Step, Stepper, Stepping Motor Fundamentals

User Manual: Step, Stepper, Stepping Motor Fundamentals

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StepperMotorBasics

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StepperMotorBasics

Note:Forthisdiscussion,stepper,steppingandstepmotor(s)areusedinterchangeably.

Asteppermotorisadigitaldevice.Digitalinformationisprocessedbythesteppermotortoaccomplish

anendresult,inthiscase,controlledmotion.Onemayassumethatasteppermotorwilldependably

followdigitalinstructions,justasacomputerisexpected.Thisisthedistinguishingfeatureofastepper

motor.

Thesteppermotorisanelectricalmotorthatisdrivenbydigitalpulsesratherthanacontinuously

appliedvoltage.Inherentinthisconceptisopen‐loopcontrol,whereinatrainofpulsestranslatesintoso

manyshaftrevolutions,witheachrevolutionrequiringagivennumberofpulses.Eachpulseequalsone

rotaryincrement,orstep(hencenamed,stepper,stepping,orstepmotor),whichisonlyaportionof

onecompleterotation.Therefore,countingpulsescanbeappliedinthesteppermotortoachievea

desiredamountofshaftrotation.Thecountautomaticallyrepresentshowmuchmovementhasbeen

achieved,withouttheneedforfeedbackinformation,aswouldbethecaseinservosystems,andother

technologies.Althoughnotrequired,moststeppermotorscanaccommodateanencoderwhendesired.

ApplicationsforStepperMotor

Althoughthesteppermotorhasbeenovershadowedinthepastbyservosystemsformotioncontrol,it

hasemergedasthepreferredtechnologyinmoreandmoreareas.Themajorfactorinthistrend

towardsthesteppermotoristheprevalenceofdigitalcontrol,theemergenceofthemicroprocessor,

improveddesigned,i.e.high‐torquemodels,andthelowercost.Today,steppermotorapplicationsare

allaroundus:theyareusedinprinters(paperfeed,printwheel),diskdrives,clocksandwatches,aswell

asusedinfactoryautomationandmachinery.

AnaheimAutomation’scost‐effectivesteppermotorproductlineisthewisechoiceforbothOEMand

useraccounts.AnaheimAutomation'scustomersforthesteppermotorproductlineisdiverse:industrial

companiesoperatingordesigningautomatedmachineryorprocessesthatinvolvefood,cosmeticsor

medicalpackaging,labelingortamper‐evidentrequirements,cut‐to‐lengthapplications,assembly,

conveyor,materialhandling,robotics,specialfilmingandprojectioneffects,medicaldiagnostics,camera

tracking,inspectionandsecuritydevices,aircraftcontrols,pumpflowcontrol,metalfabrication(CNC

machinery),andequipmentupgrades.Asteppermotorismostoftenfoundinmotionsystemsthat

requirepositioncontrol.

AnaheimAutomation,Inc.alsooffersasteppermotorproductlinethatintegratesamatchedstepper

motor,driverandcontrollerinoneunit.Thisdesignconceptmakesselectioneasy,thusreducingerrors

andwiringtime.Withfriendlycustomerserviceandprofessionalapplicationassistance,Anaheim

Automationoftensurpassesthecustomer'sexpectationsforfulfillingspecificsteppermotoranddriver

requirements,aswellasothermotioncontrolneeds.

IMPORTANTNOTE:Technicalassistanceregardingthesteppermotorproductlineisavailableatno

charge.ThisassistanceisofferedtohelpthecustomerinchoosingAnaheimAutomationproductsfora

specificapplication.However,anyselection,quotation,orapplicationsuggestionforasteppermotor,or

anyotherproduct,offeredfromAnaheimAutomation’sstaff,its'representativesordistributors,are

StepperMotorBasics

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onlytoassistthecustomer.Inallcases,determinationoffitnessofthesteppermotorinaspecific

systemapplicationissolelythecustomers'responsibility.Whileeveryeffortismadetooffersolidadvice

regardingthesteppermotorinaspecificapplication,andtoproducetechnicaldataandillustrations

accurately,suchadviceanddocumentsareforreferenceonly,andsubjecttochangewithoutnotice.

