Precision control technology of stepper motors in optical instruments

    Optical instruments are devices that use optical principles for observation, measurement, and detection, widely used in scientific research, medical diagnosis, industrial testing, and other fields. Optical instruments typically require high-precision and highly stable motion control systems to meet their application needs in various fields. As a type of precise control and high reliability motor, stepper motors have broad application prospects in optical instruments.

    The working principle of stepper motors

    A stepper motor is an electric motor that converts electrical pulse signals into angular or linear displacement. Its working principle is to achieve precise position and speed control by controlling the frequency and quantity of pulses. A stepper motor mainly consists of a stator and a rotor, with multiple sets of windings on the stator and multiple permanent magnets on the rotor. When the winding on the stator is energized, a magnetic field is generated, which interacts with the permanent magnet on the rotor, causing the rotor to rotate or move in a straight line.

    Control Strategy of Stepper Motor

    The control strategy of stepper motors is the key to achieving precision control. The common control strategies for stepper motors include open-loop control and closed-loop control. Open loop control drives the motor by sending pulse signals, but without a feedback loop, it is easily affected by external factors such as load and temperature, leading to a decrease in control accuracy. Closed loop control is achieved by installing feedback components such as encoders or Hall sensors on the motor shaft to detect the motor's operating status in real time, compare it with the expected value, and adjust the pulse signal through the controller to achieve precise control.

    Design of stepper motor driver

    The stepper motor driver is a key component that connects the controller and the motor, and its main function is to amplify control signals and drive the motor to operate. The driver design mainly includes driving circuits, current control, and protection circuits. The driving circuit converts the pulse signal output by the controller into a signal with a certain current and voltage to drive the motor. Current control achieves speed and torque control of the motor by adjusting the current in the driving circuit. The protection circuit is used to monitor the operating status of the motor and prevent abnormal situations such as motor overload and overheating.

    Application cases of stepper motors in optical instruments

    Optical microscope: Stepping motor is used to control the focal length adjustment and sample movement of the microscope, achieving high-precision observation and measurement.

    Laser processing equipment: The stepper motor is used to control the position and movement of the laser head, achieving high-precision processing and cutting.

    Optical sensor: The stepper motor is used to control the optical path adjustment and measurement range of the optical sensor, achieving high-precision detection and measurement.

    Stepping motors have broad application prospects in optical instruments, which can achieve high-precision and high stability motion control. Understanding the working principle, control strategy, driver design, and other aspects of stepper motors is of great significance for engineers engaged in optical instrument design and application. With the continuous development of technology, stepper motor control technology will continue to improve, bringing more innovation and breakthroughs to the development of optical instruments.