Go One Step Further With Stepper Motors

Unless you work in the field of electronics, youve probably not heard of a stepper motor before

. In which case, youll probably be surprised to discover that you use devices that depend on stepper motors everyday. From printers to digital cameras, aircraft instruments to slot machines, stepper motors play a crucial role in our everyday lives.

Although theyre largely used in industry, stepper motors are also extremely popular in the world of robotics. For both professional and amateur robotics enthusiasts alike, stepper motors bring a high level of control and functionality to your robot at a very low cost (stepper motors are available for a little over ten pounds). Steppers (as theyre commonly known within electronics circles) are also popular among hobbyists because they are very simple to control using digital circuitry and microcontroller chips.

Powered by magnets, there are four main types of stepper motor commonly available on the market and they come in all different shapes and sizes. If you are thinking of using stepper motors in any of your electronic devices, its important that consider their pros and cons in order to allow you to decide how suitable they are for your projects. Additionally, stepper motors are available at very cheap price, they dont require gear reductions or alterations to power at low speeds, and their dynamic braking effect makes them the best devices to use if you want something that moves to then lock in place. However, stepper motors do generate a lot of heat when at a standstill, so youll need to be careful about what components you position near to the motor. Stepper motors also consume a high current and require a special driving circuit to provide their stepping rotation. They arent great for robotic movement over uneven surfaces also.

But, if your project can accommodate the negative characteristics that stepper motors also possess, its worth using one. As they provide an accuracy and rigidity of movement that simply isnt achievable by servos and other motors.

Once youve decided that a stepper is the right engine for your project, there are a couple of things you need to decide on before you make a purchase. The first is the step angle of the motor youre buying, which is the amount the motor will move by when its in use. Your choice regarding the step angle of your motor will be dictated by the amount of accuracy you want in your movement - the smaller your step angle, the greater the accuracy of your robots movement. The second aspect of your motor is its holding torque again, the larger the loads the motors will have to move and support, the larger the holding torque needs to be.

Fortunately, whether youre an experienced roboteer or a curious amateur, thanks to the internet there are numerous places you can quickly and cheaply get access to a huge variety of stepper motors. One company Id particularly recommend is Proto-PIC (http://proto-pic.co.uk/stepper-motor-with-cable/). Their website offers a vast array of stepper motors, servers and other electronic devices, meaning its a one stop shop for all your robotics and electronic needs.

by: Ewan Fisher

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