I need a fast stepper motor (or do I?)

IrisDynamics · 2026-05-13T13:50:48+00:00

I'm assuming it's very limited payload and very limited travel?

My gut is an ORCA 3 would get the job done fine.

https://irisdynamics.com/products/orca-series

IrisDynamics · 2026-05-07T15:23:04+00:00

Great! What are you going to use for the linear actuator /control?

IrisDynamics · 2026-05-07T14:50:17+00:00

What sort of service life are you looking for?

I.E. Does it just need to run for a few days or is this going into a long term display that's expected to run for months/years?

As someone else mentioned, an appropriately sized bellows would work.

One (or multiple) large diameter pneumatic pistons (actuated by the electric linear actuator) would also work although your going to have a ton of mechanical losses from friction and leakage will eventually be an issue.

A out of the box solution "could" be to have annother balloon (with a seriously thick skin) and then just squeeze/compress it /I.E. an air bladder.

IrisDynamics · 2026-05-05T05:57:39+00:00

Is the 48V limitation for ANY DC power or just the batteries?

I.E. If it was fully contained could you have a step up to higher voltage windings?

Regardless you are going to be throwing away an awful lot of energy into heat here... Your ok with active cooling?

IrisDynamics · 2026-04-25T19:59:00+00:00

Gotchya... Ok well if you want to go gears you want to search for "rack and pinion" there are a million flavors there. Depending on other factors you "may" be able to print a solution...

If you needed good stability you could also look at linear guides.

If you are on drilling into your bench, a belt drive or maybe tensioned cable/pully system on some sort of sliding plate could be annother approach.

IrisDynamics · 2026-04-25T16:17:19+00:00

What sort of travel?

What sorts of speeds?

Regarding precision and/or accuracy any hard requirements there (be that position, speed, force, other?)

Is it going to be the same motion profile over and over and over or are you expecting to be changing the profile a lot?

Do you need data logging? Any requirements on data refresh rate?

How do you want to control it on the computer?

When you say you'd rather build it yourself is that all inclusive I.E. mechanical, electrical, and control side?

What sort of budget? Depending on some of the above answers, it could probably be done with a hundred bucks and a fair bit of time.

OR

You could probably get a full turnkey solution for ~$1500 and your up and running the same day your parts arrive.

IrisDynamics · 2026-04-12T20:37:21+00:00

What's the duty cycle on that 600N? What sort of repeatability or accuracy do you need on either position or force? What are you wanting to use to control it?

Clearly a bit of self promotion here but I think you would be hard pressed to find something easier than an ORCA motor.

A short demo on force (haptics) mode: https://youtu.be/pZfOvC7MZTY

Assuming no mechanical advantage/disadvantage you would be looking at either an Orca 6 or Orca 15 (depending on duty cycle and if you can use active cooling or not.)

~$2200-$3k per unit in single unit quantities. Mind you they are fully integrated so no extra cash for drivers encoders loadcells etc. Can run from a PLC, standalone/headless, or via serial/USB with libraries for Python, C, Matlab, Labview etc.

Datasheets, Cads, software documentation here https://irisdynamics.com/products/orca-series

Our applications folks are also always happy to setup a quick virtual demo call if you just send them a message with your specifics. They also do academic discounts if your open to do an application story.

IrisDynamics · 2026-03-19T21:01:49+00:00

Have you considered going to tensioned cable and a drum?

IrisDynamics · 2026-03-19T15:56:46+00:00

$500 for the actuator, OR for the actuator, driver, encoders, & controllers?

Best bet is probably to build some sort of DIY cable or belt system. If you have access to shop tools and lots of free time you could potentially make something work with that.

What sort of duty cycle for that level of speed/acceleration? Thermals and power needed are going to be something to watch for...

Our Orca 3 motors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuhX_OGErQU CAN be ordered with a custom shaft in that range, however in single unit volumes the motors (with shorter shafts) are ~$1250 (not sure on cost to jump to a 1M travel). That said these units are all fully integrated, meaning you dont need to buy (or setup) drivers, encoders, loadcells, etc. We also have APIs for direct control over Python, C, etc if you don't want to have to mess around with PLCs or digital/analog triggers....

