Fieldbus stepper drive
Leadshine 4EM3E Series fieldbus stepper drive
Four-axis open-loop EtherCAT stepper drive, up to 8.2 A per axis.
Need this part, a replacement or a complete package? Our experienced UK engineering team helps you select, source and obtain the right products, with pricing, delivery coordination and after-sales support.
Pricing and availability
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Need Leadshine parts, a replacement or a suitable alternative? Send us a part number, or tell us what the machine needs to do. Our UK engineers will come back with the right product, pricing, lead time and delivery, whether that is the original part, a checked alternative or a complete axis.
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- Pricing, lead time and delivery in one reply
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Spec builder
Configure Leadshine 4EM3E Series
Select every part you need and answer the questions an applications engineer would ask. Our engineers use your specification to come back with the right products, pricing and lead times. You see your summary before we ask for any details.
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- 1Products
- 2Performance
- 3Environment
- 4Volumes
- 5Your spec
What are you specifying?
Select everything you need. A motor, drive and gearbox can be specified together as one axis.
Key specifications
| Supply | 20-50 VDC, 20-60 VDC (4EM3E-882) |
|---|---|
| Feedback | none (open loop) |
| Fieldbus | EtherCAT |
| Axes | 4 |
| Current (max) | 8.2 A |
| Motor nema sizes | 8, 11, 14, 17, 23, 24, 34 |
Series ranges as published; individual models vary. The full datasheet, drawings and CAD models are available on request.
Leadshine 4EM3E Series replacement and alternative options
Use these supply-network options as a starting point for an engineering check. We can also help source the original Leadshine part. Published series figures do not establish an exact-model or drop-in replacement: confirm ratings, fit, interfaces and approvals for your application.
AMC's analogue servo drives for centralised control schemes: set up with DIP switches and potentiometers, commanded by +/-10 V or PWM. They span 10-400 VDC and 45-265 VAC, up to 150 A continuous and 250 A peak, in PCB, panel and vehicle formats. PCB extended-environment parts run -40 to +85 C.
| Published maximum | Leadshine 4EM3E Series | AxCent Analogue Servo Drives (AB, AZ, … |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous current | 8.2 A | 150 A meets or exceeds |
| Peak current | — | 250 A |
| Axes | 4 | — |
Network-capable AMC digital drives spanning 10-747 VDC and 120-480 VAC, up to 150 A continuous and 250 A peak (27.4 kW peak power), in PCB, panel, machine and vehicle formats. They support almost any motor type and feedback, plus CANopen, EtherCAT, POWERLINK and Modbus.
| Published maximum | Leadshine 4EM3E Series | DigiFlex Performance Servo Drives (DP,… |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous current | 8.2 A | 150 A meets or exceeds |
| Peak current | — | 250 A |
| Power | — | 27,400 W |
| Axes | 4 | — |
ADVANCED Motion Controls' ultra-compact, high power-density digital servo drives for 10-90 VDC systems, up to 100 A continuous and 200 A peak. They come in PCB, machine-embedded, panel and development-board formats, carry STO as standard, and run EtherCAT, CANopen or Ethernet/IP. Extended-environment models are rated -40 to +95 C.
| Published maximum | Leadshine 4EM3E Series | FlexPro Digital Servo Drives (FE, FX, … |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous current | 8.2 A | 100 A meets or exceeds |
| Peak current | — | 200 A |
| Axes | 4 | — |
Figures are the highest published for each series and are not always measured the same way. A higher figure is not automatically a better choice: mounting, duty cycle, feedback, connectors and approvals matter too. An engineer will check the fit against your application before recommending anything.
What a fieldbus stepper drive is
A fieldbus stepper drive receives motion commands over a network such as CANopen, Modbus RTU, EtherCAT or another industrial Ethernet protocol, rather than step and direction pulses. Commands set position, velocity and current targets, and the drive reports status, position and faults back to the controller. Many support standard device profiles such as CiA 402, so a PLC or motion controller can treat them like servo axes. Open-loop and closed-loop versions are common.
