The stepper motor core is a key component of permanent magnet or hybrid stepper motors, typically made from high-precision silicon steel laminations. Designed for high precision and reliability, it enables precise speed and position control, widely used in industrial automation and 3D printing. A key feature is the ability to provide high-resolution stepping angles, such as the common 200 steps per revolution, or even higher precision 0.9° steps.
YUMA precision offer a full series of stepper motor cores ranging from 20mm to 86mm in size, with rotary stamping angles of 30°, 45°, 60°, 72°, 90°, 120°, and 180°.
Stepper Motor Core: The Heart of High-Precision Motion Control
As a critical component of permanent magnet and hybrid stepper motors, the performance of the stepper motor core directly determines the motor’s control accuracy, efficiency, and operational stability. Manufactured from premium silicon steel laminations through high-precision stacking and advanced heat treatment processes, the core provides excellent magnetic circuit performance while effectively reducing eddy current losses, ensuring efficient and reliable motor operation.
Key Features & Technical Advantages
High Resolution & Precise Positioning: Optimized tooth-slot geometry enables step angles as small as 0.9°, or even higher precision, achieving micron-level positioning accuracy.
Low Loss & High Efficiency: Thin, high-grade silicon steel laminations significantly reduce core loss and temperature rise, improving overall motor efficiency.
Excellent Thermal Stability: Specialized heat treatment ensures stable performance under continuous operating conditions.
Low Vibration & Low Noise: Precision lamination stacking and optimized magnetic circuit design effectively minimize vibration and operational noise.
High Structural Strength: Robust mechanical design maintains geometric accuracy even under high-load conditions.
Industry Application Cases
1. 3D Printing Equipment
In FDM and SLA 3D printers, stepper motor cores drive the print head to achieve precise positioning along the X, Y, and Z axes. Their high-resolution characteristics ensure layer thickness accuracy down to 0.01 mm, which is essential for high-precision fabrication of complex models. In biomedical 3D printing, this precision directly affects the micro-porous structure quality of tissue scaffolds.
2. CNC Machine Tools & Machining Centers
Five-axis CNC machining centers utilize high-performance stepper motor cores to drive tools along complex motion trajectories. With high rigidity and fast dynamic response, these machines maintain positioning accuracy of ±0.005 mm even during high-speed cutting, significantly improving surface and contour machining quality.
3. Industrial Robot Joint Drives
Each joint of a six-axis collaborative robot relies on stepper motor cores to deliver precise torque output. Their high reliability ensures thousands of hours of continuous operation on automotive assembly lines without deviation, enabling millimeter-level precision in installing components such as doors and instrument panels.
4. Automated Production Lines
In electronic component placement lines, stepper motors drive vacuum nozzles to pick and place micro-components hundreds of times per second. The fast response of the motor core enables placement accuracy up to 0.02 mm, meeting the stringent requirements for assembling miniature components such as chip resistors and capacitors.
5. Medical & Laboratory Equipment
In DNA sequencers and automated biochemical analyzers, stepper motor cores precisely position sample trays at each well of microtiter plates. Their smooth and stable operation prevents liquid splashing, ensuring accuracy and repeatability of experimental results.
Customized Solutions
Material Selection
The performance, efficiency, and cost of stepper motor cores largely depend on their core material—non-oriented silicon steel. With high magnetic permeability, low iron loss, and reasonable cost, this material is the preferred choice for most stepper motor applications. The key considerations in material selection are lamination thickness and material grade.
I. Core Material: Thickness Selection of Non-Oriented Silicon Steel
Lamination thickness directly affects iron loss (especially eddy current loss), stacking factor, and manufacturing cost. Common thickness options include:
| Thickness (mm) | Key Features | Applicable Scenarios | Performance and Cost Comparison |
| 0.20mm | Optimal high-frequency performance, very low eddy current loss, narrow hysteresis loop, fast response. However, the material cost is high, and the lamination process is stringent. | High-end, high-speed stepping motors. For example, high-speed CNC spindle micro-feed, high-precision optical alignment platforms, and precision fluid control valves operating at high frequencies. | Best performance, highest cost. Suitable for applications with strict requirements on heat generation, noise, and dynamic response. |
| 0.35mm | The golden balance between performance and cost. Moderate iron loss at normal working frequencies, good mechanical strength, mature lamination process, and highest cost-effectiveness. | Preferred for most general-purpose stepping motors, such as in general 3D printers, automated robotic arms, mid-speed CNC equipment, and general automation devices. | Best overall cost-performance ratio. The most widely used standard specification in the market. |
| 0.50mm | Best economy, low material cost, simple punching and lamination process, high mechanical strength. However, eddy current loss is higher, high-frequency performance decreases, and temperature rise is relatively high. | Suitable for cost-sensitive applications with lower operating frequencies and less stringent requirements on accuracy and temperature rise. For example, low-end consumer 3D printers, simple drive positioning devices, educational demonstration equipment, and high-torque low-speed motors. | Lowest cost, meets basic performance requirements. Suitable for mass-produced products with a focus on cost control. |
Selection Guide: Generally, the higher the operating frequency of the motor, the thinner the silicon steel laminations should be to reduce losses. Conversely, for low-frequency and cost-sensitive applications, thicker laminations may be selected.
II. Material Grade & Performance Level Selection
After determining lamination thickness, the specific material grade (such as B35A300H, B50A470H, etc.) should be selected based on performance requirements. The grade designation typically reflects thickness, iron loss value, and processing characteristics.
Iron Loss Value (W/kg): The numerical part of the grade (e.g., 250, 400) usually represents the specific iron loss under defined frequency and magnetic flux density conditions.
Lower values indicate lower loss, better performance, and higher cost.
Low Iron Loss Grades (e.g., 250, 270): Suitable for high-efficiency, low-temperature-rise motors, enhancing energy efficiency and reliability.
Standard Grades (e.g., 350, 400): Meet the needs of most conventional applications and offer excellent cost-effectiveness.
Processing & Coating: High-end silicon steel grades are often annealed and coated with high-quality insulation layers,
further reducing losses and improving the integrity of the laminated core.
Dimensional & Structural Customization
Diameter Range: From Φ20 mm for micro motors up to Φ86 mm and above for large equipment
Stack Length Adjustment: Flexible design from 0.35 mm up to 150 mm according to torque requirements
Special Tooth Profiles: Custom arc-shaped teeth, trapezoidal teeth, and other profiles to optimize magnetic field distribution
Pole & Slot Configurations: Custom designs with 8 poles, 10 poles, or more to meet specific step angle requirements
Why Use Our Laminated Materials?
Our laminations are crafted from the highest-quality silicon steel sheets. They offer the following advantages:
Reduced Eddy Currents
This helps motors operate with less wasted energy.
Precision Stamping
Features smooth edges and highly accurate shapes.
Compliant with NEMA Standards
Available in sizes such as NEMA14 and NEMA34.
Custom Designs
We offer various dimensions and shapes to meet your requirements.
High Production Capacity
We can rapidly manufacture multi-layer laminations.
Ready to give your stepper motors the core strength they deserve?
When you choose YUMA Precision as your stepper motor core laminations supplier, you're selecting a partner dedicated to enhancing motor core performance. You're choosing reduced energy waste, lower operating temperatures, increased speed, and ultimately a more competitive and reliable product.
