What are the advantages/disadvantages between steppers and servos?
A.) Step motors and servo motors service similar applications, ones where precise positioning and speed are required. The biggest difference is that steppers are operated “open loop”. This means there is no feedback required from the motor. You send a step pulse to the drive and take on faith it will be executed. Seems like a problem but it’s not. If you have a quartz watch with hour and minute hands, then you have a step motor on your wrist. The electronics generates 1 step pulse per second, driving a 60 step per revolution motor which turns at 1 RPM. It keeps nearly perfect time. Any errors are due entirely to the electronics timing accuracy (quartz crystal oscillator). Top Ten Stepper Advantages: 1) Stable. Can drive a wide range of frictional and inertial loads. 2) Needs no feedback. The motor is also the position transducer. 3) Inexpensive relative to other motion control systems. 4) Standardized frame size and performance. 5) Plug and play. Easy to setup and use. 6) Safe. If anyt
