Stepper motor pullout torque is the highest torque a stepper motor can output at a given speed without losing steps. Manufacturers find a stepper motor’s pullout torque by accelerating the motor up to the target speed and then increasing the torque load until the motor starts missing steps or stalling. Performing this test operation over […]
FAQs + basics
FAQ: How do stepper motors handle inertia mismatch?
Inertia mismatch is the difference between the inertia of the system and inertia of the stepper motor. A large inertia mismatch is usually best avoided for machines run by stepper motors. One, the stepper motor itself has inertia it must overcome, in addition to the inertia of the system it drives. Two, friction further affects […]
FAQ: What are hybrid stepper motors?
Hybrid stepper motors combine aspects of both permanent magnet (PM) and variable reluctance (VR) stepper motors. Like PM motors, they contain a permanent magnet in the rotor teeth. Two sets of teeth called cups ring the rotor. One ring is all south poles, and the other ring is all north poles. Like VR motors, hybrid […]
FAQ: Aren’t heat and noise some common stepper motor problems?
Heat and noise both depend on the type of stepper motor, the conditions in which it operates, and what functions the motor serves in the application. Permanent-magnet stepper motors are usually most quiet, as they have a smooth rotor. Hybrid stepper motors are quiet as well. In contrast, variable-reluctance stepper motors are the noisiest type […]
FAQ: What is pole count and why does it matter?
Simply defined, a pole is a north or south magnetic field of force that is generated by a permanent magnet or current passing through a coil of wire. For stepper motors, however, this definition does not necessarily translate to a simple definition of pole count. Different manufacturers use different names to refer to their poles […]
FAQ: What are piezo elements and piezo motors?
Piezo elements are ceramics that change shape when subject to electricity or (when subject to mechanical loading) output electricity. Manufacturers process and press plumbum, zirconate, titanate (PZT) powder together and fire it into a quartz. Then they integrate the ceramic with ferroelectric material to make electrodes. Finally, manufacturers apply electromagnetic fields to the piezo elements […]
What are shock and vibration absorbers? A technical summary
Motion is present in almost all industrial automation systems. Stopping or changing the direction of that motion releases kinetic energy, which can cause shock and vibration to occur. Any sudden shock in a system can cause immediate damage to the overall machine and the components it may be manufacturing or processing. And consistent vibration inputs […]
FAQ: Where do brush dc motors still make sense?
Brush dc motors are a mature technology that’s been around for more than a century. So with brushless motors and an ever-increasing array of controls for all motor types, why do engineers still use brush motors? After all, it’s common knowledge that brush motors exhibit wear at their brush-and-commutator interface. The truth is that brush […]
What are rack-and-pinion sets? Technical summary
Updated May 2016 || Options for linear motion abound, but today’s rack-and-pinion sets are precision mechanical devices that in some cases deliver performance rivaling that of electromechanical alternatives. First modernized 150 years ago to drive railway trains up steep passages, rack-and-pinion sets today are useful in everything from small consumer devices that move a few […]
What is a gearmotor? Technical summary for engineers
Updated May 2016 || By Miles Budimir • Senior Editor Gearmotors are a fairly well-established technology. And recently, there is renewed interest in gearmotors, following a trend in integrated systems in general. More specifically, rising energy costs are driving demand for improved process efficiencies. This presents an opening for gearmotors that can be used in […]
