MKS SERVO42C Closed-Loop Stepper: Tests vs Servo with Field-Oriented Control and TMC2209 Open-Loop

Published at : 23 Dec 2025

The MKS SERVO42C closed-loop stepper system can be found at a reasonable price, but how does it stack up against open-loop steppers we know and love, and how does it perform compared against a servo system?

In this video, we put all three motion systems to the test. We look at the power and thermal performance, and run stress tests to find the maximum accelerations and speeds in a linear motion setup.

Affiliate Link:
MKS SERVO42C: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dm77Amv
C3548 790KV Brushless Motor: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DlT02kj

Stepper stresser script repository:
https://github.com/engineerbo/stepper-stresser

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:22 Setup
01:00 Contenders
02:15 Thermal Test
03:04 Test Setup
04:20 Test Procedure
05:17 Open-Loop Stepper
07:37 Servo
10:39 Closed-Loop Stepper
13:35 Drag Race
13:56 Conclusion