Differentiating Stepper Motors and Servo Motors: Uses, Structure, and Characteristics

 Article Content

In industrial automation, stepper motors and servo motors are two commonly used drive devices. This article explores their structure, characteristics, and advantages in various applications.

1. Working Principle and Structure

• Stepper Motors: Composed of a stator and a rotor, with small teeth on the rotor's periphery, achieving high-precision positioning through the attraction between the stator and rotor.
• Servo Motors: Rely on feedback from a position detector (encoder) for positioning, with accuracy depending on the detector's resolution.

2. Torque Characteristics and Uses

• Stepper Motors: High torque in the low to medium speed range, suitable for short travel and precise positioning, such as the incremental feed of a rotary table.
• Servo Motors: Maintain stable torque at high speeds, suitable for long travel and high-speed applications, such as ball screw mechanisms.

3. Gain Adjustment and Application Range

• Stepper motors typically do not require gain adjustment, making them suitable for low to medium-speed positioning.
• Servo motors require gain adjustment, making them suitable for high-speed precision control.

Conclusion

Choosing between a stepper motor and a servo motor depends on specific application needs. Short travel and high-precision applications favor stepper motors, while long travel and high-speed applications are better suited for servo motors.