Abstract
Position measurement and motion control are major requirements for numerous applications in the discrete-piece manufacturing industries. Stepper motors, which are inherently digital in nature, are in tune with the digital information handling technology that typifies the modern approach to automation systems found in these industries. Fundamentally high-precision devices, stepper motors are often the method of choice for many open-loop control applications. The line of demarcation between servomotors (feedback—closed loops) and stepper motors for motion control is rapidly becoming less distinct—resulting from a change in design philosophy and improvements in stepper motors, including higher incremental resolution, more stable torques at low speeds, and a reduction of previously speed-sensitive resonances. This topic is explored in more detail later in this article. Stepper motors are also widely used in electronic equipment for disk drives, printers, plotters, medical equipment, and office automation devices.
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Additional Reading
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© 1986 Chapman and Hall
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Considine, D.M., Considine, G.D. (1986). Stepper Motors and Controls. In: Considine, D.M., Considine, G.D. (eds) Standard Handbook of Industrial Automation. Chapman and Hall Advanced Industrial Technology Series. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1963-4_21
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1963-4_21
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
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