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Stepper motors

  • Rotates only by fixed amounts, and controlled by a sequence of digital outputs
  • Stepper motors typically (for bipolar steppers) have 4 wires, two each for adjacent coils
  • Other, more complicated drive patterns such as full-step drive (two phases on), half-stepping etc. possible
  • Step angles of 1.8o, 3.6o, 7.2o etc. are typical


Courtesy : https://howtomechatronics.com/how-it-works/electrical-engineering/stepper-motor/

Another good website with animations: http://www.pcbheaven.com/wikipages/How_Stepper_Motors_Work/

  • Open loop control – no feedback-based correction built into the motor unlike servos
  • Good for positional control where turn angle is not limited and where the torque required is relatively constant
  • Used in printers, 3D printers, rack and pinion (see the animation below) based actuators

To do : Lookup and go through Arduino Stepper Library

Other Motors

  • Brushless DC (BLDC) motors
  • Similar to DC motors, but an electronic circuit replaces brush + commutator. Used in electric scooters etc.
  • Induction / synchronous motors
  • Used in fans etc, works on AC; the mechanism of operation is somewhat different from that of DC motors
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