Precise and dynamic: stepper motor output stage with closed loop

Sigmatek has expanded its S-DIAS Motion line with the ST 152, a high-performance stepper motor output stage for DIN rails. It is designed to control two-phase stepper motors with a nominal voltage of up to 50 V DC and a continuous current of 5 A.

The compact module offers closed-loop control with incremental encoder feedback. This feedback technology ensures more efficient operation by continuously monitoring the actual position of the motor and correcting deviations in real time. This results in higher precision, higher speed and higher acceleration, even in demanding applications. The module also offers high performance in open-loop mode (without encoder).

It supports microstepping with up to 256 microsteps per full step, ensuring particularly smooth and precise motor operation. The integrated voltage PWM mode chopper ensures quiet operation at low speeds, which is advantageous for 3D printing, for example.

The sensorless, load-dependent motor current control based on the back electromotive force (back-EMF) significantly increases the energy efficiency of stepper motors, reduces the motor temperature and thus saves operating costs.

A two-channel enable input is available for the safety function Safe Torque Off (SIL 3, PL e), which safely transfers the system to a torque-free state if necessary. Two digital inputs (+24 V DC) with an input delay of 10 µs are available for end switches, position latch, or reference runs.

The stepper motor output stage is conveniently parameterized in the control application. A large selection of ready-made motion blocks is available in the drive library of the LASAL engineering tool. This simplifies and accelerates application creation.