USB stepper motor controller

I am building a small cnc pcb router. What would be the best usb stepper controller? to use with 3 4 wire stepper motors.

Thanks Joe

Kelv over 13 years ago

Hi joe,

It depends really on how deep you wan to go, if are not afraid to open up an IDE and rattle up a software/hardware based PWM almost any USB enabled MCU could be used to do the job.

One option to have a look at would be the application notes + developement kit from TI, DRV8824EVM unfortunaly this only details a Bi-phase system.

Microchip also do a really good Dev board DM330022 with excellent application notes and exaple firmware already set up to prototype a motor controll application with devices capable of driving the stepper motors.

The only other "problem" is the control side from the PC/Usb host. FTDI / Microchip and Ti provide easy to access windows drivers allowing you to generate the control application from a whole host of platforms.

If you supply a little more info I will be happy to go into a little more depth.

regards

Kelv
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Former Member over 13 years ago

try http://www.phidgets.com/ . They have stepper motor control, easy to implement and pretty inexpensive.
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jlcarender over 13 years ago in reply to Former Member

Thanks xmetrix, I need a controller that will run 3 bipolar stepper motors the controller on Phidgets will only control 1. I am trying to do this as cheaply as possible. I already have the motors and i want to eliminate the need for a microcontroller so i can cut down the cost.
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Former Member over 13 years ago in reply to jlcarender

They do have a 4 motor stepper controller but it's unipolar unfortunately. And I'm not sure if everyone would consider $72 cheap as I do lol. Oh well just a suggestion. Best of luck finding a solution,hopefully someone will chirp in with a link to something suitable.
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jlcarender over 13 years ago in reply to Former Member

I agree $72 for the unipolar controller is cheap but 3x$72 for the bipolar controllers is not. Thanks for the info i may need to try and find some cheap unipolar motors. I just think it is a waste of money to use a microcontroller when you already have a computer that can do the same job.
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