Loosing steps running long program

Question related to my tests.
I tried to read up on steppers and I understand that they are stronger the slower they run, right?
So when I went from 1/4 step to 1/2 step I actually lowered the speed the motor need to run to provide a desired feed-rate (actually half the speed). And by doing that I ended with a motor that is stronger at the desired feed-rate?
Have I got this right?

Anders

Picking up this topic again.
Reading the link about stepper motor limitations (thanks for the link) say (if i understand it right) that microstepping will reduce torque radically.
But reading this paper they claim that 64x microstepping will give about the same torque as full step.
www.linengineering.com/contents/stepmoto...tep_Motor_Basics.pdf

But for me, with what looks to be a torque challenge, I assume it would be best to run at half step. Or should I try 64?

Microstepping does _not_ reduce available torque significantly
The torque _per microstep_ is what is reduced.

This just means that microstepping will not significantly
improve your precision, just smoothness.

The disadvantage of high ustep ratios is that your computer
has to generate a faster step rate to go the same speed.

This is not an issue with hardware step generation but if you
are running the step drive from a PC parallel port, a ustep ratio of 64
will likely reduce you maximum possible speed considerably.

Aha, thanks for the clarification.
And the link I found state that when I reread it (5-10% in torque loss only)

Now comes an additional question which I think is related.
Direct drive or not?
I have seen impressing feedrates with fairly small steppers with direct drive on ytube . But almost all retro fit kits comes with pulleys for 3:1 or similar...

Direct drive for a stepper system has the advantage of higher potential speed, if the motors are strong enough.
A 3:1 ratio gives higher torque so higher acceleration is possible and of course higher holding power, better resolution.
Another factor is most stepper motors have a low speed vibration, at a narrow slow rpm range the vibration is considerably worse then at higher speeds, your cuts may be smoother if you avoid cutting in this range.

Rick G

I done some testing now and this is what I found.

First, my motors are not optimal. Not well matched with drivers and voltage regulator. Too high inductance.
I got it as a "package" from Wantai motors, but obviously not a well composed package.
I have also changed to ballscrews.

* On one of the axis I was jumping between 3:1 and direct drive back and forth a couple of times and got consistent better performance with direct drive. (higher speed and higher acceleration without stalling)
I jog at around 1650mm/min and pretty high acceleration without stalling.

* I also tested microstepping and when going from 2 to 4 (or 8) motors stalled at VERY low speed and acceleration. So VERY much weaker.

Still not got my new voltage regulator (problem with shipping) so still not sure what I will be able to get out of my current setup without changing more components (e.g. motors that are better match to my drivers and available voltage regulator).

Still more test needed. So many permutations to test.....

awes,

What did you learn in the end on this??