Editing Stepper motor (section)

==Types==
There are three main types of stepper motors: [[Permanent magnet motor|permanent magnet]], [[Reluctance motor|variable reluctance]], and hybrid synchronous.<ref name=":1" /><ref name='R000534'>{{cite book | last = Liptak | first = Bela G. | title = Instrument Engineers' Handbook: Process Control and Optimization | publisher = CRC Press | year = 2005 | pages = 2464 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=TxKynbyaIAMC&q=Instrument+Engineers%27+Handbook&pg=PP1 | isbn = 978-0-8493-1081-2 }}</ref>

[[Permanent magnet motor]]s use a [[permanent magnet]] (PM) in the rotor and operate on the attraction or repulsion between the rotor magnet and the [[stator]] electromagnets. Pulses move the rotor clockwise or anticlockwise in discrete steps. If left powered at a final step, a strong [[detent]] remains at that shaft location. This detent has a predictable spring rate and specified torque limit; slippage occurs if the limit is exceeded. If current is removed, a lesser [[detent]] still remains, holding shaft position against spring or other torque influences. Stepping can then be resumed while reliably being synchronized with control electronics.

Permanent magnet stepper motors have simple DC switching electronics, a power-off detent, and no position readout. These qualities are ideal for applications such as paper printers, [[3D printers]], and robotics. Such applications track position simply by counting the number of steps that each motor has been instructed to take.

Variable reluctance (VR) motors have a [[soft iron]] rotor<ref name=":0">Clarence W. de Silva. Mechatronics: An Integrated Approach (2005). CRC Press. p. 675.</ref> and operate based on the principle that minimum [[Magnetic reluctance|reluctance]] occurs with minimum gap, so the rotor points are attracted toward the stator's [[magnet|magnetic poles]]. Variable reluctance motors have detents when powered on, but not when powered off.

Hybrid synchronous motors are a combination of the permanent magnet and variable reluctance types, to maximize power in a small size.<ref>{{cite web | last = Tarun | first = Agarwal | title = Stepper Motor – Types, Advantages & Applications | date = 24 October 2013 | url = https://www.elprocus.com/stepper-motor-types-advantages-applications/}}</ref>