Step Motor Design Tips

Tips for using and installing step motors

Design Tips

Parallel connect the lead wires for best torque over the widest speed range.
If not enough current is available from the drive, series connect the lead wires for full torque at low speeds.
Keep motor case temperature below 100 °C. This can be achieved by lowering the motor current or limiting the duty cycle.
Allow sufficient time to accelerate load.
Use a microstepping drive for smoothest motor performance over a wide speed range.
For open loop operation, size the motor with a 30-50% torque margin at speed. Including an encoder in the system and using Applied Motion’s Stall Prevention feature may allow operation all the way down to a 0% torque margin.
Do not disassemble motors. A significant reduction in motor performance will result.
Do not machine shafts without consulting Applied Motion Products.
Do not disconnect motor from drive while power is applied. Remove power from the drive before disconnecting the motor.
Do not use holding torque/detent torque of motor as fail-safe brake.
Use an Applied Motion stepper drive with your step motor to ensure best performance. Recommended motor-drive pairings are displayed on each product page (in the Related & Recommended Products section), as well as in the hardware manuals of the stepper drives.

Mount the motor securely against a surface with good thermal conductivity such as steel or aluminum.
Properly align the motor with the load using a flexible coupling.
Protect the motor shaft from excessive thrust, overhung and shock loads.