AC Stepper ??

[esmiller]

Is there such a thing as a 3 wire AC stepper motor? if so, where would you go to check on obtaining a driver circuit for it? I have had no luck online.

Eddie

[Al_The_Man]

What voltage is it rated for? what you might have is a synchronous motor, they are the same construction as a stepper and use three connections, two direct across the AC and the third wire is connected to a capacitor, the other side of which is connected to the AC hot.
They usually run at a constant 72 rpm on 60hz supply.
Al

[esmiller]

Bummer.. Wonder if I can resell this to someone when it gets to me. Bought it blind, with no information, and now i am fairly sure i made a mistake...

guess I will live and learn not to be impulsive, and take a chance on losing an item, rather than buying without enough info first..

I figured I was just not seeing all the wires in the pic, until I happened to see a mention of a 3 wire ac stepper, and since this one is listed as a Synchronous/Stepper motor, I am sure that is what I bought.

Eddie

[jamaica]

Originally Posted by esmiller Bummer.. Wonder if I can resell this to someone when it gets to me. Bought it blind, with no information, and now i am fairly sure i made a mistake... guess I will live and learn not to be impulsive, and take a chance on losing an item, rather than buying without enough info first.. I figured I was just not seeing all the wires in the pic, until I happened to see a mention of a 3 wire ac stepper, and since this one is listed as a Synchronous/Stepper motor, I am sure that is what I bought. Eddie

It might not be a total loss...as I understand it those motors are sort of like a bipolar (two-coil) stepper with one lead from each coil tied together to form the 3rd lead. The TurboCNC (dakeng.com) guy writes that he used one of those in an early CNC project. (I dug for the page describing it, couldn't find it, but I'm quite sure.)

On the other hand those motors are usually rated for A.C. line-voltage so their inductance is likely to be very high. That would keep you from stepping them very quickly.

James

[vladdy]

some can be converted over by taking off the end cap and doing some 're-arranging' of the wiring...
they're not great, but better than nothing,

try a google search...

..enjoy..

[johnmac]

You may have a problem with the rated voltage on those motors when you try to run them with a stepper driver. I have one that's rated at 120 volts. Most drivers max out at about half that, or less.

John