1] What is step angle in stepper motor? [ Anna Univ.

may2007]
Step angle is defined as the angle through which the stepper
motor shaft rotates for each command pulse. It is denoted
beta.
[2] What is stepper motor?
A stepper motor is a digital actuator whose input is in the form
of programmed energization of the stator windings and whose
output is in the form of discrete angular rotation.
[3] What is slewing in stepper motor?
A stepper motor operates at high speeds is called as slewing.
[4] Define resolution in stepper motor?
It is defined as the number of steps needed to complete one
revolution of the rotor shaft.
Resolution = No of steps/ Revolution
[5] State some applications of stepper motor? [ Anna
Univ jan 2008]

Floppy disk drives

Camera shutter operation

Machine tool application

Robotics

Dot matrix and line printers

Quartz watches

[6] What are the advantages and disadvantages of the

stepper motor? [Anna Univ. May-2009]
Advantages
1.

It is mechanically simple.

2.

It requires less maintenance.

3.

It can be driven in open loop without feedback

4.

As it responds directly to digital control signals, stepper

motors are natural choice for digital computer controls.

Disadvantages:
1.

Low efficiency with ordinary controller.

2.

Limited power output and sizes available

3.

Low efficiency with ordinary controller.

4.

Fixed step angle

[7] What are the different types of stepping

motors? [Anna Univ. Dec-2008]

Variable reluctance stepper motor

Permanent magnet stepper motor

Hybrid stepper motor

[8] What are the different modes of excitation in a

stepper motor? [ Anna Univ. May-2003,2006]

1-Phase on or full-step operation

2-phase on mode

Half step operation ( alternate 1-phase on and 2-phase on

mode)

Micro stepping operation

[9] What is meant by half-step operation? [Anna Univ.

Dec-2002,2006, Anna univ (ME(PED)) 2008]
It is the alternate one-phase on and 2-phase on mode
operation.
Here, the rotor rotate an each angle is half of the full step
angle.
[10] What is meant by full-step operation? [Anna Univ.
ME(PED)2008, 2006]

It is one-phase on mode operation.

It means, at that time only one winding is energized.

By energizing one stator winding, the rotor rotates some

angle.

It is the full-step operation.

[11] What is meant by micro stepping in stepper

motor? [Anna Univ. ME(PED)2008,2004,2007]

Micro stepping means, the step angle of the VR stepper

motor is very small.

It is also called mini-stepping.

It can be achieved by two phases simultaneously as in 2phase on mode but with the two currents deliberately made
unequal.

[12] What is the main application of the micro stepping

VR stepper motor?

The micro stepping is mainly used where very fine

resolution is required.

The applications are printing and photo type setting.

A VR stepper motor with micro stepping provides very

smooth low-speed operation and high-resolution.

[13] What are the advantages and disadvantages of VR

stepper motor?
Advantages:
1.

Low rotor inertia

2.

Less weight

3.

Freewheeling capability

4.

High stepping rate capability

5.

High torque to inertia ratio

Disadvantages
1.

Normally available in 3.6deg to 30 step angles

2.

No detente torque available with windings de-energized.

[14] What is a multi-stack VR stepper motor?

Micro stepping of VR stepper motor can be achieved by using
multistack VR stepper motor.
It has 3 separate magnetically isolated sections or stacks. Here
the stator and rotor teeths are equal.
[15] What are the advantages and disadvantages of
permanent magnet stepper motor?
Advantages
1.

Requires low power

2.

High detente torque as compared to VR motor.

3.

Rotor do not require external exciting current.

4.

It produces more torque per ampere stator current.