AnaheimAutomationisinnoeventresponsibleorliableforindirectorconsequentialdamagesresulting

fromtheuseorapplicationofthesteppermotor.Improperuseofasteppermotorinanapplicationcan

resultinpersonalinjuryordeath,propertydamage,and/oreconomicloss.

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TypesofStepperMotors

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Therearethreebasictypesofsteppermotor.Thesesteppermotortypesvarybyconstructionandin

howtheyfunction.Eachsteppermotortypeoffersasolutiontoanapplicationinadifferentway.The

threebasictypesofsteppermotorincludetheVariableReluctance,PermanentMagnet,andHybrid.

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VariableReluctance(VR)StepperMotor

TheVariableReluctancesteppermotorisknownforhavingasoftironmultiplerotorandawoundstator

construction.TheVariableReluctancesteppermotorgenerallyoperatesinstepanglesfrom5to15

degreesatrelativelyhighsteprates.Theyalsopossessnodetenttorque.SeeFigure5ofourTechnical

InformationforStepMotorSystemsformoredetails.AnaheimAutomationdoesnotcarryanyVR

steppermotors.

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PermanentMagnet(PM)StepperMotor

ThePermanentMagnetsteppermotordiffersfromtheVariableReluctancesteppermotorbyhaving

permanentmagnetrotorswithnoteeth.Theserotorsaremagnetizedperpendiculartotheaxis.When

thefourphasesareenergizedinsequence,therotorrotatesasitisattractedtothemagneticpoles.See

Figure6ofourTechnicalInformationforStepMotorSystemsformoredetails.ThePermanentMagnet

steppermotorgenerallyhasstepanglesof45to90degreesandtendstostepatrelativelylowrates,but

producehightorqueandexcellentdampingcharacteristics.SeetheTSMseriesforAnaheim

Automation’sPermanentMagnetStepperMotorProductlines.

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HybridStepperMotor

TheHybridsteppermotorcombinesqualitiesfromthepermanentmagnetandvariablereluctance

steppermotors.TheHybridsteppermotorhassomeofthedesirablefeaturesofeach.Thistypeof

steppermotorhasahighdetenttorque,excellentholdinganddynamictorque,andtheycanoperatein

highsteppingspeeds.Stepanglesof0.9to5.0degreesarenormallyseenintheHybridsteppermotor.

Bi‐filarwindingsaregenerallysuppliedtothissteppermotor,sothatasinglepowersupplycanbeused

topowerthesteppermotor.Therotorwillrotateinincrementsof1.8degreesifthephasesare

energizedoneatatimeintheordertheyareindicatedat.Thissteppermotorcanbedrivenintwo

phasesatatimetoyieldmoretorque.TheHybridsteppermotorcanalsobedrivenbyonethentwo

thenonephasetoproducehalf‐stepsof0.9degreeincrements.SeeAnaheimAutomation’sHybrid

StepperMotorProductlines:Standard23D,34D,42D,23W,34Wand42W,forround‐bodied,square‐

flangedsteppermotors,andtheHigh‐Torque08Y,11Y,14Y,15Y,17Y,23Y,34Y,42Y,23V,34V,34N,

42N,34K,42K,andIP65‐Ratedseriesmotorsforsquare‐bodied,square‐flangedsteppermotors.

StepperMotorBasics

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StepperMotorModes

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Therearethreeexcitationmodesthatarecommonlyusedwiththesteppermotor.Thesesteppermotor

modesarethefull‐step,half‐step‐andmicrostep.

