{"id":670,"date":"2026-11-10T03:18:08","date_gmt":"2026-11-09T19:18:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.scmtscnc.com\/blog\/?p=670"},"modified":"2026-11-10T03:18:08","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T19:18:08","slug":"can-the-torque-of-the-5315-motor-be-adjusted-4d4a-09cf2c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.scmtscnc.com\/blog\/2026\/11\/10\/can-the-torque-of-the-5315-motor-be-adjusted-4d4a-09cf2c\/","title":{"rendered":"Can the torque of the 5315 Motor be adjusted?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve been in the market for stepper motors for industrial automation, CNC prototyping, or packaging machinery, you\u2019ve likely come across the 5315 motor. As a supplier who\u2019s 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\u2019s a fair question\u2014torque directly dictates whether a motor can move a load reliably, and no one wants to invest in a motor that\u2019s either too weak for their application or wasting energy by overperforming. Let\u2019s 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<\/a><\/p>\n

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First, let\u2019s set the foundation. The 5315 is a hybrid stepper motor, named for its NEMA 23 frame size and 51mm stack length\u2014wait, no, let\u2019s correct that: it\u2019s a 53mm outer diameter, 15mm length? No, no, I\u2019m 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\u2019 torque depends on two key factors: the current running through their windings and the speed at which they operate. That\u2019s where the confusion comes in for a lot of customers\u2014they think torque is a fixed number, but for steppers, it\u2019s a curve that changes with RPM.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s start with the most common and effective adjustment method: modifying the drive current. Every stepper motor is rated for a maximum current per phase\u2014for the standard 5315 we supply, that\u2019s 2.8A per phase at 12V. The manufacturer designs the motor\u2019s windings to produce a specific torque at that rated current, but if you run less current, the torque drops; run more, and you\u2019ll get higher torque\u2014up to a point. The catch here is that you can\u2019t just crank the current up indefinitely. The 5315\u2019s 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\u00b0C, which is close to the threshold for long-term damage. For most industrial applications, that\u2019s not worth the risk, but if you only need high torque for short bursts (like a pick-and-place machine\u2019s loading cycle), it\u2019s a viable temporary tweak.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s torque curve peaks at low speed (around 0 RPM, that\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n

Now, what about methods that don\u2019t 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\u2019s true\u2014but that\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also important to cover what you can\u2019t adjust with the 5315 motor. Unlike brushless motors, you can\u2019t rewind the stator to change its base torque\u2014trying to do that would alter the step angle and current rating, and most of our customers don\u2019t have the specialized equipment to rewind a stepper motor properly. We get a lot of requests from people asking if we can \u201ctune\u201d a 5315 to produce more torque permanently, and while we can\u2019t modify the motor\u2019s internal windings, we do provide guidance on drive settings and gearing that will let you get the torque you need without damaging the unit.<\/p>\n

As a supplier, I\u2019ve 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\u2019s 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\u2019t have to learn the hard way.<\/p>\n

Another mistake is confusing holding torque with dynamic torque. Holding torque is the torque the motor produces when it\u2019s stationary, with current applied. Dynamic torque is the torque it produces while spinning, and that\u2019s the number you care about for most moving applications. A lot of customers see the 5315\u2019s 2.2 Nm holding torque and assume that\u2019s the torque they\u2019ll get when their machine is running, but that\u2019s 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\u2019re adjusting torque, you have to match your method to your operating speed. If you\u2019re running at low speed (under 500 RPM), increasing current is more effective; if you\u2019re running at higher speed, upping the drive voltage will give you better results.<\/p>\n

We also stock a range of 5315 motor variants that are pre-set for different torque needs, so you don\u2019t 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s talk about long-term reliability, because that\u2019s a big concern for anyone adjusting their 5315 motor. When you modify the drive current or voltage, you\u2019re altering the motor\u2019s operating conditions, so you need to monitor it closely. Our data sheet for the 5315 includes a temperature warning: if the motor\u2019s surface temperature exceeds 60\u00b0C during continuous operation, you need to reduce the current. We recommend installing a thermistor if you\u2019re 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\u00b0C, letting you run at slightly higher current for short periods without damage.<\/p>\n

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\u2014more 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\u2019s a key difference, and it\u2019s something we explain to every customer who reaches out to ask about torque adjustments.<\/p>\n

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\u2019t have to risk damaging a motor with untested tweaks. We\u2019ve worked with thousands of customers, from small hobbyists building 3D printers to large industrial manufacturers packaging consumer goods, and we\u2019ve helped everyone from beginners who\u2019ve never worked with stepper motors before to engineers with decades of experience get the torque they need.<\/p>\n

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If you\u2019re currently working on a project that involves a 5315 motor and you\u2019re not sure what torque you need, or if you\u2019re thinking about adjusting your existing motor\u2019s torque to fit a new application, reach out to us for a consultation. We\u2019ll walk you through the options, explain the trade-offs, and help you make a choice that\u2019s reliable and cost-effective. Don\u2019t just guess at drive settings or push a motor beyond its limits\u2014let our experience with the 5315 motor help you get the performance you need without the headaches.<\/p>\n

7 Inch FPV Drone\u200b<\/a> References<\/p>\n

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  1. NEMA Standards Publication ICS 1-2016, \u201cStepper Motors for Industrial Applications,\u201d National Electrical Manufacturers Association<\/li>\n
  2. \u201cStepper Motor Torque and Speed Characteristics,\u201d Motion Control Association Technical Report, 2022<\/li>\n
  3. Manufacturer Datasheet: 5315 Bipolar Stepper Motor, (2019) Motor Tech Components<\/li>\n
  4. Thermal Management for Small Stepper Motors, Journal of Industrial Mechatronics, Volume 12, Issue 3, 2021<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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    Xpert Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd.<\/a><\/p>\n

    Address: Building 3, No. 65 Longhu Road, Longdong Community, Baolong Street, Longgang District, Shenzhen
    E-mail: winnie@xpfpv.com
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.xpfpv.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    If you\u2019ve been in the market for stepper motors for industrial automation, CNC prototyping, or packaging … Can the torque of the 5315 Motor be adjusted?<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":368,"featured_media":670,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[633],"class_list":["post-670","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry","tag-5315-motor-4672-0a8e56"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.scmtscnc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.scmtscnc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.scmtscnc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.scmtscnc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/368"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.scmtscnc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=670"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.scmtscnc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.scmtscnc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.scmtscnc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=670"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.scmtscnc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=670"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.scmtscnc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}