Commander controllers are designed to be a master controller for both stepper and digital servomotors and their drivers. The differences between how a stepper and a servo system react and the connections needed between the Commander series of controllers and their respective drivers are presented in this section. 

The design and construction of the motors are also different. Stepper motor operation is synchronized by command pulse signals output from a pulse generator (strictly speaking, it follows the pulses). In contrast, a servomotor translates the command pulse signals into speed, direction, and distance commands (usually one pulse equals one encoder pulse); as such the servomotor operation lags behind the command pulses.

In this section:

  • Stepper
    Two primary types of stepping motors; Permanent Magnet (PM) often called can stack, and Hybrid (HB) stepper motors.
  • Digital Servo
    Servo motor systems enable high-precision positioning and speed control.
  • Encoder Inputs
    An encoder is a pulse generator used to communicate to the Commander controllers the speed, direction, and position of the motor or system it is attached to.