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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    3

    Picking a stepper motor

    How do you pick a stepper motor? Not size but manufacture? what are the known good brands and what do you stay away from?
    Thanks John

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Posts
    4280

    Re: Picking a stepper motor

    Hi,
    what first time buyers overlook is the inductance specification. The windings have inductance and that inductance degrades the motor
    torque at speed. Look for the most powerful (torque) stepper in its size but also the lowest possible inductance.

    For a 23 or 24 size stepper you want 1mH or less if you can and for a 34 size 2mH or less.

    Craig

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538

    Re: Picking a stepper motor

    Oriental Motor (Vexta) is one of the top brands.
    Most people buy no brand Chinese steppers, as they tend to be much cheaper, and still perform well.
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Posts
    1516

    Re: Picking a stepper motor

    I just replaced my Z motor. I had a 1700oz/in 4 wire (nema34) that was loud as heck and slow through resonance (8mh inductance).
    The new one is from Longs on ebay.
    1090oz/in 8 wire (wired parallel) 3.5mh inductance, is near silent and doubled the speed of the other.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Posts
    1516

    Re: Picking a stepper motor

    Quote Originally Posted by joeavaerage View Post
    Hi,
    what first time buyers overlook is the inductance specification. The windings have inductance and that inductance degrades the motor
    torque at speed. Look for the most powerful (torque) stepper in its size but also the lowest possible inductance.

    For a 23 or 24 size stepper you want 1mH or less if you can and for a 34 size 2mH or less.

    Craig
    Show me a stepper that is that low?
    On a small budget, a closed loop I can only see as low as 2mh in a nema 23. Even a normal stepper I can only see about 2.5mh. (around the 500oz/in mark)
    The standard nema 34 I just got was 3.5mh in parallel and that took a bit of looking. (around the 1000oz/in mark)

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    3

    Re: Picking a stepper motor

    Can you give some examples. I've not been able to find any in those ranges. Looking for Nema 34 size in 600-1200 oz/in sizes

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Posts
    4280

    Re: Picking a stepper motor

    Hi,
    this is 23 size:

    Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

    and 1.18mH.

    Craig

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Posts
    4280

    Re: Picking a stepper motor

    Hi,
    here are three examples (from Leadshine's website), all 34 size.

    The smallest of them at 500oz.in is also the lowest inductance and retains its torque at speed better than its bigger brothers with commensurately higher
    inductance.

    You can have 'big and grunty but not fast' or you can have 'less grunty but really fast' but not both.

    Craig

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