Usongshine Nema 17 Stepper Motor 42BYGH 1.8 Degree 38MM 1.5A 17HS4401S 42N.cm with Cable Review (2026)

Who should buy this motor

This motor targets owners replacing a failed or worn stepper on a printer's X axis, Y axis or extruder, or anyone building a new machine from a kit that expects a standard NEMA 17 size motor. The 38mm body length is the shorter, lighter end of the common NEMA 17 range, which suits axes where the motor moves with the toolhead, since extra mass on a moving axis costs print speed and adds ringing. It is less suited to a heavily loaded Z axis or a large CoreXY frame's high torque needs, where a longer 48mm or geared motor generally performs better. Builders assembling a whole printer's motion system, rather than replacing one motor, may find better value buying a matched set instead of a single unit.

What the 1.8 degree, 1.5A rating means

A 1.8 degree step angle is the standard for hobby and desktop 3D printer motion, giving 200 full steps per revolution before microstepping, which is what most printer mainboards and firmware are tuned to expect out of the box. NEMA 17 refers to the motor's faceplate size, a 1.7 inch square mounting pattern common across most desktop printer frames, so physical fit is rarely an issue. The 1.5A current rating and 42N.cm holding torque sit in the typical range for this motor class, generally supplying enough torque for X and Y axis movement and direct or Bowden extruder duty on a standard size printer, though larger, faster or more heavily loaded builds should compare torque figures against their existing motors before assuming a drop in match.

Installing and running the motor

A cable being included saves sourcing a separate connector cable, which is a common point of friction when replacing a single motor, since mismatched connectors are a frequent cause of a new motor not working on the first try. It is still worth checking the cable's connector type and pin order against your specific mainboard before ordering, since printer manufacturers are not fully standardized on stepper connectors. Once wired in, the driver current on the mainboard should be set to match or stay under the motor's 1.5A rating, since running a stepper driver above a motor's rated current for extended periods can cause it to run hot. Standard NEMA 17 motors like this one are generally quiet at typical printer speeds when paired with properly configured stepper drivers.

Comparing this motor with the 48mm 5 pack and other Usongshine listings

Against the related Usongshine 5pcs 48mm 1.7A motor set, this 38mm single unit is lighter and suits moving axes better, while the 48mm motors trade extra weight for more holding torque, which matters more on a Z axis or a printer that struggles with heavy beds. Other Usongshine listings in the same 42BYGH family, including versions with a lead screw for Z axis use or a planetary gearbox for extra torque, serve different purposes entirely and are not direct substitutes for a standard axis motor like this one. For a straightforward single motor swap on X, Y or extruder duty, this 38mm 1.5A unit is squarely in the mainstream spec range for the job.

Bottom line and when to pick a different motor

For replacing a single X, Y or extruder motor on a standard size desktop printer, this 38mm NEMA 17 with cable included is a practical, well specified choice that should drop into most stock configurations without surprises. Choose the 48mm 5 pack instead if you are equipping a Z axis, a heavier frame, or building out a printer's full motion system from scratch and want matched motors bought together. Always double check the cable connector against your mainboard before relying on the included cable, since that mismatch is the most common reason a replacement motor does not work right out of the box.

Frequently asked questions