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StepperMotor‐Full‐Step

Infull‐stepoperation,thesteppermotorstepsthroughthenormalstepangle,e.g.200step/revolution

motorstake1.8steps,whileinhalf‐stepoperation0.9stepsaretaken.Therearetwokindsoffull‐step

modes.Singlephasefull‐stepexcitationiswherethesteppermotorisoperatedwithonlyonephase

energizedatatime.Thismodeshouldonlybeusedinapplicationswheretorqueandspeed

performancearenotimportant,whereinthemotorisoperatedatafixedspeedandloadconditionsare

welldefined.Typicallysteppermotorsareusedinfull‐stepmodeasreplacementsinexistingmotion

systems,andnotusedinnewdevelopments.Problemswithresonancecanprohibitoperationatsome

speeds.Thistypeofmoderequirestheleastamountofpowerfromthedrivepowersupplyofanyofthe

excitationmodes.Dualphasefull‐stepexcitationiswherethesteppermotorisoperatedwithtwo

phasesenergizedatatime.Thismodeprovidesgoodtorqueandspeedperformancewithaminimumof

resonanceproblems.Note:Dualexcitation,providesabout30to40percentmoretorquethansingle

excitation,butdoesrequiretwicethepowerfromthedrivepowersupply.ManyofAnaheim

Automation’smicrostepdriverscanbesetatFull‐Stepmodeifneeded.

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StepperMotor‐Half‐Step

Steppermotorhalf‐stepexcitationisalternatesingleanddualphaseoperationresultinginstepsone

halfthenormalstepsize.Therefore,thismodeprovidestwicetheresolution.Whilethemotortorque

outputvariesonalternatesteps,thisismorethanoffsetbytheneedtostepthroughonlyhalftheangle.

ThismodehadbecomethepredominatelyusedmodebyAnaheimAutomationbeginninginthe1970’s,

becauseitoffersalmostcompletefreedomfromresonanceproblems.Thesteppermotorcanbe

operatedoverawiderangeofspeedsandusedtodrivealmostanyloadcommonlyencountered.

Althoughhalf‐stepdriversarestillapopularandaffordablechoice,manynewermicrostepdriversarea

cost‐effectivealternative.AnaheimAutomation’sBLD75seriesisaverypopulardriverandissuitablefor

awiderangeofsteppermotors.

StepperMotor‐Microstep

Inthesteppermotormicrostepmode,asteppermotor'snaturalstepanglecanbedividedintomuch

smallerangles.Forexample,astandard1.8degreemotorhas200steps/revolution.Ifthemotoris

microsteppedwitha'divide‐by‐10',theneachmicrostepmovesthemotor0.18degrees,whichis2,000

steps/revolution.Themicrostepsareproducedbyproportioningthecurrentinthetwowindings

accordingtosineandcosinefunctions.Thismodeisonlyusedwheresmoothermotionormore

resolutionisrequired.Typically,microstepmodesrangefromdivide‐by‐10todivide‐by‐256(51,200

steps/revfora1.8degreemotor).Somemicrostepdrivershaveafixeddivisor,whilethemore

expensivemicrostepdriversprovideforselectabledivisors.Forcost‐effectivemicrostepdrivers,see

AnaheimAutomation’sMBCandMLPSeries.Note:Ingeneral,thelargerthemicrostepdivisorprovided,

themorecostlythesteppermotordriver.Shouldyouprefer,AnaheimAutomationalsomanufacturesa

seriesofIntegratedStepperMotor/Driver,meaningthesteppermotoranddriverareinoneunit.This

designapproachtakestheguessworkoutofmotoranddrivercompatibility.Seethe17MD,23MDand

34MDSeriesformoreinformation.

StepperMotorBasics

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StepperMotorFeedback

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Thesteppermotoristypicallycontrolledbyadriverandindexer/controller.Theamount,speed,and

directionofrotationofasteppermotorisdeterminedbythespecificconfigurationofdigitalcontrol

devices.Themaintypesofsteppermotorcontroldevicesare:steppermotordriversandsteppermotor

controllers,whichincludeindexersandpulsegenerators.Thesteppermotordriveracceptstheclock

pulsesanddirectionsignalsandtranslatesthesesignalsintoappropriatephasecurrentsforthestepper

motor.Thesteppermotorindexercreatestheclockpulsesandthedirectionsignalsforthestepper

motor.ThecomputerorPLC(ProgrammableLogicController)sendsoutcommandstotheindexeror

controller.



