<p>Nema 17 is about the physical size of the motor, ie screw hole placement. It doesn't specify anything about the power of the motor. If you are looking to replace the motor, you need quite a bit more info than that it is Nema 17, such as the steps/rotation and the holding torque.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-02T21:17:19.090Z
... and the winding inductance, the winding resistance, the rated current and the maximum voltage.  Of these I would consider the holding torque, steps/revolution, rated current, winding resistance, and winding inductance to be most important, in the order.
cmm
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-04T11:01:47.670Z
Also, it's only telling what the front of the motor looks like, a Nema can be a pancake motor (very flat) or a very "deep"/long motor.
Valmond
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-01T15:43:16.433Z
2017-12-01T15:43:16.433Z
galamdring
<p>If you can access the stepper motors within the printers, then you should be able to obtain some basic measurements of its dimensions, in particular, the mounting holes. Then compare it with the dimensions of a NEMA 17 stepper motor:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/mn386.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="NEMA 17 dimensions"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/mn386.jpg" alt="NEMA 17 dimensions" title="NEMA 17 dimensions"></a></p>

<p>Image from <a href="http://reprap.org/wiki/NEMA_17_Stepper_motor" rel="nofollow noreferrer">RepRapWiki - NEMA 17 Stepper Motor</a></p>

<p>The dimensions of other stepper motors, NEMA 11/14/17/23, can be found here: <a href="http://reprap.org/wiki/NEMA_Motor" rel="nofollow noreferrer">RepRapWiki - Nema Motor</a>. The emphasis is mine:</p>

<blockquote>
  <ul>
  <li><p>Some (all?) NEMA 11 motors (is this specified in the standard?) have blind mounting holes about 4.5 mm deep, tapped to accept
  M2.5x0.45 metric bolts. <strong>The 4 mounting holes are in a square 23 mm</strong>
  (0.905 inch) center-to-center.</p></li>
  <li><p>Some (all?) NEMA 14 motors (is this specified in the standard?) have blind mounting holes about ???? mm deep, tapped to accept M4
  metric bolts. <strong>The 4 mounting holes are in a square 26 mm</strong> (1.024
  inch) center-to-center.</p></li>
  <li><p>Some (all?) NEMA 17 motors (is this specified in the standard?) have blind mounting holes 4.5 mm deep, tapped to accept M3x.50 metric
  bolts. <strong>The 4 mounting holes are in a square 31.0 mm</strong> (1.220 inch,
  about 7/32) center-to-center. The holes in the part that needs to be
  bolted to the NEMA 17 motor typically need to be reamed out with a
  1/8" drill bit to allow the M3 bolt to pass through. The drive shaft
  is typically 5 mm dia.</p></li>
  <li><p>Some (all?) NEMA 23 motors (is this specified in the standard?) have through mounting holes, a smooth 5 mm (0.2 inch) diameter. <strong>The
  4 mounting holes are in a square 47.1 mm</strong> (1.856 inch, about 1+7/8
  inch) center-to-center. The drive shaft is typically 1/4 inch (6.35
  mm) dia.</p></li>
  </ul>
</blockquote>

<p>However, knowing whether the stepper is a NEMA 17 or not may not be sufficient as there are very many variations of the NEMA 17, w.r.t. manufacturer and model. Again, please refer to <a href="http://reprap.org/wiki/NEMA_17_Stepper_motor" rel="nofollow noreferrer">RepRapWiki - NEMA 17 Stepper Motor</a> to see a list of some of the NEMA 17 steppers available, and in common use in 3D printing. </p>

<p>The characteristics (Torque, Steps per revolution, Inductance Resistance, Voltage, Rated Current, etc.) vary greatly between models (<em>even</em> with the same NEMA type - 11/14/17/23), and some are more suited for particular applications than others.</p>

<hr>

<p>With respect to your <a href="https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/5055/nema-stepper-used-in-3d-printer/5839#comment7206_5058">comment</a>, why is NEMA 17 most common? Well, NEMA 23  steppers were used in some of the early [desktop-sized] printers, but then it was found that NEMA 17 steppers, which are smaller (leading to more compact, slightly less power hungry and lighter designs), offered less vibration whilst still providing <em>sufficient</em> torque. Smaller steppers (NEMA 14) <em>can</em> be used, but probably lack the torque to power a standard sized printer and can be only really used with very light-weight small printers. </p>

<p>NEMA 23 steppers are still used in larger [industrial] scale printer designs.</p>

<p>Again, from <a href="http://reprap.org/wiki/NEMA_Motor" rel="nofollow noreferrer">RepRapWiki - Nema Motor</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The first working RepRap used NEMA 23 Stepper motors for positioning and a different kind of motor for the extruder. As of 2013, most RepRap designs call for NEMA 17 Stepper motors or NEMA 14 Stepper motors for both positioning and extruding.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-19T10:35:55.773Z
2018-04-19T19:02:33.283Z
2018-04-19T19:02:33.283Z
Greenonline
<p>It most likely uses a nema 17 stepper motor. These are the most commonly used stepper motors. Since it is also the same company there is good reason to believe it uses the same steppers. Why must you know, anyways?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-04T07:28:01.267Z
because i want to know why nema 17 ..? why not others..?
SpB
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-01T15:13:05.703Z
2017-12-01T15:13:05.703Z
TECTEC3 Studios
<p>I am using <strong>Flashforge Creator Pro</strong> and a <strong>Flashforge Finder</strong></p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/CE1Aa.jpg" rel="noreferrer" title="Flashforge 3D printers"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/CE1Aa.jpg" alt="Flashforge 3D printers" title="Flashforge 3D printers"></a></p>

