Which Stepper Drivers Have a "Back EMF Protection" Function?

Currently, none of the stepper drivers sold by STEPPERONLINE are equipped with a back EMF protection function. The reasons are as follows:

1. Stepper drivers typically do not have a built-in braking resistor function. The fundamental reason lies in the inherent differences between stepper motor systems and servo systems in terms of operating principles, typical application scenarios, and energy handling mechanisms. Simply put, stepper motor systems are designed by default to internally consume or absorb regenerative energy, so they generally do not need to rely on external braking resistors like servo systems.

2. Most stepper motor applications involve frequent start-stop operations and point-to-point control, but the operating speeds are not high. The regenerative energy generated from a single deceleration event is limited.

3. Stepper motors primarily operate at speeds of only a few hundred RPM, so the kinetic energy of the system is relatively small. In contrast, servo motors typically operate at speeds of several thousand RPM, resulting in substantial kinetic energy. During deceleration, the enormous kinetic energy of the load is converted into electrical energy and fed back into the driver, generating significant regenerative energy. Therefore, braking resistors are needed to dissipate this back EMF energy.

4. For the vast majority of stepper motor applications (such as 3D printers, small worktables, dispensing machines, etc.), they involve horizontal loads or loads with low inertia. These mechanical systems inherently have some friction, which can consume a portion of the kinetic energy. Adding braking resistors for these scenarios would not only increase system cost and wiring complexity but would also be unnecessary in the vast majority of cases.

Updated on: 28/02/2026