CustomizingaStepperMotor



AnaheimAutomationoffersavarietyofoptionstocustomizethesteppermotor.Thelistofavailable

customizationsincludes,butisnotlimitedto:shaftmodifications,mechanicalbrakeorencoder

additions,shaftflatorsealforanIP65rating,mountingdimensionchanges,andcustomizationfor

specificspeed,torque,andvoltagecharacteristics.PleasecontactAnaheimAutomationforyourcustom

steppermotorrequirements.TheremaybeaNon‐RecurringEngineering(NRE)charge,and/ora

minimumpurchaseforcustomizationsandmodifications.Note:Donotattempttomodifyastepper

motoronyourown.Changestoasteppermotoronceitisshippedcanaffectitsperformanceandwill

voiditswarranty.



StepperMotorEnvironmentalConsiderations



Thefollowingenvironmentalandsafetyconsiderationsmustbeobservedduringallphasesofoperation,

serviceandrepairofasteppermotorsystem.Failuretocomplywiththeseprecautionsviolatessafety

standardsofdesign,manufactureandintendeduseofthesteppermotor,driverandcontroiller.Please

notethatevenawell‐builtsteppermotorproductsoperatedandinstalledimproperly,canbehazardous.

Precautionmustbeobservedbytheuserwithrespecttotheloadandoperatingenvironment.The

customerisultimatelyresponsiblefortheproperselection,installation,andoperationofthestepper

motorsystem.

Theatmosphereinwhichasteppermotorisusedmustbeconducivetogoodgeneralpracticesof

electrical/electronicequipment.Donotoperatethesteppermotorinthepresenceofflammablegases,

dust,oil,vaporormoisture.Foroutdooruse,thesteppermotor,driverandcontrollermustbe

protectedfromtheelementsbyanadequatecover,whilestillprovidingadequateairflowandcooling.

Moisturemaycauseanelectricalshockhazardand/orinducesystembreakdown.Dueconsideration

shouldbegiventotheavoidanceofliquidsandvaporsofanykind.Contactthefactoryshouldyour

applicationrequirespecificIPratings.Itiswisetoinstallthesteppermotor,driverandcontrollerinan

environmentwhichisfreefromcondensation,dust,electricalnoise,vibrationandshock.

Additionally,itispreferabletoworkwiththesteppermotor/driver/controllersysteminanon‐static

protectiveenvironment.Exposedcircuitryshouldalwaysbeproperlyguardedand/orenclosedto

preventunauthorizedhumancontactwithlivecircuitry.Noworkshouldbeperformedwhilepoweris

StepperMotorBasics



www.anaheimautomation.com|5



applied.Don’tpluginorunplugtheconnectorswhenpowerisON.Waitforatleast5minutesbefore

doinginspectionworkonthesteppermotorsystemafterturningpowerOFF,becauseevenafterthe

poweristurnedoff,therewillstillbesomeelectricalenergyremaininginthecapacitorsoftheinternal

circuitofthesteppermotordriver.

Plantheinstallationofthesteppermotor,driverand/orcontrollerinasystemdesignthatisfreefrom

debris,suchasmetaldebrisfromcutting,drilling,tapping,andwelding,oranyotherforeignmaterial

thatcouldcomeincontactwithcircuitry.Failuretopreventdebrisfromenteringthesteppermotor

systemcanresultindamageand/orshock.

StepperMotorWiring

ThefollowinginformationisintendedasageneralguidelineforwiringoftheAnaheimAutomation

steppermotorproductline.Beawarethatwhenyouroutepowerandsignalwiringonamachineor

system,radiatednoisefromthenearbyrelays,transformers,andotherelectronicdevicescanbe

introducedintothesteppermotorandencodersignals,input/outputcommunications,andother

sensitivelowvoltagesignals.Thiscancausesystemfaultsandcommunicationerrors.

