Is a stepper motor the most accurate way of turning an object a predetermined angle?

[Companyqwe]

Hi guys,

I am starting a project in which I need to rotate a small object (about the size of a calculator), on a stage, in increments of ~2-5 degrees a number of times. 

I have used LabView software previously  and it seems the right choice to carry out this part of the project. 

Would a stepper motor be the most accurate option for this? What are the other options?

Apologies if I have posted this on the wrong 'board',

Thanks!

[nathand]

A stepper motor is almost definitely the easiest option, but not the only one.  It's impossible to say if it is the "most accurate."  You should consider instead if it is sufficiently accurate for your project.  A servo motor with an encoder is another common way to do what you're asking.  If you don't need the motor to hold position once the move finishes, you could use a standard motor with an encoder, although you would probably need to run it at low speed or have a variable speed drive in order to get accurate movement.

[rex1030]

A stepper motor is probably the way you will have to go if you need to continously rotate the object without returning to an origin position. Like if you need to step it 2 degrees clockwise a thousand times, you need to use a stepper motor. A regular motor with an encoder can be used but you wont have the precise control you are probably looking for. This where a pulsed width modulated motor control unit is typically put into the system. I believe NI has some modules that do this but I have never used them.

[Companyqwe]

Thanks guys, 

This gives me a bit of confidence presenting the pre project system!