3.4. Calculation of the nominal current¶
In order to stepper engine gave maximum torque, but it does not overheat, it is important to specify such technical characteristic as the rated current.
The greater a current in the motor winding, the greater the torque at the axis. It is important to remember that with an increase a current flowing through the winding, thermal power released by the motor increases. So the engine could operate for a long time allocated to thermal power (Joule heating) must be less power dissipation. Power dissipation can be calculated on the basis of documentation on the engine.
Calculation based on the parameters of unipolar full step mode¶
Power dissipation is equal to , where Ru - the resistance of the winding in unipolar mode, Iu - current through the winding in unipolar mode, n - the number of simultaneous windings.
Consider, for example, ST2818M1006. The table in the documentation shows that in full step mode simultaneously running two phase (n = 2) in the unipolar mode, i.e. . The motor controllers support only bipolar control mode. To switch from a unipolar to a bipolar mode, connect each phase windings in series, the resistance will increase,
, where Rb - the resistance of the series-connected windings in the bipolar control mode.
The motor controllers control algorithm is capable of operating in a microstepping mode and maintains the current so that the first winding current varies in function , in the other winding current varies in function
, where Ia - current amplitude. Thermal power released two windings at any time
It follows from the foregoing that the
Calculation based on the parameters of bipolar full step mode¶
Power dissipation is equal to , where Rb - the resistance of the winding in bipolar mode, Iu - current through the winding in bipolar mode, n - the number of simultaneous windings.
Consider, for example, ST2018S0604. The table in the documentation shows that in full step mode simultaneously running two phase (n = 2) in the bipolar mode, i.e.
Thermal power dissipated in the motor windings that managed by motor controller, still is
We obtain the equation equating power . We find that
The relationship with an rms current¶
Alternating current in each motor winding can be characterized by its rms value in the period . Thermal power of one winding is associated with an rms current through it
. Both windings are identical
. The total thermal power of the engine that is run by control by motor controller controller
It follows from the foregoing that , also
Setting the nominal current¶
Motor controller are capable of taking the nominal current value as a current amplitude or as rms. The choice of which way to interpret the input value of the nominal current is determined by the absence or presence corresponding flag ENGINE_CURRENT_AS_RMS
in the EngineFlags engine_settings structure. When setting the nominal current in XILab should properly specify how the current is interpreted. Motor controllers in this case will provide the maximum torque without overheating the engine.
For all Standa motorized positioners prepared configuration files that contain the specified nominal current as rms. The corresponding flag is set. Thus the engines operate at optimum settings.