Identification

• Inside a stepper motor, a spindle, or shaft, is surrounded by coils that are intermittently magnetized when electricity is supplied. Attached to the spindle are permanent magnets that react to the magnetic activity, resulting in rotation of the stepper motor.
  
  

Features

• As the coils are powered on and off with electrical distribution power, the spindle continues to rotate. This motion is then transferred to a gear system within a variety of products for movement, such as a small robot. Without the spindle's movement within the coils, the electrical distribution of power through rotation would fail.
  
  

Considerations

• The spindle, and its reaction to the electrical magnetism, can be varied depending on the application. At times, computer chips can be added to the system to change the rate or duration of the power to the coils, resulting in speed control of the spindle portion.