Fieldbus stepper drive
Leadshine 4EM3E Series fieldbus stepper drive
Four-axis open-loop EtherCAT stepper drive, up to 8.2 A per axis.
Key specifications
| Supply | 20-50 VDC, 20-60 VDC (4EM3E-882) |
|---|---|
| Feedback | none (open loop) |
| Fieldbus | EtherCAT |
| Axes | 4 |
| Current (max) | 8.2 A |
| Motor nema sizes | 8, 11, 14, 17, 23, 24, 34 |
Series ranges as published; individual models vary. The full datasheet, drawings and CAD models are available on request.
What a fieldbus stepper drive is
A fieldbus stepper drive receives motion commands over a network such as CANopen, Modbus RTU, EtherCAT or another industrial Ethernet protocol, rather than step and direction pulses. Commands set position, velocity and current targets, and the drive reports status, position and faults back to the controller. Many support standard device profiles such as CiA 402, so a PLC or motion controller can treat them like servo axes. Open-loop and closed-loop versions are common.
When engineers choose a fieldbus stepper drive
Choose a fieldbus stepper drive for machines with several stepper axes controlled by a PLC or motion controller, where wiring, diagnostics and parameter management matter. It replaces many pulse cables with one network. The trade-offs are configuration effort and network dependency: the drive needs network set-up and configuration files, and a network fault stops all axes. For a single simple axis, pulse control can be quicker to commission.
How to specify the Leadshine 4EM3E Series
Send these with your enquiry and an engineer can confirm the right Leadshine 4EM3E Series variant:
- Network protocol and device profile
- Supply voltage (V DC)
- Phase current (A)
- Open or closed loop
- I/O and homing functions
- Cycle time and synchronisation
- Configuration files and software
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing a protocol the controller does not support
- Not planning node addressing and network topology
- Overlooking cycle time for synchronised motion
- Missing configuration files for the controller
Typical applications
Leadshine 4EM3E Series: frequently asked questions
What is the Leadshine 4EM3E Series?
Four-axis open-loop EtherCAT stepper drive, up to 8.2 A per axis. Published series figures include axes 4, current 8.2 A. It is available through our supply network, and our engineers can confirm the right variant for your application.
Who makes the Leadshine 4EM3E Series?
The Leadshine 4EM3E Series is made by Leadshine (Leadshine Technology) available through our supply network. Send us your requirement for pricing, lead time, datasheets and CAD.
What is the axes of the Leadshine 4EM3E Series?
The published series maximum axes is 4. Individual models and sizes in the Leadshine 4EM3E Series range vary, so check the exact variant against your duty cycle, mounting and environment, or ask our engineers to confirm the right size for you.
What is CiA 402?
CiA 402 is a standard device profile for drives and motion control, originally for CANopen and also used on EtherCAT and other networks. It defines modes such as profile position, velocity and homing, and a standard state machine. Drives supporting it are easier to integrate with compatible controllers.
Is EtherCAT better than CANopen for stepper drives?
EtherCAT offers much higher bandwidth and precise synchronisation, which suits coordinated multi-axis motion. CANopen is simpler, cheaper and adequate for many point-to-point axes. Choose by controller support, number of axes, required cycle time and whether axes must be tightly synchronised.
Further reading: How to select a stepper drive · How to select a motion controller or plc · Servo drives
Other fieldbus stepper drive series
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