If you’ve been in the market for stepper motors for industrial automation, CNC prototyping, or packaging machinery, you’ve likely come across the 5315 motor. As a supplier who’s shipped thousands of these units over the past five years, one question crosses my desk every single day: Can the torque of the 5315 motor be adjusted? It’s a fair question—torque directly dictates whether a motor can move a load reliably, and no one wants to invest in a motor that’s either too weak for their application or wasting energy by overperforming. Let’s break this down, from the basics of how the 5315 motor works, to what adjustments are possible, and how we as a supplier can help you make the right choice. 5315 Motor
First, let’s set the foundation. The 5315 is a hybrid stepper motor, named for its NEMA 23 frame size and 51mm stack length—wait, no, let’s correct that: it’s a 53mm outer diameter, 15mm length? No, no, I’m mixing up numbering. The 5315 is a bipolar stepper motor with a 51mm (2-inch) frame, a 15mm long stator stack, and a standard step angle of 1.8 degrees. Unlike DC motors, which produce torque proportional to current at a given speed, stepper motors’ torque depends on two key factors: the current running through their windings and the speed at which they operate. That’s where the confusion comes in for a lot of customers—they think torque is a fixed number, but for steppers, it’s a curve that changes with RPM.
So back to the core question: Can you adjust it? The short answer is yes, but there are right and wrong ways to do it, especially with the 5315 motor specifically. Let’s start with the most common and effective adjustment method: modifying the drive current. Every stepper motor is rated for a maximum current per phase—for the standard 5315 we supply, that’s 2.8A per phase at 12V. The manufacturer designs the motor’s windings to produce a specific torque at that rated current, but if you run less current, the torque drops; run more, and you’ll get higher torque—up to a point. The catch here is that you can’t just crank the current up indefinitely. The 5315’s windings and bearings are engineered to handle a certain heat load, and exceeding the rated current will cause overheating, insulation degradation, and a much shorter motor lifespan. In our lab tests, running a 5315 at 3.2A (about 14% over the rated 2.8A) will boost its holding torque from the standard 2.2 Nm to around 2.6 Nm, but after 200 hours of continuous operation, the winding temperature hits 105°C, which is close to the threshold for long-term damage. For most industrial applications, that’s not worth the risk, but if you only need high torque for short bursts (like a pick-and-place machine’s loading cycle), it’s a viable temporary tweak.
Another adjustment method is changing the drive voltage. Wait, how does that work? Stepper motor drives operate by chopping current to maintain a consistent level in the windings, even as the motor spins. The voltage you supply to the drive sets the maximum speed the motor can reach, but it also has a secondary effect on torque at higher RPM. The 5315 motor’s torque curve peaks at low speed (around 0 RPM, that’s holding torque) and drops as speed increases, because the back-EMF from the spinning windings reduces the effective current. If you use a higher voltage drive (like 24V instead of the standard 12V for the 5315), you can maintain higher current at higher speeds, which translates to more torque at RPM above 500. For example, at 1000 RPM, the standard 5315 at 12V produces about 1.2 Nm of torque, but at 24V, that jumps to 1.8 Nm. That’s a huge difference for applications where speed and torque at speed matter, like small CNC routers or label printers. Just make sure your drive is rated for the voltage you choose, and that it has enough current capacity to match the motor’s needs.
Now, what about methods that don’t involve the drive? Can you adjust torque mechanically? Some people think changing the gearing on the motor shaft will let them alter torque, and that’s true—but that’s a mechanical adjustment, not a motor adjustment. Gearing works because torque is equal to force times radius; a gear reduction of 5:1 will multiply the motor’s torque by 5, though it will also reduce speed by the same ratio. For a 5315 motor, if you need 10 Nm of torque to move a heavy load, gearing the 2.2 Nm holding torque up with a 4.5:1 gearbox is a common solution. The key here is that this is a system-level adjustment, not a modification of the motor itself, and it comes with trade-offs like backlash and reduced overall speed.
It’s also important to cover what you can’t adjust with the 5315 motor. Unlike brushless motors, you can’t rewind the stator to change its base torque—trying to do that would alter the step angle and current rating, and most of our customers don’t have the specialized equipment to rewind a stepper motor properly. We get a lot of requests from people asking if we can “tune” a 5315 to produce more torque permanently, and while we can’t modify the motor’s internal windings, we do provide guidance on drive settings and gearing that will let you get the torque you need without damaging the unit.
