Stepper Motors for Concert Lighting

Lighting is a vital component in many theatrical and musical productions. From rock concerts to classical ballet performances, stage lighting is an art in itself. Because of the high demands of lighting design professionals, there is a strong market for innovative and precise concert lighting equipment. Automated concert lighting can create a spectacular visual experience, moving in tandem with the music and action taking place on stage. The extreme precision of these lights’ movements makes NMB stepper motors the ideal solution for concert lighting manufacturers.

The main difference between automated lighting and conventional lighting is that automated lighting is able to convert the data it receives into mechanical motion. This is done with the help of stepper motors, which are able to produce precise movements.

Stepper motors are often used when controlled movement is necessary. They are used in a variety of applications that require controlled speed, rotation angle, position, and synchronization. NMB step motors are present in equipment such as printers, medical equipment, and much more in addition to concert lighting. The most common type of stepper motor used in automated lighting equipment is the hybrid motor.

A hybrid stepper motor combines the features of both the variable reluctance stepper and the permanent magnet stepper motors. This way a smaller step angle is produced. The rotor is a cylindrical permanent magnet with its poles oriented along the length of the axis. One end is the magnetic north and one end is the magnetic south. There are grooves shaped into each half of the magnet. The un-grooved sections thus form teeth.

Advantages of Stepper Motors for Concert Lighting Applications

• Step motors from NMB are highly reliable, as the life of the motor depends largely upon the life of its bearings.
• Stepper motors tend to be simpler and less costly to operate and control than other types of motors.
• Stepper motors ensure high accuracy which leads to precise positioning and easily repeated movement for lighting uses.
• They respond very well to starting, stopping, and reversing.
• The rotational angle of a step motor is proportional to the input pulse.
• Stepper motors can engage in a wide range of rotational speeds.
• They are capable of displaying greater levels of vibration than other motors.
• Motors that have a higher number of phases are smoother in operation than those with fewer phases.

These advantages, together with NMB’s long-standing reputation for producing high quality components, makes stepper motors from NMB the ideal choice for concert lighting applications.