Improvement and prediction of open-loop starting/stopping rates of stepping motors

The maximum instantaneous starting and stopping rates of stepping motors often restrict applications. Three simple methods of increasing these rates by as much as 300% are described. They apply to any type of motor and merely involve the addition of a cheap and simple circuit between the motor and its normal drive. The start/stop rates for the new techniques are predicted by simple methods which can also be usefully applied to the prediction of starting rates under normal operation.