RVM microfluidic rotary valve motor module comparison
AMF - Tech Notes - RVM family - P200 vs P201 vs P202
Jul 2026

How to choose a motor module for an RVM microfluidic rotary valve

Choosing a microfluidic rotary valve is not only about selecting the right fluidic configuration. The motor module also affects the system footprint, power requirements, switching speed, communication interfaces and integration possibilities.

The AMF RVM platform is available with three motor modules:

P200-O, RVM Low Power, designed for low-power operation and direct USB power and control.

AMF - Tech Notes - RVM family - P200 vs P201 vs P202 - P200

P201-O, RVM Fast, designed for high-speed switching and industrial communication.

AMF - Tech Notes - RVM family - P200 vs P201 vs P202 - P201

P202-O, RVM mini, designed for compact and lightweight embedded systems.

AMF - Tech Notes - RVM family - P200 vs P201 vs P202 - P202

This technical note compares their mechanical, electrical, communication and controller specifications to help system designers select the most appropriate motor module for their instrument, while the fluidic characteristics remain identical across all three models.

P200-O, RVM Low Power P201-O, RVM Fast P202-O, RVM mini
Main advantage Low-power and USB-powered operation Fastest switching performance Smallest and lightest module
Typical application Simple laboratory and low-power systems High-throughput and industrial instruments Compact OEM and embedded systems
Input voltage 5 to 10 VDC 18 to 24 VDC 22 to 32 VDC
Module weight 245 g 442 g 61 g
Minimum 180° rotation time 1.5 s Down to 400 ms Down to 600 ms under some conditions
Main communication interfaces USB and I²C USB, I²C and RS232 (RS485 av.) USB-C, I²C, TTL and RS232 (RS485 av.)
Best suited for Low power and simple integration Speed and industrial connectivity Size, weight and embedded integration

Detailed technical comparison

P200-O, RVM Low Power P201-O, RVM Fast P202-O, RVM mini
Internal abbreviation RVMLP RVMFS RVMMN
Motor configuration Low-power motor Fast motor Mini motor
Motor technology Stepper motor Stepper motor Stepper motor
Positioning architecture Closed-loop positioning Closed-loop positioning Closed-loop positioning
Integrated controller PCB Yes Yes Yes
Integrated motor driver Yes Yes Yes
Integrated encoder / position feedback Yes Yes Yes
PCB functionalities Driver, encoder Drive, encoder Drive, encoder
Position reference integrated into valve rotor Yes Yes Yes
Replaceable valve head Yes Yes Yes
Valve head fixation 2 × M3 × 30 screws 2 × M3 × 30 screws 2 × M3 × 30 screws
Module weight without valve head 245 g 442 g 61 g
Complete weight with valve head 261 g to 310 g, configuration-dependant 458 to 495 g, configuration-dependant 77 to 110 g, configuration-dependent
Module dimensions without valve head 29 × 41 × 112 mm 42.3 × 63 × 101 mm Ø32 × 57 mm
External fixation system 6 × M3 screws 6 × M3 screws 3 × M3 screws
Optional frame mount Available Available Available
Optional panel mount No No Available

P200-O, RVM Low Power P201-O, RVM Fast P202-O, RVM mini
Input voltage 5 to 10 VDC 18 to 24 VDC 22 to 32 VDC
Peak current 0.5 A 2 A 0.5 A
Power consumption during rotation, fast mode N/A 9.1 W, 380 mA RMS at 24 VDC 4.2 W, 175 mA RMS at 24 VDC
Power consumption during rotation, slow mode 1.0 W, 200 mA RMS at 5 VDC 9.1 W, 380 mA RMS at 24 VDC 4.7 W, 195 mA RMS at 24 VDC
Power consumption, idle 0.2 W, 40 mA RMS at 5 VDC 1.7 W, 70 mA RMS at 24 VDC 0.5 W, 21 mA RMS at 24 VDC
Power supplied through USB Yes No No
External power supply required No, when powered through USB Yes Yes
Minimum 180° rotation time 1.5 s Down to 400 ms 850 ms in extended-lifetime operation, down to 600 ms under some conditions
Minimum port-to-port switching time N/A Down to 136 ms Configuration-dependent, 180 to 580 ms
Slow-speed mode Single operating speed Yes, default mode Yes, default mode
Fast-speed mode Not available Yes Yes
Clockwise rotation Yes Yes Yes
Counterclockwise rotation Yes Yes Yes
Shortest-path positioning Yes Yes Yes
Forced clockwise movement Yes Yes Yes
Forced counterclockwise movement Yes Yes Yes
Homing function Yes Yes Yes
Homing commands Z and Y Z and Y Z and Y
Automatic homing at power-up Not available Available, disabled by default Available, disabled by default
Stop between two ports Not available Yes Yes
Programmable valve positions Configuration-dependent Standard product configurations up to 24 ports, additional command configurations to confirm Standard product configurations up to 12 ports, additional command configurations to confirm
Supply-voltage monitoring Yes, through report command Yes, through report command Yes, through report command
Motor overload detection Yes Yes Yes
Blocked-motor detection Yes Yes Yes
Position sensor error detection Yes Yes Yes
Missing reference detection Yes Yes Yes

Note: P202-O switching times depend on the valve configuration, number of ports and selected operating mode. The extended-lifetime mode uses a reduced motor speed to limit mechanical wear.