WARNING–Dangerousvoltagescapableofcausinginjuryordeathmaybepresentinthesteppermotor

system.Useextremecautionwhenhandling,wiring,testing,andadjustingduringinstallation,set‐up,

tuning,andoperation.Don’tmakeextremeadjustmentsorchangestothesteppermotorsystem

parameters,whichcancausemechanicalvibrationandresultinfailureand/orloss.Oncethestepper

motoriswired,donotrunthestepperdriverbyswitchingOn/Offthepowersupplydirectly.Frequent

powerOn/Offswitchingwillcausefastagingoftheinternalcomponents,whichwillreducethelifetime

ofsteppermotorsystem.

Strictlycomplywiththefollowingrules:

• FollowtheWiringDiagramwitheachsteppermotor

• Routehigh‐voltagepowercablesseparatelyfromlow‐voltagepowercables.

• Segregateinputpowerwiringandsteppermotorpowercablesfromcontrolwiringandmotor

feedbackcablesastheyleavethesteppermotordriver.Maintainthisseparationthroughout

thewirerun.

• Useshieldedcableforpowerwiringandprovideagrounded360degreeclampterminationto

theenclosurewall.Allowroomonthesub‐panelforwirebends.

• Makeallcableroutesasshortaspossible.

NOTE:Factorymadecablesarerecommendedforuseinoursteppermotoranddriversystems.These

cablesarepurchasedseparately,andaredesignedtominimizeEMI.Thesecablesarerecommended

overcustomer‐builtcablestooptimizesystemperformanceandtoprovideadditionalsafetyforthe

steppermotorsystemandtheuser.

StepperMotorBasics



www.anaheimautomation.com|6



WARNING–Toavoidthepossibilityofelectricalshock,performallmountingandwiringofthestepper

motoranddriversystempriortoapplyingpower.Oncepowerisapplied,connectionterminalsmayhave

voltagepresent.

StepperMotorMounting

Thefollowinginformationisintendedasageneralguidelinefortheinstallationandmountingofthe

steppermotorsystem.WARNING–Dangerousvoltagescapableofcausinginjuryordeathmaybe

presentinthesteppermotorsystem.Useextremecautionwhenhandling,testing,andadjustingduring

installation,set‐up,andoperation.Itisveryimportantthatthewiringofthesteppermotoranddriver

betakenintoconsiderationuponinstallationandmounting.

Subpanelsinstalledinsidetheenclosureformountingsteppermotorsystemcomponents,mustbea

flat,rigidsurfacethatwillbefreefromshock,vibration,moisture,oil,vapors,ordust.Rememberthat

thesteppermotoranddriverwillproduceheatduringwork;therefore,heatdissipationshouldbe

consideredindesigningthesystemlayout.Sizetheenclosuresoasnottoexceedthemaximumambient

temperaturerating.Itisrecommendedthatthesteppermotordriverandcontrollerbemountedin

positionastoprovideadequateairflow.Thesteppermotorshouldbemountedinastablefashion,

securedtightly,tominimizevibration.NOTE:Thereshouldbeaminimumof3inchesbetweenthe

steppermotordriverandanyotherdevicesmountedinthesystem/electricpanelorcabinet.Ifusing

relaysinyourmotionsystem,takecaretoprotecttherelaysandthestepperdriverandcontroller,and

alwaysrunthesewiresseparately.WhenusingaDCrelay,putadiodeacrossthecoil,andwhenusingan

ACrelay,besuretouseaMOV.

NOTE:InordertocomplywithULandCErequirements,thesteppermotorsystemmustbegroundedin

agroundedconduciveenclosureofferingprotectionasdefinedinstandardEN60529(IEC529)toIP55

suchthattheyarenotaccessibletotheoperatororunskilledperson.Aswithanymovingpartina

system,thesteppermotorshouldbekeptoutofthereachoftheoperator.ANEMA4Xenclosure

exceedsthoserequirementsprovidingprotectiontoIP66.Toimprovethebondbetweenthepowerrail

andthesubpanel,constructyoursubpaneloutofazinc‐plated(paint‐free)steel.Additionally,itis

stronglyrecommendedthatthesteppermotordriverand/orcontrollerbeprotectedagainstelectrical

noiseinterferences.Noisefromsignalwirescancausemechanicalvibrationandmalfunctions.

