Choosing the Right Type of Stepper Motor for Your Application

Stepper motors are widely used because of their precision in stopping and ease of use. They can control both the amount of rotation and speed using a simple digital square wave pulse signal. Unlike servo motors, they don’t require an encoder to operate. Common applications include CNC machines, index tables, robotics, scanners, and 3D printers.

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There are various types of stepper motors available. The most common is the hybrid type, which combines features from permanent magnet and variable reluctance motors. Hybrid motors come in 2-phase, 5-phase, and high-resolution designs. Some are pre-assembled with options like electromagnetic brakes, encoders, or gearheads.

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In linear motion applications, they are often combined with external mechanisms, such as pulleys and belts for indexing conveyors, or ball screws for  hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(2284573, 'dd52ec40-dbf7-406b-876c-2ae978a70422', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); . Although they are traditionally used for low speed applications, more designs are adopting bipolar-parallel winding type motors for better high speed performance.

PKP Series 2-Phase Stepper Motor hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(2284573, 'fb0ec120-333a-4e23-927a-63853ea3e8e2', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"});

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PKP Series 5-Phase Stepper Motor hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(2284573, '59d1e60b-e1fe-4ef9-827d-60e77a60619c', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"});

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Since the basic step angle is small at 0.72° (0.36° for high-resolution type), the vibration and noise are considerably lower than 2-phase stepper motors with a basic step angle of 1.8°. 

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A hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(2284573, '91428856-278e-45b8-99c0-d3bfe56bb634', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); can rotate a larger inertial load, such as a robotic arm, due to its ability to generate much higher torque than a round-shaft, ungeared motor, and to reduce the inertia ratio between the load and the motor. 

If the motor is not sized properly, large inertial loads can exceed the motor's recommended inertia ratio and cause missed steps due to overshooting or undershooting.   Using a geared type stepper motor also increases the motor's ability to handle axial and radial loads.

The new CS type centered shaft spur geared stepper motors offer improved torque, axial load, radial load, and backlash characteristics than the traditional SH type offset shaft spur geared stepper motors.  For users who prefer a centered shaft, the CS centered provides a low cost alternative to planetary gearheads.  For users who prefer more torque or accuracy, planetary and harmonic geared motors are also available.

PKP Series CS Geared Type Stepper Motor

For space-saving machine designs, a geared type motor can drive heavier loads while keeping the motor frame size compact.