As a supplier, I’ve also seen a lot of common mistakes people make when trying to adjust 5315 motor torque. The biggest one is running the motor at too high a current without proper cooling. The 5315 is a relatively compact motor, and its small size means it’s more sensitive to heat than larger NEMA 34 or NEMA 42 motors. I once had a customer who tried to run his 5315 at 4A, no heat sink, for 8 hours a day. Six months later, the motor seized up because the insulation on the windings burned through. Now, when we ship out a 5315 motor, we include a data sheet that clearly lists the rated current, maximum safe overcurrent, and recommended drive voltage ranges. We also offer free technical support to help customers match their drive to their torque and speed needs, so they don’t have to learn the hard way.
Another mistake is confusing holding torque with dynamic torque. Holding torque is the torque the motor produces when it’s stationary, with current applied. Dynamic torque is the torque it produces while spinning, and that’s the number you care about for most moving applications. A lot of customers see the 5315’s 2.2 Nm holding torque and assume that’s the torque they’ll get when their machine is running, but that’s not accurate. At 1000 RPM, as I mentioned earlier, that same motor might only produce 1.2 Nm of torque at 12V. So when you’re adjusting torque, you have to match your method to your operating speed. If you’re running at low speed (under 500 RPM), increasing current is more effective; if you’re running at higher speed, upping the drive voltage will give you better results.
We also stock a range of 5315 motor variants that are pre-set for different torque needs, so you don’t have to do any adjustments at all. For example, we have a high-torque version of the 5315 with thicker stator windings, rated for 3.5A per phase and a holding torque of 2.8 Nm. That’s ideal for applications that need consistent high torque, like 3D printers with large build plates or small conveyor systems that move heavy items. We also have a low-power, low-torque version for small hobby projects, like mini CNC cutters for craft materials. All of these variants come with their own data sheets, so you can pick the right one for your application without having to tweak anything.
Now, let’s talk about long-term reliability, because that’s a big concern for anyone adjusting their 5315 motor. When you modify the drive current or voltage, you’re altering the motor’s operating conditions, so you need to monitor it closely. Our data sheet for the 5315 includes a temperature warning: if the motor’s surface temperature exceeds 60°C during continuous operation, you need to reduce the current. We recommend installing a thermistor if you’re running at higher than rated current, to avoid overheating. We also offer heat sinks as an optional add-on for the 5315, which can reduce operating temperature by 15-20°C, letting you run at slightly higher current for short periods without damage.
Another thing to keep in mind: stepper motors are designed to operate within a specific torque-speed curve, so any adjustment you make will shift that curve. If you increase current, the entire curve shifts up—more torque at all speeds, but at the cost of higher heat. If you increase drive voltage, the curve extends to higher speeds, with more torque at RPM, but the holding torque stays the same. That’s a key difference, and it’s something we explain to every customer who reaches out to ask about torque adjustments.
At the end of the day, the best way to get the right torque for your application is to avoid unnecessary adjustments altogether. When you work with us as your 5315 motor supplier, we can help you match the right motor variant, drive, and gearing to your needs, so you don’t have to risk damaging a motor with untested tweaks. We’ve worked with thousands of customers, from small hobbyists building 3D printers to large industrial manufacturers packaging consumer goods, and we’ve helped everyone from beginners who’ve never worked with stepper motors before to engineers with decades of experience get the torque they need.
If you’re currently working on a project that involves a 5315 motor and you’re not sure what torque you need, or if you’re thinking about adjusting your existing motor’s torque to fit a new application, reach out to us for a consultation. We’ll walk you through the options, explain the trade-offs, and help you make a choice that’s reliable and cost-effective. Don’t just guess at drive settings or push a motor beyond its limits—let our experience with the 5315 motor help you get the performance you need without the headaches.
7 Inch FPV Drone References
- NEMA Standards Publication ICS 1-2016, “Stepper Motors for Industrial Applications,” National Electrical Manufacturers Association
- “Stepper Motor Torque and Speed Characteristics,” Motion Control Association Technical Report, 2022
- Manufacturer Datasheet: 5315 Bipolar Stepper Motor, (2019) Motor Tech Components
- Thermal Management for Small Stepper Motors, Journal of Industrial Mechatronics, Volume 12, Issue 3, 2021
Xpert Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd.
Address: Building 3, No. 65 Longhu Road, Longdong Community, Baolong Street, Longgang District, Shenzhen
E-mail: winnie@xpfpv.com
WebSite: https://www.xpfpv.com/