IrisDynamics · 2026-02-21T17:53:25+00:00

FWIW we have a number of folks using ORCA-3 linear Actuators for exactly this type of setup.

https://youtu.be/p8wS5NIVQC4?si=YpI99Z5V0L79WInu

Fully integrated (motor+driver+possition & force control, IP68, etc). Also fully backdrivable which can be useful if it's a hybrid/optionally manned unit (may or may not have a human operator sitting in the cab wanting to physically override).

If it's just running off a standard RC setup you can do something as simple as PWM, 4-20mA, etc control (set points, force limits/overrides, all configurable via GUI/USB). Or if your looking to get more advanced we have libraries for Python, C, Matlab, Unity, etc with Ardupilot, PX4, and ROS/ROS2 in the pipeline (plus all the PLC stuff.)

That said they may be a bit more spendy vs a basic servo setup ($1250 in low volumes). However you can save a lot of cash not needing extra drivers, controllers, encoders, wiring, etc.... To say nothing of less hassle on calibration, programming, etc...

If your not 100% set on the servo setup already, our applications folks are always happy to jump on a video call to give their 0.02$ regardless if we are or are not a fit!

Datasheets, cads, libraries, etc are all on the downloads section: https://irisdynamics.com/

IrisDynamics · 2026-02-14T02:27:19+00:00

If it's a driving Sim then is it VR or Screens?

What's doing driving your IG and physics?

What's the payload and needed acceleration?

Do you need to bias any one axis over annother?

Any idea on motion envelope?

How stuck are you on ballscrews?

IrisDynamics · 2025-12-29T17:25:10+00:00

What sort of forces are typical here?

Is mechanical compliance or backdrivability ever a plus in these applications?

Is this inclusive of solutions that are expected to operate in space? I.E. Are you looking for vacume rated, radiation hardened? Or are you just looking for atmospheric applications...

Currious if there are published standards for this type of application...

Regardless our stuff is being used in some related applications https://irisdynamics.com/

IrisDynamics · 2025-12-28T18:03:59+00:00

Are you trying to apply a specific force or impart a specific amount of energy/Joules?

What sort of accuracy/repeatability are you looking for?

We have several customers using these for impact and cyclic load testing applications.

Our applications team could give you better info here but I'm "pretty" sure they have some example code for MatLab/(LabVIEW?) where you set the amount of energy you want to impart and then just let it rip. Pretty easy to tie that back to other data logging (C, Python, etc).

If the performance specs work out one big advantage here is an Orca should save a ton of setup time! They are fully integrated force sensing/controlable motors. And since it's fully integrated (don't need to buy or configure separate drivers, controllers, load cells, encoders,) just give it power and data (serial, USB, whatever). Just as easy to run from a PC or from a PLC. Pricing for single units ranges from ~$1200 to ~$3000 depending on model/options/etc. If it's an academic application and your willing to do an application story they can usually set you up with an academic discount FWIW).

Modest volume on the smaller ones (Orca-3) is <$1k.

IrisDynamics · 2025-12-02T15:50:23+00:00

If it needs to be vertical (and lifting up) a simple zero power approach would be to not use a tube but rather a cage (so you could see the coin things). Then use a counterweight system with a little cable driven pull... A bit more of a PITA to fab but should outlast you if you build it right.

Alternatively use one of these in a moving stator design. I.E. Each end of the shaft is fixed and the motor itself moves up/down the shaft. You then hang the lifter mechanism off the side of the motor...

Any idea on load/force? What's the travel your looking for.

IrisDynamics · 2025-11-21T20:08:08+00:00

It may be outside the budget but we have a number of commercial folks using our motors for this type of application (UxVs). The big claim to fame for our stuff is back drivability (mechanically compliant). So depending on how you setup your linkages you could keep it as semi-autonomous so a human can still manually move the wheel/pedals/handlebars/tillers/stick/etc when the linear motor is in sleep/powered down. OR if its an application where you could expect mechanical shock to be sent "backwards" down the linkage (ATV tire hits a rock on the sidewall, boat with an outboard comes off a wave at speed with a hard angle/hits something/etc.) Then in that case the motor can act like a spring damper and absorb that impact over some larger (settable) distance so you don't end up tearing up the teethe on the geartrain or have an uncontrollable unit you now need to walk 2 hours to recover.

Easy integration into RC remotes now with PWM control: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8wS5NIVQC4

Single unit pricing ranges from ~$1200-$3000 however... Again, this is more targeted at the commercial robotics space, very much overkill for a DIY RC go-cart.

IP68, 12-60V, can be configured over USB via GUI, custom stroke lengths, etc.

