Feature

Think you know stepper motors? Think again

In many cases, the obvious choice of a servo motor may be an over-specification. Advances in stepper motor technology have resulted in a closed-loop stepper motor that is as precise as it is stable and significantly cost effective, says Pierce Ferris, Automation & Controls Engineer at Oriental Motor.

31/08/2022 15:33:51

Initial thoughts for a system integrator might be to specify a servo motor. They are well known and can be very high quality, but while they might be the best choice for certain applications, there are some applications that do not need all of their capabilities. In these cases, a high-quality stepper motor could be the best choice.

When someone asks for a servo motor, they are asking for a motor that can deliver high speed, high torque, or high positioning accuracy. In reality, they usually only need one or two of these characteristics, but they end up paying for all the other functionality in a servo motor, even though the application at hand does not require it.

Read the full article in DPA's September issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.