What is a stepper motor, what are its advantages?

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

A stepper motor is an electromechanical device that converts an electrical impulse into a discrete mechanical movement. This mechanism is practically no different from other electric motors. Often, the device of this part includes a stepper motor controller, a shaft and conclusions. All this is combined into a large round (rarely rectangular) case.

Scope of application

The stepper motor can be used in a wide variety of industries. Most often, these motors are found in industrial equipment and in electronic office devices such as fax machines, printers and disk drives.

Now several types of these engines are being produced, therefore, in order for it to work correctly, each mechanism must have its own scheme and the principle of operation of the driver.

Benefits

Firstly, the stepper motor is very reliable in operation. This is due to the fact that there are no graphite brushes in its design,which are often used in automotive generators and have a short service life. The stepper motor is controlled by bearings, so as long as they work, the motor will be in good condition. Secondly, this mechanism is characterized by positioning without feedback. This is achieved due to the dependence of the workpiece position on the input pulses. Thirdly, the stepper motor is one of the few devices that provide fast start, stop and reverse of the entire system. In this case, the motor provides full torque in stop mode. Also, this motor is characterized by precision repeatability and positioning. Modern engines operate with an accuracy of 3-4 percent of the step size, and the error does not accumulate during their work from step to step.

Flaws

This device also has a lot of disadvantages, but less than advantages. Of the main disadvantages, it should be noted that these engines are characterized by the phenomenon of resonance. They may also lose position control due to open loop operation. At high speeds, the stepper motor is not very productive, although in normal operation it does not differ in its power. By the way, even without being under load, it still absorbs electricity, and in the same amount as before during operation. Due to the complex control circuit, this unit is difficult to repair by yourself.

What is the difference between a stepper motor and a servo motor?

Don't confuse these two mechanisms. Despite the fact that both have a similar device and principle of operation, in many ways they differ from each other. Their main difference is that a stepper motor can provide 1 rotation of the rotor in a certain number of steps. At the same time, this device is distinguished by its smoothness and synchronism of rotation. Servo motors have in their design special feedback sensors that determine the speed and position of the device for the control system. As it is provided here resolver or encoder.