How Does A Tattoo Machine Work

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“There are a variety of ways to make a tattoo, but the most common way is with a tattoo machine.”

How Does A Tattoo Machine Work
How Does A Tattoo Machine Work

A tattoo machine is putting ink in your skin. There are many types of machines that give different effects. They all have tubes connected to them that slowly push ink through, one at a time, while you hold the tube in place and watch it come out onto your skin. A needle in the other end of the tube pierces your skin and pushes out ink onto it. A motor then drives the needle through your skin, keeping it steady as you see it move up and down or left to right across your body part or face.

Let’s jump to know ‘How a tattoo machine Work.’

Lets jump to know ‘How does a tattoo machine Work
Lets jump to know ‘How does a tattoo machine Work

Ancient tattoo designs were used to accomplish by cutting the targeted skin, then polishing by ink, ashes, or other coloring agents over the resulted wounds. Interestingly it is a common practice by most of the tribes worldwide nowadays. Even some tribes penetrate ink into the skin using a needle-like stick or bone.

However, let’s discuss the most modern theory on how to make a tattoo! Yes, it is through some fabulous and high technical tattoo machines. In this modern era, people usually migrated from many manual procedures. Thus, the electric machine also becomes a fantastic means to draw a tattoo on any targeted skin area.

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Artists use these machines as like they are using a sewing machine. Electric tattoo machine usually inserts ink into the skin by pinching the skin through a single needle or a group of needles. 

Let’s take a look few different types of tattoo machines . Here are those-

  • Coil Tattoo Machine
  • Rotary Tattoo Machine
  • Pneumatic Tattoo Machine
  • Dragonahwk tattoo machine

How does a coil tattoo machine work?

The coil tattoo machine has two main parts; two magnetic washers and one cylindrical core. This core is made with highly conductive materials, usually through iron or steel. Besides these two parts, you will find a coil into this machine. This core is wrapping up with magnetic wire in one direction from up to down. 

However, the coil tattoo machine uses an electromagnetic current to run on. Coil gets the charge from the power unit of the device to be electromag’netically active. This electromagnetic field circuit creates a cyclic order and pushes the armature bar down towards the coil, which finally causes tattoo needles movement towards the skin.

The continuous action of the bar forced to move up and down of the tattoo needle. This breakdown motion of this mechanism breaks the electromagnetic field after a while. It causes the connection of the armature bar to the contact screw for the electromagnetic field to collapse. Ultimately the armature bar back towards its back position. And the needles restore in the tattoo tube. 

The Coil tattoo machine features a single, double or triple coil. Depending on the presence of the coil, work intensity from device to machine defer generally. 

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However, though a pen tattoo machine is one kind of coil tattoo machine, people often want to know how does pen tattoo machine works! A Pen Tattoo machine a pen-like device, which drives through a motor. A needle is situated on this machine’s rod-like structure; the motor provides powers to this rod to move up and down. As a result, the needle on the top edge of this rod moves up and down to penetrate the body skin. 

A tattoo pen works more eventually, penetrating the skin precisely so that your tattoo artist can usually pour the dye or pigments onto the skin wounds to colorize them. Unlike any other tattoo machine, even in a light color, this pen can work efficiently.

How Does a Rotary Tattoo Machine work?

The Rotary Tattoo Machine is much quieter than the coil machine. The tattoo artist can mostly complete their task faster, consuming less time using this tattoo machine. Therefore, this gear already becomes very renowned and user-friendly. Rotary machines are perfect for tattoo lining and shading.

Most of the tattoo machines work through a needle (needles). This needle moves up/down and in/out on the client’s skin to make the tattoo. Needles also deposited the coloring agents in the upper layer of skin with every punch, ultimately make the desired design. 

So only the difference is driving the needles. 

In a Rotary tattoo machine, a rotary motor is used to drive the needles. A small motor has also been attached to the armature bar. When this motor becomes charged, it further spins in the vertical direction. And finally, this spinning motor causes the movement of the armature bar ups and downs.

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How Does Pneumatic Tattoo Machine work?

Carson Hill invented the pneumatic Tattoo machine in 2000. The main advantage of this tattoo machine is its faster sterilization procedure after each use. You can directly put this device into the autoclave without any further disassemble.

A pneumatic tattoo machine runs by an air compressor. To get the optimal air pressure, this machine needs to attach with an air compressor. When the demand pressure is released from the air compressor, it delivers the motor’s power. Finally, the attached needle is moving up or down to make a tattoo. After getting a topical canal on the skin, the artist pours the pigments over to colorize it.

Final verdict

So we are going to end up this article. We have tried hard to include all the mechanisms of action for today’s most renowned tattoo machine. As each of the machines has a separate work mechanism, so don’t expect the same effort from all of these.

That’s all for today; if still, you have any queries on how does a tattoo machine works, please don’t hesitate to share it on our comment box.

Thank you.

About the author

James is a talented tattoo artist with a passion for creating unique and personalized designs. With a focus on attention to detail and a deep commitment to his craft, he strives to create tattoos that capture his clients' individuality and self-expression.