Computer-aided selection of variable-reluctance stepping motors

The authors describe an interactive computer procedure for the selection of motor and power circuit parameters in variable-reluctance stepping motor systems. A system of prioritising aspects of the target performance provides an extremely flexible approach and ensures that the procedure can be used to specify either a complete system or just one component of the system. The versatility of the procedure is illustrated by its application to such tasks as improving efficiency through adjustments to the freewheeling circuit and matching the dimensions of a motor using standard laminations to a particular dynamic torque requirement