15.1 Description and Operation
A simple DC motor rotates when a voltage is applied to its terminals; therefore its control is quite simple. Stepper motors, on the other hand, convert electrical pulses into discrete units of rotational movement, which can be controlled independently and without a feedback mechanism. Typically, the shaft or rotor is toothed, while the stator contains several windings that are energized in a specific order. The electro-magnetic attraction of the windings force the alignment of the toothed rotor thus producing rotation. Figure 15-1 is a diagram of a stepper motor with eight windings and six teeth on the rotor.
Figure 15-1 Cross-Section of a Typical Stepper Motor.
The motor of Figure 15-1 ...
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