> I have a stepper motor salvaged from an old disk drive and
> I would like to know its main features in order to use it
> in my projects (working voltage, max current, step angle,
> max speed, etc...).
>
> Is there some way of getting these parameters (experimentally
> or through some kind of disk database ?). The motor has no
> id number.

        Hmm, well a few you can guess and a few you can measure. All PC harddrives
have access to 12V and 5V in the system, chances are the stepper has an
operating voltage of either of those. If it's an older drive it most likely
is a 12V stepper. You're max current doesn't really matter since it is
dependant on the max voltage, which you are guessing at right now! :)
        Angle/step is actually something you can measure yourself with great ease
(and in some cases great patience!). Simply mark the shaft somehow and then
count how many steps it takes to make a full revolution. Most steppers are
either 3.6 or 7.2 degrees per step although I HAVE seen weird variations.
        Max speed is going to depend on you working voltage so this will most
likely have to be tested after you get that parameter settled. On the bright
side usually the older the stepper the more "like a tank" it is, I have
never managed to kill a stepper (although I HAVE killed the controlling
electronics more than once because of bad design decisions on my end! :) ).
TTYL

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