CommonCausesforStepperMotorand/orStepperDriverFailure

Note:Alwaysreadthespecificationsheet/user’sguidethataccompanieseachproduct



Problem:Intermittentorerraticsteppermotororstepperdriverfunction.

Solution:Thisisthemostcommoncauseoffailureandoneofthemostdifficulttodetect.Startby

checkingtoinsurethatallconnectionsaretightbetweenthesteppermotorandthestepperdriverand

controllers.Evidenceofdiscolorationattheterminals/connections,mayindicatealooseconnection.

Whenreplacingasteppermotor,stepperdriverorDriverPack,orcontrollerinamotioncontrolsystem,

besuretoinspectallterminalblocksandconnectors.Checkcabling/wiringforaccuracy.Stressstepper

motorwiringandconnectionsforworseconditionsandcheckwithanohmmeter.Wheneverpossible,

useAnaheimAutomation’sshieldedcablesforsteppermotorwiring.

StepperMotorBasics



www.anaheimautomation.com|7



Problem:Steppermotorwiresweredisconnectedwhilethedriverwaspoweredup.

Solution:Avoidperforminganyservicetothesteppermotor,driverorcontrollerwhilethepowerison,

especiallyinregardtothemotorconnections.Thisprecautionisimperativeforboththedriver,aswell

asthetechnician/installer.



Problem:Poorsystemperformance.

Solution:Checktoseeifthewire/cablesaretoolong.Keepwire/cabletothesteppermotorunder25

feetinlength.Forapplicationswherethewiringfromthesteppermotortothestepperdriverexceeds

25feet,pleasecontactthefactoryforinstructions,asitislikelythattransientvoltageprotectiondevices

willberequired.Anotherpossibilityisthatthesteppermotorleadwiresareofagaugethatistoosmall.

Donotmatchyourcablewirestothegaugesizethesteppermotorleadwires.Thisisacommonmistake,

soAnaheimAutomationsuggestsusingitsshieldedcableforsuchwiring(purchasedseparately).

Additionally,checktheageofyoursteppermotor,aswithtimeanduse,steppermotorslosesomeof

theirmagnetismwhichaffectsperformance.Typicallyonecanexpect10,000operatinghoursfor

steppermotors(approximately4.8years,runningoneeight‐hourshiftperworkday).Also,makecertain

thatyoursteppermotoranddrivercombinationisagoodmatchforyourapplication.Contactthe

factory,shouldyouhaveanyconcerns.



Problem:Thesteppermotorhasashortedwindingorashorttothemotorcase.

Solution:Itislikelythatyouhaveadefectivesteppermotor.Donotattempttorepairmotors.Opening

thesteppermotorcasemayde‐magnetizethemotor,causingpoorperformance.Openingofthe

steppermotorcasewillalsovoidyourwarranty.Themotorwindingscanbetestedwithanohmmeter.

Asaruleofthumb,ifthesteppermotorisaframesizeofNEMA08,11,14,15,17,23,or34andthe

warrantyperiodhasexpired,itisnotcost‐effectivetoreturnthesesteppermotorsforrepair.Contact

thefactoryifyoususpectadefectivesteppermotorthatisstillunderwarranty,orifitisaNEMA42ora

K‐seriesmotor.



Problem:ThesteppermotordriverorDriverPackisover‐heating.

Solution:Ventilationandcoolingaccommodationsareessential–failuretoprovideadequateairflow

willaffectthesteppermotordriver’sperformanceandwillshortenthelifeofthedriver.Keepdriver

temperaturesbelow60degreesCelsius.Tomaintaingoodairflow,usefans,heatsinkmaterial,andbase

plates,sonottoexceedthemaximumtemperatureratingofthesteppermotors,driversorcontrollers.

Bemindfuloftemperaturesinsidecabinetsandenclosureswherestepperdriversmaybemounted.

Note:Paintedsurfacesdonotmakegoodheatsinkmaterialforsteppermotordriversandcontrollers.

Also,becertainthattheenvironmentisfreefromdustanddebristhatcanclogafan‐cooledsystem.



Problem:Environmentalfactorsarelessthanideal.

