Introduction of Stepper Motor and Drives

A stepper motor is a brushless, synchronous electric motor that converts digital pulses into mechanical shaft rotation. Every revolution of the stepper motor is divided into a discrete number of steps, in many cases 200 steps, and the motor must be sent a separate pulse for each step. The step motor can only take one step at a time and each step is the same size. Since each pulse causes the motor to rotate a precise angle, typically 1.8°, the motor's position can be controlled without any feedback mechanism. As the digital pulses increase in frequency, the step movement changes into continuous rotation, with the speed of rotation directly proportional to the frequency of the pulses.

The diagram above shows a typical step motor based system. The stepper motor controller, stepper driver and motor must all be present in one form or another. Each component’s performance will have an effect on the others.

First is the pulse generator, also known as a stepper motor controller or a CNC controller. The pulse generator will output command pulses that the motor will follow. By altering the frequency of the pulse train, the pulse generator can instruct the motor to accelerate, run at a speed, decelerate or stop. A pulse generator must be present, otherwise the motor will not move.

Next is the motor driver. The stepper driver’s function is to control the magnitude and direction of current flow into the motor windings. The driver takes the pulses from the pulse generator and determines how and when the windings should be energized. The windings must be energized in a specific sequence to generate motion.

And finally there is the step motor itself.

Step motors are used every day in both industrial and commercial applications because of their low cost, high reliability, high torque at low speeds and a simple, rugged construction that operates in almost any environment.

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