AMF - Tech Notes - RVM family - P200 vs P201 vs P202 - P202 comparaison

P202 configuration-dependent performance
P202-O valve configuration Complete weight Complete dimensions 180° rotation time Port-to-port switching time
On/Off valve 77 g H 44 mm, Ø32 mm upper section, Ø29 mm lower section N/A 580 ms in extended-lifetime mode, down to 480 ms under some conditions
Switch valve 77 g H 44 mm, Ø32 mm upper section, Ø29 mm lower section N/A 390 ms in extended-lifetime mode, down to 310 ms for a 6-port valve
Distribution valve, up to 8 ports 90 g H 57 mm, Ø32 mm upper section, Ø29 mm lower section 850 ms in extended-lifetime mode, down to 600 ms 300 ms in extended-lifetime mode, down to 230 ms for an 8-port valve
Distribution valve, more than 8 ports 110 g H 57 mm, Ø32 mm upper section, Ø39.5 mm lower section 850 ms in extended-lifetime mode, down to 600 ms 220 ms in extended-lifetime mode, down to 180 ms for a 12-port valve

P200-O, RVM Low Power P201-O, RVM Fast P202-O, RVM mini
Main USB connector USB mini-B USB mini-B USB-C
USB function Power and communication Communication only Communication only
Virtual serial port over USB Yes Yes Yes
On-board USB-to-serial converter Yes Yes Yes
Secondary connector PicoBlade, 6 positions PicoBlade, 4 positions 3 × Pico-Lock, 1 mm pitch, 4 positions
Additional connector N/A Female DB9 / DE-9 N/A
Serial communication over USB Yes Yes Yes
UART Via USB serial Via USB serial Via USB-C or serial connector
I²C Yes, through PicoBlade Yes, through PicoBlade Yes, first Pico-Lock
TTL interface No No Yes, second Pico-Lock
RS232 No Yes, DB9 by default Yes, third Pico-Lock
RS485 No Upon request Upon request
Digital input N/A N/A TTL input available, exact functionality N/A
Digital output N/A N/A TTL output available, exact functionality N/A
Multidrop communication Software addressing available Available with RS485 Available with RS485
Standard operating cable USB mini-B to USB-A USB mini-B to USB-A and external power cable USB-C to USB-A or USB-C and external power cable
Custom cabling options PicoBlade custom cable Custom DB9 cable possible Custom Pico-Lock cable possible
Locking connector system N/A PicoBlade / DB9 Pico-Lock

P200-O, RVM Low Power P201-O, RVM Fast P202-O, RVM mini
Communication protocol AMF Data Terminal protocol AMF Data Terminal protocol AMF Data Terminal protocol
Default USB baud rate 9600 bps 9600 bps 57600 bps
Configurable USB baud rate N/A N/A 9600, 19200, 38400 or 57600 bps
Default RS232 / RS485 baud rate N/A N/A 57600 bps
Configurable RS232 / RS485 baud rate N/A N/A 9600, 19200, 38400 or 57600 bps
Data bits 8 8 8
Parity None None None
Stop bits 1 1 1
Command start character / / /
End-of-command character Carriage return Carriage return Carriage return
Default device address 1 1 1
Available device addresses 1 to 9 and A to E 1 to 9 and A to E 1 to 9 and A to E
Broadcast address _ _ _
Maximum command block length 512 characters 512 characters 512 characters
Synchronous answer mode Yes Yes Yes
Asynchronous answer mode Yes Yes Yes
Asynchronous answer with command counter Yes Yes Yes
Default answer mode Synchronous Synchronous Synchronous
Commands accepted while motor is moving Interrupt and report commands only Interrupt and report commands only Interrupt and report commands only
Command sequencing Yes Yes Yes
Sequence repetition Yes Yes Yes
Maximum repeat count 60,000, or continuous loop 60,000, or continuous loop 60,000, or continuous loop
Maximum nested loop depth 10 10 10
Programmable delay 0 to 86,400,000 ms 0 to 86,400,000 ms 0 to 86,400,000 ms
Pause active sequence Yes Yes Yes
Immediate stop command Yes Yes Yes
Repeat previous command Yes Yes Yes
Serial and digital connector pin assignments
P200-O, RVM Low Power P201-O, RVM Fast, pin assignment P202-O, RVM mini, pin assignment
RS232 N/A Pin 2: TX, Pin 3: RX, Pin 5: GND, Pin 7 : CTS, Pin 8 : RTS Pin 1 : VCC, Pin 2 : GND, Pin 3 : TX, Pin 4 : RX
RS232 + Power N/A Pin 2: TX, Pin 3: RX, Pin 5: GND, Pin 6 : PWR (18 to 24 VDC power) N/A
RS485 N/A Pin 2: D−, Pin 5: GND, Pin 8: D+ Pin 1 : VCC, Pin 2 : GND, Pin 3 : D+, Pin 4 : D-
RS422 N/A Pin 2: TX−, Pin 3: RX+, Pin 5: GND, Pin 7: RX−, Pin 8: TX+ N/A
CAN N/A Pin 4: CANH, Pin 5: GND, Pin 9: CANL Not currently available
Auxiliary connections N/A Pin 1: DCD, Pin 5: GND, Pin 6: PWR (18 to 24 VDC power) N/A
I²C Via PicoBlade connector Via PicoBlade connector Pin 1 : VCC, Pin 2 : GND, Pin 3 : SDA, Pin 4 : SCL
TTL I/O N/A N/A Pin 1 : VCC, Pin 2 : GND, Pin 3 : Input, Pin 4 : Output

