What you’ll learn:
- Stepper and servo motors have different attributes when considered for motion applications.
- Torque curves play an important role in selecting the proper size and type of motor for an application.
- Servo motors are inherently closed loop while stepper motors are primarily open loop, though the latter can be closed-loop controlled.
- Which motor is better for load holding?
- How to make a submersible glider out of a water bottle, syringe, an Arduino, and a stepper motor.
For electrical engineers and designers, there are times in system design where crossing over the line in the sand to select mechanical components is inevitable. Whether it's a 3D printer, CNC Machine, MRI Scanner, or a robot, picking the right kind of motor for the job can, at times, be a head-scratcher or a knowledge gap. Even if you find yourself a bunch of kids to build a submersible glider with...
To find out more about the difference between servo motors and stepper motors and which applications they're best suited, there's an excellent, easy-to-comprehend article over on Machine Design, Electronic Design's sister publication, entitled "Getting the Right Stepper or Servo Motor for Electric Actuators."
More Servo and Stepper Articles
Here are just a few articles that address this topic.
What’s All This 3D Scanning Stuff, Anyhow?
Building a 3D Scanner
Building a Simple Underwater Glider Submersible
This underwater glider submersible is made from a water bottle, an Arduino, a servo motor, and a syringe.