<p>I want to know which NEMA stepper model is used in each of these two printers, or is it NEMA 17 for both? </p>

<p>Their model numbers are:</p>

<ul>
<li><code>42HB40F08AB-04 [W-42MM, L-40MM]</code>, and;</li>
<li><code>42HD4027-01[W-42MM, L-40MM]</code></li>
</ul>

<stepper><flashforge-creator><flashforge><flashforge-finder>
Nema Stepper used in Flashforge 3D printer
SpB
# Nema Stepper used in Flashforge 3D printer

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-12-01)

I am using **Flashforge Creator Pro** and a **Flashforge Finder**

[![Flashforge 3D printers](https://i.sstatic.net/CE1Aa.jpg "Flashforge 3D printers")](https://i.sstatic.net/CE1Aa.jpg "Flashforge 3D printers")

I want to know which NEMA stepper model is used in each of these two printers, or is it NEMA 17 for both?

Their model numbers are:

* `42HB40F08AB-04 [W-42MM, L-40MM]`, and;
* `42HD4027-01[W-42MM, L-40MM]`

**Tags:** stepper, flashforge-creator, flashforge, flashforge-finder

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-12-01. Score: 3

Nema 17 is about the physical size of the motor, ie screw hole placement. It doesn't specify anything about the power of the motor. If you are looking to replace the motor, you need quite a bit more info than that it is Nema 17, such as the steps/rotation and the holding torque.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: ... and the winding inductance, the winding resistance, the rated current and the maximum voltage.  Of these I would consider the holding torque, steps/revolution, rated current, winding resistance, and winding inductance to be most important, in the order.  
> **username_3**: Also, it's only telling what the front of the motor looks like, a Nema can be a pancake motor (very flat) or a very "deep"/long motor.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2018-04-19. Score: 1

If you can access the stepper motors within the printers, then you should be able to obtain some basic measurements of its dimensions, in particular, the mounting holes. Then compare it with the dimensions of a NEMA 17 stepper motor:

[![NEMA 17 dimensions](https://i.sstatic.net/mn386.jpg "NEMA 17 dimensions")](https://i.sstatic.net/mn386.jpg "NEMA 17 dimensions")

Image from [RepRapWiki - NEMA 17 Stepper Motor](http://reprap.org/wiki/NEMA_17_Stepper_motor)

The dimensions of other stepper motors, NEMA 11/14/17/23, can be found here: [RepRapWiki - Nema Motor](http://reprap.org/wiki/NEMA_Motor). The emphasis is mine:

> * Some (all?) NEMA 11 motors (is this specified in the standard?) have blind mounting holes about 4.5 mm deep, tapped to accept
>   M2.5x0.45 metric bolts. **The 4 mounting holes are in a square 23 mm**
>   (0.905 inch) center-to-center.
> * Some (all?) NEMA 14 motors (is this specified in the standard?) have blind mounting holes about ???? mm deep, tapped to accept M4
>   metric bolts. **The 4 mounting holes are in a square 26 mm** (1.024
>   inch) center-to-center.
> * Some (all?) NEMA 17 motors (is this specified in the standard?) have blind mounting holes 4.5 mm deep, tapped to accept M3x.50 metric
>   bolts. **The 4 mounting holes are in a square 31.0 mm** (1.220 inch,
>   about 7/32) center-to-center. The holes in the part that needs to be
>   bolted to the NEMA 17 motor typically need to be reamed out with a
>   1/8" drill bit to allow the M3 bolt to pass through. The drive shaft
>   is typically 5 mm dia.
> * Some (all?) NEMA 23 motors (is this specified in the standard?) have through mounting holes, a smooth 5 mm (0.2 inch) diameter. **The
>   4 mounting holes are in a square 47.1 mm** (1.856 inch, about 1+7/8
>   inch) center-to-center. The drive shaft is typically 1/4 inch (6.35
>   mm) dia.

However, knowing whether the stepper is a NEMA 17 or not may not be sufficient as there are very many variations of the NEMA 17, w.r.t. manufacturer and model. Again, please refer to [RepRapWiki - NEMA 17 Stepper Motor](http://reprap.org/wiki/NEMA_17_Stepper_motor) to see a list of some of the NEMA 17 steppers available, and in common use in 3D printing.

The characteristics (Torque, Steps per revolution, Inductance Resistance, Voltage, Rated Current, etc.) vary greatly between models (*even* with the same NEMA type - 11/14/17/23), and some are more suited for particular applications than others.

---

With respect to your [comment](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/5055/nema-stepper-used-in-3d-printer/5839#comment7206_5058), why is NEMA 17 most common? Well, NEMA 23 steppers were used in some of the early [desktop-sized] printers, but then it was found that NEMA 17 steppers, which are smaller (leading to more compact, slightly less power hungry and lighter designs), offered less vibration whilst still providing *sufficient* torque. Smaller steppers (NEMA 14) *can* be used, but probably lack the torque to power a standard sized printer and can be only really used with very light-weight small printers.

NEMA 23 steppers are still used in larger [industrial] scale printer designs.

Again, from [RepRapWiki - Nema Motor](http://reprap.org/wiki/NEMA_Motor)

> The first working RepRap used NEMA 23 Stepper motors for positioning and a different kind of motor for the extruder. As of 2013, most RepRap designs call for NEMA 17 Stepper motors or NEMA 14 Stepper motors for both positioning and extruding.


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2017-12-01. Score: 0

It most likely uses a nema 17 stepper motor. These are the most commonly used stepper motors. Since it is also the same company there is good reason to believe it uses the same steppers. Why must you know, anyways?

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: because i want to know why nema 17 ..? why not others..?  

---

