How to choose a driver for a stepper motor
The stepper motor drivers selected by Botland store specialists allow you to precisely control the operation of one or several motors, bi- or unipolar, using signals from any system that generates logic states , such as: Arduino , Raspberry Pi , STM32Discovery, or microcontrollers. Thanks to them, the control of stepper motors is precise and intuitive. The stepper motor can be powered with voltage of different values, so before choosing a specific model, read its specifications.
Some models allow you to simultaneously connect DC motors, stepper motors and servomechanisms, as well as sensors, an LCD display, a memory card reader, or a Bluetooth module, which allows you to create more advanced projects. Others require the use of a heat sink to stabilize the temperature.
The standard system consists of a controller that takes pulse signals from the logic generating system and transforms them into a signal fed to the motor windings.
The stepper motor itself converts the impulse electrical signal from the controller into a sequence of movements. The direction of rotation is determined by the type of pulses supplied, the rotation speed depends on the pulse frequency, and the number of microsteps - on the number of pulses.
How to choose a stepper motor driver - current
The movement of the motor results from the interactions between the stator's permanent magnet and the variable magnetic field, which in turn is directly proportional to the current flowing in the windings. Therefore, when choosing a controller, you should first of all take into account the current consumed by the coils .
The controller should have a current capacity corresponding to the rated value of the motor. This value should not differ by more than ± 5% of the motor current.
In many controllers available in the Botland store, it is possible to limit the maximum current consumed by the stepper motor using a potentiometer located on the board.
It should also be remembered that stepper motors work all the time and consume the most current in the position-holding phase, which in turn causes the motor to heat up. Therefore, it may be necessary to use an appropriate heat sink to prevent damage to the controller and motor.
How to choose a stepper motor driver - voltage
When selecting a controller with a specific voltage range, one should mainly take into account the torque (power) of the motor, which depends directly on the speed of pulse rise (i.e. on the supply voltage) and the voltage resistance of the controller to the electromotive force generated by the motor.
The high supply voltage of the controller allows the current in the coils to increase quickly. Higher voltage means greater engine dynamics, and reducing the voltage causes deterioration of engine dynamics and speed.
In turn, the voltage resistance of the controller to the electromotive force (EMF) generated by the motor is crucial for failure-free operation of the system. Fortunately, motor manufacturers provide the EMF value in relation to the revolutions, which makes it very easy to select the appropriate controller. The position of the motor shaft also depends on the operation of the controller.
Additional information about stepper motors and drivers can be found in our guide Everything about stepper motors,
Stepper motor drivers - FAQ
