Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
Silent/Smooth Step Motors — Parallax Forums

Silent/Smooth Step Motors

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2004-02-07 22:34 in General Discussion
Hello to all.

is there a special category of step motors that produce very little
noise and vibration?

Do you know of any suppliers?

Is it safe to assume that the more steps the less vibration and noise?

Many thanks in advance and regards.

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-02-07 15:08
    At 12:52 PM 2/7/04 +0000, Pablo Roufogalis L. wrote:
    >Hello to all.
    >
    >is there a special category of step motors that produce very little
    >noise and vibration?
    >
    >Do you know of any suppliers?
    >
    >Is it safe to assume that the more steps the less vibration and noise?

    That is quite true and micro-stepping the rotor should also provide quieter
    operation. Another thing to consider is to use a slightly over-sized motor,
    so it's well within the torque requirements you have and the motor's not
    straining.


    >Many thanks in advance and regards.

    Bruce Bates
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-02-07 16:11
    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Pablo Roufogalis L."
    <proufo@c...> wrote:
    > Hello to all.
    >
    > is there a special category of step motors that produce very little
    > noise and vibration?
    >
    > Do you know of any suppliers?
    >
    > Is it safe to assume that the more steps the less vibration and
    noise?
    >
    > Many thanks in advance and regards.


    There is no special category, but there are other type motors. Servo
    motors are just DC motors that can have a shaft encoder connected to
    indicate shaft angle. DC motors can be much smoother than a stepper.

    Also, as Bruce mentioned, the more 'steps' per rotation, the smoother
    the motor.

    A 400 step per rev motor will be smoother than a 200 step per rev(SPR)

    Also, by charging two coils at the same time, one can half-step the
    motor creating the effect of doubling the motor's natural step per
    rev. Quarter stepping is also quite simple and quite common.

    Once you get past quarter stepping, the term microstepping begins to
    apply. (2oo SPR x half = 400 SPR or 22 x quarter=800SPR as you get
    over 1,000 SPR, one adds the word micro-stepping)

    Quarter stepping is not too hard to attain, but when you start
    looking for higher accuracies, or higher amperage, considder getting
    into dedicated chips for running the steppers.

    Dave
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-02-07 22:18
    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Pablo Roufogalis L."
    <proufo@c...> wrote:
    > Hello to all.
    >
    > is there a special category of step motors that produce very little
    > noise and vibration?

    Right now, I have about a dozen different "flavors" of stepper motors.
    All are four phase, ranging in size from .25 x .75 inches, up
    to...well...gimongous. They all "sing" or resonate. Some are quieter
    than the others, but it's the nature of the beast. The harder and
    faster you drive them the more thay sing. Driven slowly, they're
    barely audible. But then the pulses become more noticable. So there's
    a trade-off. Also, the faster you drive them, the less torque they
    produce.

    Depending on your requirements, you can canibalize nice steppers from
    old floppy drives, that can ususlly be had for the asking. And if you
    can't use them, send them to me. :-)

    Stephen Weller
    American. Veteran. Patriot.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-02-07 22:28
    Many thanks Dave and Bruce for your help.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-02-07 22:34
    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "wun_fungi" <sweller@a...> wrote:
    > --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Pablo Roufogalis L."

    > Right now, I have about a dozen different "flavors" of stepper
    motors.
    > All are four phase, ranging in size from .25 x .75 inches, up
    > to...well...gimongous. They all "sing" or resonate. Some are quieter
    > than the others, but it's the nature of the beast. The harder and
    > faster you drive them the more thay sing. Driven slowly, they're
    > barely audible. But then the pulses become more noticable. So
    there's
    > a trade-off. Also, the faster you drive them, the less torque they
    > produce.

    Thanks Stephen.

    I guess I'll make a provision in my design for an enclosure, in case
    the noise turns out to be significant.

    Thanks again.
Sign In or Register to comment.