Motors Combine Best Of Stepping And Servo Motors

Combining the best of stepping motor and servo motor technology has produced Alpha Step, a two-phase, hybrid, geared step motor and driver package that is said to eliminate missed steps, a common problem with stepping motors. The product uses a built-in feedback device that constantly monitors the motor shaft to detect and correct for loss of synchronism. Having the feedback device built into the package minimizes the size requirements for the motor and protects the device from shock loads and temperature extremes.The motor has a very high response since it runs open loop under normal conditions and only runs in closed loop when a position deviation of 1.8° or greater is seen. The motor is said to be well-suited for systems that have high compliance, such as belt and pulleys. The motors are available with three types of gearheads: tapered, planetary and harmonic.