Haydon Kerk basic product training 2009

• Why a stepper motor / actuator?• Unlike other motors, stepper are unique, as

they move a given amount of rotary motion for every input pulse.

• Can-stack motors will step 7.5 or 15 rotational degrees for each input pulse.

• Hybrid motors will step 0.9 or 1.8 rotational degrees for each input pulse.

• This allows the motor to be used very effectively for positioning applications.

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Types of linear actuators



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Catalog review:

• Force vs Linear velocity• Force vs Full Steps / Second



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• Actuator life



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percent load vs number of cycles

020406080

100120

1 100 10000 1000000 1E+08

number of cycles

perc

ent % percent load vs

number of cycles



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• Sizing the actuator



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How to size a linear actuator:• The following information must be known:• The load to be moved. ( Expressed in

Newtons )• The distance that the load is to moved. (

Expressed in Meters )• The time required to move the load the given

distance. ( Expressed in seconds. )• The mechanical power is then calculated in

watts.



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Linear power: P lin ( watts ) :

P lin = (distance traveled in Meters) ( force in Newtons )Time to travel the distance in Second = watts



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• Example:• Let us assume that we have the

following application needs:– force = 15 lbs– travel = 3 inches– time to achieve the travel = 6 seconds– number of desired cycles = 1,000,000– linear velocity = 3 inches / 6 sec. = 0.5

inches per second



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• Calculate the initial force based on number of cycles desired– From the percent load vs number of cycle table determine the %

loss after the 1,000,000 cycles.– This = 50%; Therefore the initial force required = 15 lbs / .5 = = 30

lbs.– Convert this to Newtons. 30 / 0.225 = 133 Newtons

Life expectancy

020406080

100120

1 100 10,000 1,000,000 100,000,000

number of cycles

perc

ent % percent load vs

number of cycles



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Example continued:• Verify your selection by checking force at

required step rate.• The resolution we chose is “J”. (0.00048

inches per step)• Linear velocity = 0.5 inches per second• Step rate = 0.5 / 0.00048 = 1041 steps per

second• Verify that the required force is present at

1041 steps per second using the force vs step rate curve.



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• Ramping:• Sometimes, we may need to have the actuator

perform a bit faster than that shown in the catalog curves.

• To do this we apply ramping to our input pulses.• This means that we start slowly but RAMP the pulse

rate to a high final velocity. • This final velocity is higher that then velocity the

actuator could reach without ramping ( acceleration )



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Ramping continued:• Ramping can typically result in an increase step rate

of approximately 60 %.

force vs linear velocity

0

100

200

300

400

0 1 2 3

inches per second

lbs no ramping

with ramping

Z = 1.6 x Z



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• Resolution, Accuracy, & Repeatability…

• What’s the difference??



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• RESOLUTION:• The incremental distance the actuator’s output shaft will extend

per input pulse (mm/step)• Formula: _______LEAD_________

(360 degrees / step angle)



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• ACCURACY:• The difference between the theoretical distance and the actual

distance traveled is the actuator’s accuracy.• Example: For an actuator utilizing a screw with a 1” lead, 360

deg of rotary motion will result in a theoretical 1” stroke. Due to manufacturing tolerances in the components of the actuator, the actual travel will be slightly different. The magnitude of this difference is the accuracy of the actuator.



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• REPEATABILITY:• The range of positions attained when the actuator is

commanded to approach the same target multiple times under identical conditions.

• Example: Allow the actuator to extend a given distance from it’s home position. Measure and record this distance and call it “x”. Retract the actuator back to it’s home position. Command the actuator to return to the commanded distance “x”. The difference between the new distance traveled and the original distance “x” is repeatability.



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Technology

Haydon Kerk basic product training 2009