because of this.

There are also completely opposite opinions: when switching to a wireless work format, fatigue appears in the hand, and additional effort is required for precise movements. In almost all cases, we are talking about independent modernization of the tool. Today you can find many batteries that are connected to wired tattoo pens or manipulas. But, since the tool was not originally intended for such an upgrade, the additional weight of the power supply upsets the balance of the handle - the center of gravity shifts, and the master actually has to work with some tension in his hand.

Tattoo pens that were originally created with wireless technologies are completely devoid of this drawback.

Any wireless tattoo machine from Mast, EZ Tattoo or another brand feels like an extension of the artist’s hand and only helps to improve his comfort, safety and quality of work. And the absence of wires further enhances the feeling that the machine is not just your tool, but also a real partner.

And, of course, the main advantage is independence from access to the power grid. The master can take care in advance of purchasing several replaceable or removable batteries in addition to those that come with the machine, and make his work completely autonomous. No more worrying about unplanned power outages, power line breakdowns or blackouts. All you need is a wireless tattoo machine and the same independent light source, and a tattoo session can last as long as it takes to get an excellent result.