Newbie- How hot are stepper motors supposed to get?

[Robotics Guy]

I'm using these motors: 3.6V, 1.8 DEG VEXTA STEP MOTOR-MPJA, Inc. and they get really hot when my machine is running. The z-axis motor gets to about 130f (~55c) and the x-axis 109f.

Is that normal?

[cheetahcnc]

The 109f is just getting warm. Does your controller drop the current when stopped? Some of them have a setting for this which reduces current, therefore heat, when stopped for more than a second or so.

Jim

[vger]

130 F is not too excessive for most motors. This is most likely the case (frame) temperature. The frame of a stepper is most often the actual laminations of the stator on which the coils are wound. As long as the temperature does not get high enough to damage the insulation on the coils, or cause magnetic degradation in the rotor, the motor will be fine.

Steve

[nophead00]

Stepper motor current ratings are often for 80C temperature rise with two coils on, so if you run them at full power they will get very hot unless you bolt them to something that can take the heat away.

[James Newton]

What sort of driver are you using?

[Robotics Guy]

This is most likely the case (frame) temperature

Yes, that's correct. I used an IR thermometer, so it would have measured the case temperature.

What sort of driver are you using?

L297/298 combos.

[bagherdn]

i think 50c isn't so much
it may be overdrived with extra current (don't use chopper?)
usually steppers are used on higher current . i've been running my router motors with double current and they are very hot , but for 3 years no problem with them