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Arduino Forum Use a uni-polar stepper in place of a bi-polar stepper
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  • stepper motor
  • stepper
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Use a uni-polar stepper in place of a bi-polar stepper

gub11
gub11 over 9 years ago

I have an instructables (Frameless Laser Harp ) that I attempted to build about 6 months ago, but failed as it was too advanced for me then.  Now I think I really understand what is happening and realized that I have a unipolar stepper when the instructables calls for what I can only assume is a 6 wire bi-polar stepper, as it uses a uln2003a(a bi-polar stepper driver).  Is there any way to get this project to work with my 4-wire unipolar stepper?  ( https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10551  ).  I assumed I would need a different stepper driver, so what should I be looking for?

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  • balearicdynamics
    balearicdynamics over 9 years ago in reply to gub11 +1 verified
    Gabriel, I think that you should try to find a scenario on how the stepepr motors (bipolar and unipolar) works. First of all, divide the problem in two smaller and easier problems. Just as I have done…
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  • balearicdynamics
    0 balearicdynamics over 9 years ago

    Gabriel,

     

    it is possible to connect a unipolar stepper motor instead of a bipolar stepper motor. It is not very difficult as it is essentially a question of different wiring as you have only four wires to connect. I think that this link maybe useful for you. Let me know if you need more help or something sounds difficult to understand to you.

     

    https://www.arduino.cc/en/Reference/StepperUnipolarCircuit

     

    Enrico

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  • gub11
    0 gub11 over 9 years ago in reply to balearicdynamics

    It's helpful but how do I get wires 5 and 6 in both schematics I know that those are the common wires but my stepper only has 4 wires so I don't have those Do i bridge 2 wires from the same coil together to get 1 of the common wires Also I am using the uln2003a so I would look at the first schematic but that schematic only has 2 wires going to the arduino but the code I have accounts for 4 so how would I edit the code to only move the stepper using 2 output pins

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  • balearicdynamics
    0 balearicdynamics over 9 years ago in reply to gub11

    Gabriel, I think that you should try to find a scenario on how the stepepr motors (bipolar and unipolar) works. First of all, divide the problem in two smaller and easier problems.

     

    Just as I have done, google "arduino unipolar stepper (https://www.google.nl/search?q=arduino+unipolar+stepper+four+wires&espv=2&biw=1429&bih=911&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa… ) and then try to understand by yourself what does it means. You should not limit yourself to copy and paste circuits and sources but use the project you want making changes and adjustments, just as the opportunity to understand something new.

     

    As you search for specific circuits with Arduino, you will find also some source code example. So try it and first of all solve the motor problem. Understand and discover how to move it, change direction, speed, etc.

     

    Then, get the project code and try to replace the motor management part with your code, that will move exactly your motor.

     

    IMHO it is better than try to find exactly what you need already done by someone else.

     

    Enrico

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  • balearicdynamics
    0 balearicdynamics over 9 years ago in reply to gub11

    Gabriel, I think that you should try to find a scenario on how the stepepr motors (bipolar and unipolar) works. First of all, divide the problem in two smaller and easier problems.

     

    Just as I have done, google "arduino unipolar stepper (https://www.google.nl/search?q=arduino+unipolar+stepper+four+wires&espv=2&biw=1429&bih=911&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa… ) and then try to understand by yourself what does it means. You should not limit yourself to copy and paste circuits and sources but use the project you want making changes and adjustments, just as the opportunity to understand something new.

     

    As you search for specific circuits with Arduino, you will find also some source code example. So try it and first of all solve the motor problem. Understand and discover how to move it, change direction, speed, etc.

     

    Then, get the project code and try to replace the motor management part with your code, that will move exactly your motor.

     

    IMHO it is better than try to find exactly what you need already done by someone else.

     

    Enrico

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  • gub11
    0 gub11 over 9 years ago in reply to balearicdynamics

    Thanks for the tip, I agree that it would be way better to look at this an opportunity to learn something new, so I edited the code to fit with the easydriver that @Nate1616 mentioned and figured how to wire it all up.  I just ordered the driver, I'll update the thread on what happens with the project, thanks a lot.

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  • balearicdynamics
    0 balearicdynamics over 9 years ago in reply to gub11

    Perfect ! Keep us informed on your project evolution.

     

    Enrico

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