Stepper motor parameters

Torque

Refers to the maximum motor torque at different speeds. This parameter is usually represented by a characteristic curve. Stepper motors have comparatively high torque in the lower speed range. In many applications, this enables them to be used directly without gearing. Compared with other motors, stepper motors can quite easily provide a holding moment of the same order of magnitude as the torque.

Speed

Stepper motors have low maximum speed, which is usually specified as a maximum step frequency.

Number of phases

Motors with 2 to 5 phases are common. The KL2531 and KL2541 Bus Terminals support 2-phase motors. 4-phase motors are basically 2-phase motors with separate winding ends. They can be connected directly to the Bus Terminal.

Nominal voltage, supply voltage and winding resistance

Under steady-state conditions, the rated current at the rated voltage depends on the winding resistance. This voltage should not be confused with the supply voltage of the power output stage in the Bus Terminal. The KL2531 and KL2541 apply a controlled current to the motor winding. If the supply voltage falls below the nominal voltage, the power output stage can no longer apply the full current, resulting in a loss of torque. It is desirable to aim for systems with small winding resistance and high supply voltage in order to limit warming and achieve high torque at high speeds.

Resonance

At certain speeds, stepper motors run less smoothly. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced if the motor runs without load. Under certain circumstances, it may even stop. This is caused by resonance. A distinction can roughly be made between

  • resonances in the lower frequency range up to approx. 250 Hz and
  • resonances in the medium to upper frequency range.

Resonances in the medium to upper frequency range essentially result from electrical parameters such as inductance of the motor winding and supply line capacity. They can be controlled relatively easily through high pulsing of the control system.

Resonances in the lower range essentially result from the mechanical motor parameters. Apart from their impact on smooth running, such resonances can lead to significant loss of torque, or even loss of step of the motor, and are therefore particularly undesirable.
In principle, the stepper motor represents an oscillatory system (comparable to a mass/spring system), consisting of the moving rotor with a moment of inertia and a magnetic field that creates a restoring force that acts on the rotor. Moving and releasing the rotor creates a damped oscillation. If the control frequency corresponds to the resonance frequency, the oscillation is amplified, so that in the worst case the rotor will no longer follow the steps, but oscillate between two positions.
Due to their sine/cosine current profile, KL2531 and KL2541 Bus Terminals are able to prevent this effect in almost all standard motors. The rotor is not moved from step to step, so he no longer jumps to the next position, but it moves through 64 intermediate steps, i.e. the rotor is gently moved from one step to the next. The usual loss of torque at certain speeds is avoided, and operation can be optimized for the particular application. This means that the lower speed range, where particularly high torque is available, can be fully utilized.

Step angle

The step angle indicates the angle travelled during each step. Typical values are 3.6°, 1.8° and 0.9°. This corresponds to 100, 200 and 400 steps per motor revolution. Together with the downstream transmission ratio, this value is a measure for the positioning accuracy. For technical reasons, the step angle cannot be reduced below a certain value. Positioning accuracy can only be improved further by mechanical means (transmission). An elegant solution for improving positioning accuracy is the microstepping function offered by the KL2531 and KL2541. It enables up to 64 intermediate steps. The smaller "artificial" step angle has a further positive effect: The drive can be operated at higher velocity, yet with the same accuracy. The maximum speed is unchanged, despite the fact that the drive operates at the limit of mechanical resolution.