Read current valve position Yes Yes Yes
Read current controller status Yes Yes Yes
Read detailed status Yes Yes Yes
Read number of valve movements Yes Yes Yes
Reset valve movement counter Yes Yes Yes
Read number of motor movements Yes Yes Yes
Read speed mode Yes Yes Yes
Read supply voltage Yes Yes Yes
Read controller unique ID Yes Yes Yes
Read product serial number Not available Not available Yes
Read firmware version Yes Yes Yes
Read firmware checksum Yes Yes Yes
Read valve configuration Yes Yes Yes
Read number of configured positions Yes Yes Yes
Read device address Yes Yes Yes
Read device address Yes Yes Yes
Read USB baud-rate setting Yes Yes Yes
Read RS232 / RS485 baud-rate setting Not available Yes Yes
Busy status Yes Yes Yes
Ready / done status Yes Yes Yes
Not-homed status Yes Yes Yes
Blocked-valve status Yes Yes Yes
Position-sensor error Yes Yes Yes
Missing-reference error Yes Yes Yes
Initialization error Yes Yes Yes
Invalid-command error Yes Yes Yes
Invalid-operand error Yes Yes Yes
Missing-command-termination error Yes Yes Yes
Valve-overload error Yes Yes Yes
A/D converter error Yes Yes Yes
Command-overflow error Yes Yes Yes
LabVIEW example Available in operating manual (RVM documents section) (RVM documents section) (RVM documents section)
Python librairy AMFtools AMFtools AMFtools
Python example Available in the operating manual (RVM documents section) and on the AMF website (Operating manual and maintenance section) Available in the operating manual (RVM documents section) and on the AMF website (Operating manual and maintenance section) Available in the operating manual (RVM documents section) and on the AMF website (Operating manual and maintenance section)

Operating temperature 15 – 40°C (59-104°F) 15 – 40°C (59-104°F) 15 – 40°C (59-104°F)
Storage temperature 5 – 45°C (41-113°F) 5 – 45°C (41-113°F) 5 – 45°C (41-113°F)
Operating humidity 20 to 80%, non-condensing 20 to 80%, non-condensing 20 to 80%, non-condensing
Condensation permitted No No No
CE Yes Yes Yes
RoHS compliance Yes Yes Yes

Selection guide

Which RVM motor module should you choose?

Choose the P200-O RVM Low Power for simple, low-power systems

The P200-O can be powered and controlled through a single USB connection. With an idle power consumption of only 0.2 W, it is particularly suitable for laboratory instruments, prototypes and systems where switching speed is not the main requirement.

Choose the P201-O RVM Fast for maximum switching speed

The P201-O provides the fastest movement in the RVM range, with a 180° rotation time down to 400 ms and port-to-port switching down to 136 ms. Its DB9 interface and optional industrial communication protocols also make it suitable for automated and high-throughput instruments.

Choose the P202-O RVM mini for compact embedded systems

At only 61 g without the valve head, the P202-O is the smallest and lightest RVM motor module. It combines a compact footprint with USB-C, I²C, TTL and serial communication interfaces, making it particularly well suited for space-constrained OEM instruments and embedded fluidic systems.

For detailed mechanical drawings, connector pin assignments, communication parameters and command instructions, refer to the P200-O RVM Low Power datasheet and operating manual, P201-O RVM Fast datasheet and operating manual and P202-O RVM mini datasheet and operating manual.

A modular platform for different integration requirements

The P200-O, P201-O and P202-O share the same closed-loop positioning principle, integrated controller architecture and replaceable valve-head concept. The choice of motor module therefore mainly depends on the system footprint, power supply, switching speed and communication requirements.

The P200-O prioritizes low-power and simple USB operation. The P201-O prioritizes speed and industrial connectivity. The P202-O prioritizes compactness, weight reduction and embedded integration.

This modular platform allows system designers to select the motor module that best matches their instrument requirements while maintaining closed-loop valve positioning.

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