What is a stepper motor?
A stepper motor is a type of brushless DC motor that doesn’t require closed loop control to make repeatable motion. Instead of rotating continuously like a conventional brushless DC motor, stepper motors move in small, precise amounts. These individual fractions of a full rotation are called 'steps', hence the name.
Stepper DC motors feature a fixed stator containing multiple toothed electromagnets. At the centre of these magnets is a toothed central rotor. The driver or micro controller generates a switching electrical current through the magnets. Magnetic forces then attract the teeth on the central gear, causing it to rotate. It’s these small movements of the gear that equate to the precisely defined movements of the motor. And the position of the motor can be retained even when the power is switched off. As a result, it's ideal for battery-powered applications.
These small DC motors are perfect for a wide variety of industries due to their high precision, compact design, speed control and dynamic acceleration. Potential applications range from 3D printers and camera lenses to medical devices and CNC machinery.