Solution:Environmentalfactors,suchaswelding,chemicalvapors,moisture,humidity,dust,metal

debris,etc.,candamageboththeelectronicsandthesteppermotor.Protectdrivers,controllersand

steppermotorsfromenvironmentsthatarecorrosive,containvoltagespikes,orpreventgood

ventilation.AnaheimAutomationoffersproductsinseverallinevoltageranges,aswellassplash‐proof,

IP65ratedsteppermotors.Forwash‐downorexplosion‐proofmotors,contactthefactorydirect.ForAC

linesthatcontainvoltagespikes,alineregulator(filter)willlikelyberequired.Note:Ifyourapplication

requireswelding,orifweldingisdoneinthesameworkenvironment,contactthefactoryforadviceon

howtoprotectthesteppermotordriverandcontroller.



StepperMotorBasics



www.anaheimautomation.com|8



Problem:Pulserates(ClockorStep)tothedriveraretoohigh.

Solution:Thetypicalhalf‐stepdrivercandriveasteppermotoratamaximumrateof20,000pulseper

second.Pulseratesofabove60,000pulsespersecondcandamagethedriver.Seeindividual

specificationsheetsforthemotoranddrivercombinationforbestperformance.



Problem:Thesteppermotorisstalling.

Solution:Insomecases,stallingthesteppermotorcausesalargevoltagespikethatoftendamagesthe

phasetransistorsonthedriver.Somedriversaredesignedtoprotectitselffromsuchanoccurrence.If

not,TransientSuppressionDevicescanbeaddedexternally.Consultthefactoryforfurtherinformation.



Problem:Thesteppermotorisback‐drivingthestepperdriver.

Solution:AsteppermotorthatisbeingturnedbyaloadcreatesabackEMFvoltageonthedriver.

Higherspeedswillproducehighervoltagelevels.Iftherotationalspeedgetsveryhigh,thisvoltage

mightcausedamagetothedriver.Thisisespeciallydangerouswhenthemotorisback‐drivenwhilethe

driverisstillon.Putamechanicalstoporbrakeinapplicationsthatmightbesubjecttothese

phenomena.



NOTE:PleaseuseaRMAFormshouldyouneedtoreturnaproductforREPAIR.Thisformcanbe

foundinSupport,Forms,RMARequest,onthiswebsite.Neverreturnaproductwithoutcontacting

AnaheimAutomationfirst!ItisadvisedthatacustomercontactAnaheimAutomationbyphone,

email,orafaxedform,priortoreturningaproduct,sothatwecanassesswhatwouldbethemost

cost‐effectivewaytohandletheRepair/Return.714‐992‐6990,phone,or714‐992‐0471,Fax

Email:info@anaheimautomation.com

GeneralSafetyConsiderationsforStepperMotorApplications



Thefollowingsafetyconsiderationsmustbeobservedduringallphasesofoperation,serviceandrepair.

Failuretocomplywiththeseprecautionsviolatessafetystandardsofdesign,manufacture,andintended

useofthesteppermotor,driverandcontroller.AnaheimAutomation,Inc.assumesnoliabilityforthe

customer’sfailuretocomplywiththeserequirements.Evenwelldesignedandperfectlymanufactured

products,operatedorinstalledimproperly,canbehazardous.Safetyprecautionsmustbeobservedby

theuserwithrespecttotheloadandoperatingenvironment.Inallcases,thecustomerisresponsible

forproperselection,installationandoperationoftheproductspurchasedfromAnaheimAutomation.



InSummary:



•Usecautionwhenhandling,testing,andadjustingduringinstallation,set‐upandoperation

•Serviceshouldnotbeperformedwithpowerapplied

•Exposedcircuitryshouldbeproperlyguardedorenclosedtopreventunauthorizedhumancontact

withlivecircuitry

•Allproductsshouldbesecurelymountedandadequatelygrounded

•Provideadequateairflowandheatdissipation

•Donotoperateinthepresenceofflammablegases,vapors,liquidsordust



Step, Stepper, Stepping Motor Fundamentals

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