How to size a planetary gearbox for your stepper motor
Torque, speed and inertia — the three numbers that decide your ratio, and how to check the load against them.
Selection guide
Practical guides for choosing motion.
Short, technical articles on sizing gearboxes and stepper motors — written by our application engineers, not a marketing team.
2-phase vs 3-phase vs closed-loop: which stepper?
A plain-language comparison of step smoothness, torque and cost across the three common types.
Backlash explained: what an arcmin really means
How lost motion at the output shaft translates into positioning error, and when ≤ 3 arcmin is worth it.
Closed-loop stepper vs servo: when to upgrade
Where a closed-loop hybrid closes the gap with a servo — and where a servo still wins.
Choosing the right gear ratio: torque vs speed
Why 10:1 isn't always the answer, and how to balance output speed against available torque.
Extending service life: lubrication and mounting
The two things that most affect gearbox life — and how to get them right from day one.
Prefer to just ask?
Send your load data and an engineer will size the drivetrain for you — free, with a recommendation and price within one business day.