Historically, hobbyists have chosen stepping motors because they can be controlled with a fairly simplistic controller, and there are lots of solutions out there... check out some of the step motor drive boards at Pololu Electronics. But stepping motors have limitations, namely speed and torque per unit motor size. Note that as a hobbyist, I'm still living in the stepper motor world, so I'm interested in this project.
Brushless servo motors offer the potential for much higher torque and speed in a small package, but require a different form of electronic control, and the gist of this project is that such controls haven't been available for hobbyists. So it's a matter of finding a gap in the existing project / product space, and filling it.
Note that e-bikes use brushless servo motors, so somebody has done the math on what motor technology is most efficient. I also think these motors are in electric cars, and even appliances such as washing machines.
I will be reading with interest. I'll also start keeping an eye out for what kinds of motors are available.
As for "industrial level," I'd say that it's a matter of pushing machine speeds up to a level similar to what you might see in a factory. Often, with stepper motor driven gadgets, you accept the fact that your machine will take a long time to do anything, but who cares, it's a hobby.
On the industrial side, you very quickly run into the situation where your motor is no longer the limiting factor affecting speed and precision, but the design and assembly of the mechanism is.
Brushless servo motors offer the potential for much higher torque and speed in a small package, but require a different form of electronic control, and the gist of this project is that such controls haven't been available for hobbyists. So it's a matter of finding a gap in the existing project / product space, and filling it.
Note that e-bikes use brushless servo motors, so somebody has done the math on what motor technology is most efficient. I also think these motors are in electric cars, and even appliances such as washing machines.
I will be reading with interest. I'll also start keeping an eye out for what kinds of motors are available.
As for "industrial level," I'd say that it's a matter of pushing machine speeds up to a level similar to what you might see in a factory. Often, with stepper motor driven gadgets, you accept the fact that your machine will take a long time to do anything, but who cares, it's a hobby.
On the industrial side, you very quickly run into the situation where your motor is no longer the limiting factor affecting speed and precision, but the design and assembly of the mechanism is.