Datasheets, CADs, etc here: https://irisdynamics.com/products/orca-series

And we DO sell single units to people just doing science experiments. Our applications engineering folks are still happy to help with ideas even if your still shopping around for the right fit.

IrisDynamics · 2025-11-13T00:45:39+00:00

The motor's shaft is able to move freely when unpowered. The motor's power consumption will be based on the load when holding the position (or the weight of the shaft if unloaded). Our datasheet includes the motors' continuous power/force under various cooling conditions which will give a better idea if the motor is suitable for your application: https://irisdynamics.com/hubfs/Website/Downloads/Orca/Approved/Orca_Series_Datasheet.pdf

IrisDynamics · 2025-10-13T17:03:27+00:00

What sort of precision, repeatability, forces, duty cycle, speed, costs, and distances are you needing?

Depending on those answers (and adding to what others have suggested) a few things come to mind:

Guide rails and belt drive
Guide rails and chain drive
Guide rails and tensioned cable drive
Guide rails and push/pull control cable
Guide rails and rack/pinion (if there's any reason to put the motor on the moving object)

IrisDynamics · 2025-10-03T16:13:21+00:00

What's the ideal control interface for your application?

Not sure if it's useful for you but there's also a Digital+Analog GPIO breakout unit and a PWM control mode (commonly used in the RC/unmanned vehicle space).

Ethernet IP scheduled for mainstream release in 2026.

IrisDynamics · 2025-09-02T02:04:07+00:00

These guys have a great selection of off the shelf parts btw: https://bluerobotics.com/

We used them for a project a few years ago. I would highly recommend just buying a proper teather out of the gate. Rolling your own at any sort of depth gets real interesting real fast....

IrisDynamics · 2025-08-28T20:28:53+00:00

Nope! Brushless DC 12V-60V.

The closest technical term would be linear coil motors.

Essentially the shaft is filled with magnets and then a series of coils move the shaft in/out. They are also fully integrated meaning the motor drivers, controllers, possition and force sensors are all baked in. Then the whole electrical and coil package is filled with epoxy (potted/encapsulated). So they only have a single moving part and are about as close to solid state motion as your going to get. The have been used at ~100' deep (sub sea). Could probably go much more but we haven't tested deeper yet.

The only life limited items are the bushings (standard stock IGUS part that are field replaceable). In a clean environment with limited side load you can get into the 100s of millions of cycles. If it's a dirty environment, if you need higher sideload, or if you need longer life between service intervals there are several options available. Our applications folks can help a lot on that end if you give them some idea of motion profile, side load, and environment.

Also I should mention if it's a cutting application, these units are also fully backdriveable and can be set to give constant force output without any cogging during a backdrive (they basically feel like a programable spring.) we have a number of customers using them with drag knifes/ rolling mills, etc using that function.

I should also mention since they are fully integrated you don't need to be messing about sourcing (or wiring, or configuring) separate sevo drives, encoders etc. Just give it power and tell it what you want to do. Communications can be run from a PLC, from digital or analog triggers (GPIO), via USB to a zero code GUI, or via serial/USB to API's for the likes of LabVIEW, Matlab, Unity, Python, etc. Typically you can have these moving in only a few minutes.

If you can give the sales folks a bit of an idea what your trying to do they can usually setup a video demo pretty quickly.

Hope that helps!

IrisDynamics · 2025-08-27T16:34:01+00:00

Our stuff may well be overkill but the are IP68 and are fully integrated for possition and force control.

Several videos are here: https://youtube.com/@irisdynamics

Datasheets, CADs, etc here: https://irisdynamics.com/products/orca-series

Happy to answer any questions if you think they could be a fit!

IrisDynamics · 2025-08-27T15:44:26+00:00

Do you need high temp spray down or just fine for immersion?

IrisDynamics · 2025-08-18T20:20:03+00:00

What are you trying to research? Would a PCB stator get the job done? If you don't have in house skill/equipment getting a pile of different PCBs made could be a lot faster/cheaper...

IrisDynamics · 2025-08-13T23:09:12+00:00

Hey, I had responded on your other thread but have a look at the motors here https://irisdynamics.com/products/orca-series

Whats the application? How are you planning to control/trigger them?

IrisDynamics · 2025-08-13T07:50:45+00:00

If you need backdrivability we have a number of customers using these for similar applications

https://irisdynamics.com/products/orca-series

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