When engineers choose a fieldbus stepper drive
Choose a fieldbus stepper drive for machines with several stepper axes controlled by a PLC or motion controller, where wiring, diagnostics and parameter management matter. It replaces many pulse cables with one network. The trade-offs are configuration effort and network dependency: the drive needs network set-up and configuration files, and a network fault stops all axes. For a single simple axis, pulse control can be quicker to commission.
How to specify the Leadshine 4EM3E Series
Send these with your enquiry and an engineer can confirm the right Leadshine 4EM3E Series variant:
- Network protocol and device profile
- Supply voltage (V DC)
- Phase current (A)
- Open or closed loop
- I/O and homing functions
- Cycle time and synchronisation
- Configuration files and software
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing a protocol the controller does not support
- Not planning node addressing and network topology
- Overlooking cycle time for synchronised motion
- Missing configuration files for the controller
Typical applications
Leadshine 4EM3E Series: frequently asked questions
Can you help replace Leadshine 4EM3E Series or source the original?
Send the full model code, quantity and required date. Our engineers can check original-part availability and assess suitable alternatives, including supply-network options where appropriate. We confirm compatibility and any changes needed before recommending a replacement.
What is the Leadshine 4EM3E Series?
Four-axis open-loop EtherCAT stepper drive, up to 8.2 A per axis. Published series figures include axes 4, current 8.2 A. It is available through our supply network, and our engineers can confirm the right variant for your application.
Who makes the Leadshine 4EM3E Series?
The Leadshine 4EM3E Series is made by Leadshine (Leadshine Technology) available through our supply network. Send us your requirement for pricing, lead time, datasheets and CAD.
What is the axes of the Leadshine 4EM3E Series?
The published series maximum axes is 4. Individual models and sizes in the Leadshine 4EM3E Series range vary, so check the exact variant against your duty cycle, mounting and environment, or ask our engineers to confirm the right size for you.
Is there an alternative to the Leadshine 4EM3E Series?
We can assess suitable replacement options. On published figures, ADVANCED Motion Controls AxCent Analogue Servo Drives (AB, AZ, AV, B, AVB) and ADVANCED Motion Controls DigiFlex Performance Servo Drives (DP, DZ, DV) are options to assess from our supply network. An engineer confirms the fit against your application before recommending anything.
What is CiA 402?
CiA 402 is a standard device profile for drives and motion control, originally for CANopen and also used on EtherCAT and other networks. It defines modes such as profile position, velocity and homing, and a standard state machine. Drives supporting it are easier to integrate with compatible controllers.
Is EtherCAT better than CANopen for stepper drives?
EtherCAT offers much higher bandwidth and precise synchronisation, which suits coordinated multi-axis motion. CANopen is simpler, cheaper and adequate for many point-to-point axes. Choose by controller support, number of axes, required cycle time and whether axes must be tightly synchronised.
Further reading: How to select a stepper drive · How to select a motion controller or plc · Servo drives
Often compared with
Engineers specifying this series often compare it with:
Other fieldbus stepper drive series
Engineer support
Need Leadshine 4EM3E Series or a complete system around it?
Tell us the part or application, quantity and timing. Our UK engineers will come back with the right product, pricing, lead time and delivery.
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- Like-for-like and better-fit alternatives
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Prefer to configure it? Use the spec builder.
How it works
From enquiry to delivery
Send a part number or describe the application. Our engineers take it from there: the right product, a clear quotation, and delivery and support arranged.
- 01Tell us what you needSend a part number, or configure the application, quantities and timing.
- 02An engineer reviews itWe check the specification and find the original part, a checked equivalent or a complete axis.
- 03Receive your quotationProducts, pricing, lead time and compatibility notes in one reply.
- 04Order and deliveryWhen you are happy, the order is placed and delivery and after-sales support are arranged.