Stepper motor

Stepper Motor

Produces rotation through equal angles (step) for each digital pulse input. it is a digital device. It can not rotate continuously Easy interface with a computer. Can be up to about 1 HP. Kind of between a DC motor and a solenoid

Dr. Xun Yu Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering University of Minnesota, Duluth

Variable reluctance stepper 1

The rotor is made of soft steel and has poles (teeth), and the poles are fewer than that of the stator Opposite winding of rotor is energized, a magnetic field is produced. Lines of force will work on the rotor. The rotor thus will rotate until line up to minimize the reluctance. A sequence energizing or the stator will result in continuous rotation.

from Wiki

Multi-rotor variable reluctance stepper

For example, three rotors Higher resolution. VR stepper can not hold its position when de-energized.

Permanent magnet stepper motor

Its structure is similar to the permanent magnet DC motor No position sensor for the rotor Energize the stator in a sequence Can hold its position even when de-energized (magnetic field interacts with the coils) used a lot in machine tools and robotics

PM brushless DC motor

Hybrid Stepper
It combines the features of variable reluctance and PM stepper motors The rotor has both of poles (teeth) and PM. High resolution

Stepper motor specifications

Step angle: the rotation angle for one step, it determines the resolution of the stepper motor. Holding torque: the maximum torque (at speed = 0) Phase: number of independent windings on the stator
Pull-in torque & rate: for motor start Pull-out torque & rate: Slew range: the range that
the motor runs in synchronism

Control of stepper motor

DC motor works as a stepper motor

PM DC motor is very similar to PM stepper motor PWM signal can be used to move DC motor step by step

Two types of wiring: bipolar: needs eight transistors to control the phases, 4 wires unipolar: needs four transistors, but 6 wires. (normally for
shower speed applications)

PWM