Cryogenic Testing Of Stepper Motors

Stephen M. Pompea; Frank Bartko; James R. Houck

doi:10.1117/12.933437

16 November 1982 Cryogenic Testing Of Stepper Motors

Stephen M. Pompea, Frank Bartko, James R. Houck

Proceedings Volume 0331, Instrumentation in Astronomy IV; (1982) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.933437
Event: 1982 Astronomy Conferences, 1982, Tucson, United States

Abstract

Stepper motors operating at temperatures below 16°K may be used extensively in high sensitivity infrared instruments. However, the behavior and reliability of Hators operating at cryogenic temperatures have not been extensively characterized. We summarize our experimental investigation of stepper motor performance in vacuum at LN₂ (76^oK) and LHe (4^oK) temperatures. Initial tests demonstrated that stepper motors fail at LN₂ temperatures due to differential thermal contraction arising from the use of different metals in the motor construction. The motors were then modified to compensate for thermal contraction differences and one of the modified motors was successfully tested at LHe temperatures. It ran normally for 112 hours without any significant degradation either in its voltage waveform pattern or with any significant differences between its pretest and post-test holding torques. These test results may aid cryogenic instrument designers who utilize electro-mechanical devices in planned facilities such as the Shuttle Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF).

Citation Download Citation

Stephen M. Pompea, Frank Bartko, and James R. Houck "Cryogenic Testing Of Stepper Motors", Proc. SPIE 0331, Instrumentation in Astronomy IV, (16 November 1982); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.933437

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