Stepper motor

Stepper Motor

A Stepper Motor is a type of electric motor that moves in discrete steps. It is a synchronous, brushless and feedback-controlled electric motor that divides a full rotation into a large number of steps. The motor's position can be controlled precisely without any feedback mechanism, as long as the motor is carefully sized to the application.

Principle of Operation

Stepper motors operate on the principle of electromagnetism. When an electric current is run through a coil, it generates a magnetic field. The direction of the magnetic field is determined by the direction of the current. By changing the direction of the current in the coils, the motor can be made to rotate.

Types of Stepper Motors

There are three main types of stepper motors: Permanent Magnet, Variable Reluctance, and Hybrid.

Permanent Magnet Stepper Motor

A Permanent Magnet Stepper Motor has a permanent magnet in its rotor and operates on the attraction or repulsion between the rotor magnet and the stator electromagnets.

Variable Reluctance Stepper Motor

A Variable Reluctance Stepper Motor does not have a permanent magnet in its rotor. Instead, it has soft iron multiple teeth. When the stator's electromagnets are energized, the rotor turns to align itself along the magnetic field lines.

Hybrid Stepper Motor

A Hybrid Stepper Motor combines the best features of both the permanent magnet and variable reluctance types. It has a multi-toothed rotor that can better focus and direct the magnetic field.

Applications

Stepper motors are used in a wide variety of applications in industry, including CNC machines, 3D printing, robotics, and wherever precise control of motor output is required.

See Also

• Electric Motor
• Servo Motor
• DC Motor