Working principle, functional characteristics and usage precautions of stepper motor

A stepper motor is a motor that can rotate precisely in a preset number of steps and direction. The motor's rotation is controlled by electrical signals, and each electrical pulse signal causes the motor to rotate a certain angle, which is called stepping. There are two types of stepper motors: linear stepper motors and rotary stepper motors. They are commonly used in various automation equipment, such as printers, CNC machine tools, robots, automatic valves, etc.

Working Principle of Stepper Motor

A stepper motor is an electric motor that is driven by rotating magnets inside the motor. Stepper motors rotate by adsorption and are often used in areas requiring high precision due to their advantages such as precise rotation and high positioning accuracy.

A stepper motor usually consists of two parts: a drive circuit and a positioning system. The working principle of the drive circuit is to convert the signal into a current pulse to control the rotation of the stepper motor. The positioning system uses an encoder to accurately control the position of the stepper motor.

Inside the stepper motor, there are multiple coaxial electromagnetic rods of different sizes that form different numbers of electromagnetic poles. Each time the power is turned on or off, different electromagnetic rods produce adsorption force, causing them to continuously produce a stepping effect, thereby realizing the rotation of the motor.

Functional characteristics of stepper motors

The functional characteristics of stepper motors are as follows:

1. High-precision movement: Stepper motors can perform precise positioning movements and are widely used in applications that require high-precision control.

2. No feedback control: Stepper motors can move without closed-loop feedback control, and the control is simple and does not require additional encoders.

3. Low noise, low vibration: Since stepper motors move step by step, they generate very low noise and vibration, making them suitable for applications with high noise and vibration requirements.

4. High reliability and long life: Stepper motors have a simple structure and mechanical mechanism, rarely require maintenance, and have extremely high reliability and life.

5. Simple control and drive circuit: The control and drive circuit of the stepper motor is very simple, and only appropriate pulse signals need to be provided to control the rotation of the motor.

6. High torque output: Stepper motors can provide high torque output and are suitable for applications that require high torque motion.

In short, stepper motors are widely used in industrial automation, robotics, 3D printing, medical equipment, light and dark electronic control, stage lighting and other fields. They are powerful, economical and practical motors.

Precautions for using stepper motors

1. Drive mode selection: Generally speaking, stepper motors have two modes: full-step drive and half-step drive. When choosing a drive mode, you need to choose according to specific needs.

2. Wiring method selection: There are two wiring methods for stepper motors: two-phase and four-phase. A two-phase stepper motor only needs two wires to drive, while a four-phase stepper motor requires four wires to drive.

3. Drive current selection: The drive current of the stepper motor must match the rated current of the driver, otherwise the motor may burn out easily.

4. Acceleration selection: When controlling the rotation of the stepper motor, it is necessary to control the acceleration of the stepper motor. Excessive acceleration can easily cause the motor to lose control.

5. Stopping method selection: There are generally two stopping methods for stepper motors: natural stop and forced stop. You need to choose according to actual needs.

6. Temperature control: Stepper motors are prone to burn out under high temperature conditions, so you need to pay attention to temperature control.

7. Environmental conditions: Stepper motors should not be used in humid environments, environments with corrosive gases, or environments that are prone to explosion.

8. Processing size: When installing the stepper motor, you need to pay attention to matching the overall size, and avoid excessive or too small size.