This NEMA 17-size hybrid bipolar stepping motor has an integrated 18/28/38 cm threaded rod as its output shaft, turning it into a linear actuator capable of precision open-loop positioning. The included traveling nut has four mounting holes and moves 40 µm (1.6 mil) per full step; finer resolution can be achieved with microstepping. The stepper motor has a 1.8° step angle (200 steps/revolution) and each phase draws 1.7 A at 2.8 V, allowing for a holding torque of 3.7 kg-cm (51 oz-in).

Overview

This linear positioning drive consists of our 42×38 mm NEMA17 stepper motor with a built-in lead screw in place of the normal output shaft, which makes it easy to move an object or platform in a linear motion with the precision of a stepper motor. Motors like this are especially popular for use in home-built 3D printers (e.g. RepRap) and CNC machines. The stainless steel threaded rod extends from the face of the stepper motor, and since it is integrated into the motor itself, you do not have to deal with bulky shaft couplers or loose set screws. This stepper motor comes in three versions with different length lead screws built in: 18 cm, 28 cm, and 38 cm.

NEMA 17-size stepper motors with 18, 28, and 38cm lead screws.

The included copper alloy traveling nut (also known as a carriage nut) features a mounting flange with four holes threaded for M3 screws. The nut moves 8.0 mm per full revolution of the lead screw, which allows for a linear resolution of 0.040 mm per full step of the stepper motor. Even smaller step sizes can be achieved through microstepping, which is a feature of many bipolar stepper motor drivers. We recommend the DRV8825 stepper motor driver carrier or AMIS-30543 stepper motor driver carrier for use with this stepper motor, which allow for a linear resolution of 1.25 µm per 1/32 microstep. However, please note that the nut is not spring loaded, so changes in direction will result in loss of positioning precision due to backlash. Extra traveling nuts are also available for purchase separately.

The maximum achievable linear speed depends a lot on the details of the system, including the load and motor supply voltage. Under ideal conditions (e.g. with gradual ramping up of the step rate, a high supply voltage, and no load), we were able to achieve speeds close to 30 cm/s (12 in/s) with the 28 cm lead screw version.

The stepper motor has a 1.8° step angle (200 steps/revolution) and each phase draws 1.7 A at 2.8 V, allowing for a holding torque of 3.7 kg-cm (51 oz-in). The motor has four color-coded wires terminated with a JST XHP-4 connector with 0.1" spacing: black and green connect to one coil; red and blue connect to the other. It can be controlled by a pair of suitable H-bridges (one for each coil), but we recommend using a bipolar stepper motor driver.

The JST XHP-4 connector that terminates the leads of the NEMA 17 stepper motor with 28cm lead screw.

Bipolar stepper motor wiring diagram.

NEMA 17 aluminum bracket offers a variety of options for mounting this stepper motor in your project:

NEMA 17 stepper motor with lead screw mounted with a stamped aluminum L-bracket.

Specifications

• Size: 42.3 mm square × 38 mm, not including the shaft (NEMA 17)
• Leadscrew: Tr 8 × 8(P2)
• Steps per revolution: 200
• Linear step size: 40 µm (1.6 mil) per full step
• Current rating: 1.68 A per coil
• Voltage rating: 2.8 V
• Resistance: 1.65 Ω per coil
• Holding torque: 3.7 kg-cm (51 oz-in)
• Inductance: 3.2 mH per coil
• Lead length: 16 cm (6.5″)
• Output shaft supported by two ball bearings

More specifications are available in the datasheet (63k pdf). Note that while the datasheet is for the stepper motor with 28 cm lead screw, the only difference between the three versions is the length of the lead screw.

Dimensions

The following diagram shows the stepper motor, lead screw, and traveling nut dimensions in mm. The value of L is 182 mm for the stepper motor with 18cm lead screw, 282 mm for the stepper motor with 28cm lead screw, and 382 mm for thestepper motor with 38cm lead screw. Note that the datasheet incorrectly labels the threaded rod as “TR8×3”; it is really aTr8×8(P2) leadscrew, which is the ISO designation for a trapezoidal metric thread with an 8 mm nominal diameter, 8 mm lead, and 2 mm pitch. (Put more simply, the rod has four independent threads spaced 2 mm apart, so the carriage nut advances 8 mm for each full revolution of the rod.)

The inside of a bipolar stepper motor.

Stepper Motor Applications

Stepper motors are generally used in a variety of applications where precise position control is desirable and the cost or complexity of a feedback control system is unwarranted. Here are a few applications where stepper motors are often found:

• Printers
• CNC machines
• 3D printer/prototyping machines (e.g. RepRap)
• Laser cutters
• Pick and place machines
• Linear actuators
• Hard drives

Dimensions

General specifications

Notes:

1

Not including the shaft.

2

This measurement includes the traveling nut, which adds 11.6 g (0.41 oz).

3

ISO definition of thread characteristics: Tr 8 × 8(P2) – trapezoidal thread, 8 mm diameter, 8 mm lead, 2 mm pitch.

4

Per coil.

5

After twisting.