A stepper motor is an electromechanical device that has a wide variety of industrial and commercial applications. It is used to convert electrical energy into mechanical power. Stepper Motors are brushless, synchronous motors that rotate in an equal and fixed number of steps. This rotation and the positioning of the motor can be tightly controlled […]

A stepper motor is an electromechanical device that has a wide variety of industrial and commercial applications. It is used to convert electrical energy into mechanical power.

Stepper Motors are brushless, synchronous motors that rotate in an equal and fixed number of steps. This rotation and the positioning of the motor can be tightly controlled without the need for an automated feedback loop if the motor is the right size for the device.

Stepper motors resemble reluctance motors and use magnets to turn in a specific fashion. They rotate a specific distance when electrical energy is applied. There are 24 pulses of electricity required for the motor to perform one full revolution, meaning it moved 15 degrees per rotation.

There are a few different types of stepper motors, including:

Each type of stepper motor functions slightly differently and has a unique set of advantages. Depending on the application, a specific type of stepper motor may be required.

Let’s take a look at the various applications of stepper motors.

There are several different areas of the home where stepper motors can be found. Because of their precise rotation angle, they are great for home appliances, such as:

Stepper motors are used a lot in commercial appliances. It’s highly likely that you’ve used one of these appliances yourself when you have been out and about.

For example, stepper motors can be used in ATM machines or parking ticket machines to dispense money or tickets out of the machine at a specific rate.

Security and surveillance cameras use stepper motors to rotate a precise amount at specific times of the day. This enables businesses to monitor all areas of their building without manually rotating their CCTV cameras. Vending machines also use stepper motors to dispense a precise amount of fluid.

As in commercial industries, stepper motors are used extensively in industrial appliances as well. They are used to increase accuracy, precision, and throughput in warehouses and distribution centers.

Several types of warehouse and distribution equipment use stepper motors to operate automatically. Some of the most common appliances include:

Stepper motors are often used in motorized medical machinery. Automated devices that are used to take multiple cross-sectional images of a tissue or dispense a precise amount of medication contain stepper motors to maintain accuracy.

Some of the most common pieces of equipment that are used in healthcare and require stepper motors are:

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