Experimental investigations of stability in a hybrid stepper motor

Abstract

In our investigations we analyze the dynamics of a two-phase hybrid stepper motor. Its behavior is governed by a system of four non-linear ordinary differential equations. We focus on the instability phenomena occurring during the operation of the device at different frequency intervals. Such instabilities can lead to a loss of synchronism and consequently to motor’s failure. The dynamics of a realistic system driven by a stepper motor is analyzed experimentally using a phase current sensing method in order to understand the dynamical processes governing the instability phenomena. The applied measuring system allowed to acquire a number of phase plots showing the behavior of the system at different angular velocities. Results indicate that qualitative change is phase plots is correlated with the loss of motor stability.