NEMA 23 Stepper Motor: High-Torque 57mm Frame for CNC and Automation
The NEMA 23 stepper motor is the workhorse frame for CNC machines and industrial automation. With a 57mm × 57mm faceplate, it delivers far more torque than a NEMA 17 while staying a manageable size, which is why it drives router and mill axes, conveyors, and heavier positioning systems. A 2-phase NEMA 23 hybrid stepper motor delivers holding torque from about 0.55 N·m up to 3.0 N·m depending on body length, at a 1.8° step angle. The NEMA 23 size is fixed at a 57mm faceplate, with body length the main variable that sets torque.
Key Specifications at a Glance
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|
| Frame Size | 57 × 57 mm |
| Step Angle | 1.8° (200 steps/rev), 0.9° optional |
| Phase | 2-phase (bipolar) |
| Holding Torque | 0.55–3.0 N·m |
| Rated Current | 2.0–4.2 A/phase |
| Body Length | 41–112 mm (varies by model) |
| Shaft | 6.35mm (1/4") standard |
| Lead Wires | 4-wire or 6-wire
|
Typical Applications
The NEMA 23 is the go-to high torque stepper motor frame when a NEMA 17 runs out of torque. Common applications include:
- CNC routers and mills — X/Y/Z axis drive on hobby and light-industrial machines.
- Laser cutters and engravers — gantry and table drive.
- Automation — conveyors, indexing tables, pick-and-place, and packaging.
- Larger 3D printers — heavy gantries and high-flow extruders.
- Robotics — joint and base drive on mid-size robots.
- Material handling — feeders, winders, and dispensers.
With a NEMA 23 gearbox the same frame drives a linear actuator or a low-speed, high-torque axis; a dual-shaft NEMA 23 adds a rear shaft for an encoder or a second load.
NEMA 23 vs NEMA 34: Which One Do You Need?
The next size up from NEMA 23 is NEMA 34 (86mm × 86mm). Here is a quick comparison:
| NEMA 23 (57mm) | NEMA 34 (86mm) |
|---|
| Faceplate | 57 × 57 mm | 86 × 86 mm |
| Max Holding Torque | ~3 N·m | ~12 N·m |
| Weight | 0.5–1.5 kg | 1.8–4 kg |
| Best For | CNC, general automation | Heavy CNC, high-torque axes |
If your load needs more than about 3 N·m, move up to NEMA 34. If the 57mm footprint works and the load is within 3 N·m, NEMA 23 is the right fit — and the standard choice for most CNC builds.
Customization Options
Cymotorix NEMA 23 stepper motors can be customized for OEM integration. As a NEMA 23 stepper motor manufacturer and supplier, we produce them to your specification. Common modifications include:
- Shaft diameter and length adjustment (standard shaft is 6.35mm / 1/4")
- D-cut or flat shaft for direct coupling
- Dual-shaft output for a rear encoder or second load
- Custom lead wire length and connector type (JST, Molex, bare leads)
- Winding parameters modified to match your driver voltage and current
- 0.9° step angle for finer resolution
- Rear-shaft extension for encoder mounting
- Planetary or worm gearbox integration for higher output torque at low speed
How to Drive a NEMA 23 Stepper Motor
NEMA 23 motors are 2-phase bipolar steppers, so they run on any standard 2-phase stepper driver. Rated current is around 2.0 to 4.2 A per phase, so a mid-to-high-current microstepping driver with current regulation is needed. We can supply a driver matched and set to the motor if you want the pair tested together.
Recommended supply voltage is 24–48VDC. A higher bus voltage holds torque better at speed, which matters on CNC axes that move fast. Set the driver's current limit to the motor's rated current so the windings don't overheat.
