Stepper Motor Calculator

steps/rev = 360 / step angle; microsteps = steps × microstep factor; pulse rate = microsteps/rev × RPM / 60.

When you need it: Working out steps per revolution, speed and linear travel for a stepper with microstepping and, often, a leadscrew.

Worked example: A 1.8° motor is 200 full steps/rev; at 16× microstepping that's 3200 steps/rev. On an 8 mm-pitch screw, one microstep moves 8 / 3200 = 2.5 µm.

Tips & gotchas:

• Torque drops with speed as back-EMF rises — check the motor's speed-torque curve, not just the holding torque.
• Microstepping smooths motion but doesn't add real accuracy; friction and detent torque dominate positioning.
• Step rate = speed × steps/rev; make sure your driver and MCU can sustain the pulse rate.
• Use acceleration/deceleration ramps — commanding full speed instantly stalls or skips steps.