Build A Stripboard Bipolar Stepper Controller
Contents
HOWTO: Build A Stripboard Bipolar Stepper Controller
Introduction
The Stepper controller is responsible for a single motor. There are three such modules in a RepRap or RepStrap. See RepStrap for an overview of all the components.
Requirements
Tools and consumables
- A soldering iron and accessories (see Electronics Fabrication Guide).
- Solder
- Electric drill or at least a suitable drill bit
- Some wire for jumpers/links
- Wire strippers
- Small pliers or tweezers
Components
- R1 4.7kΩ
- R2 1kΩ
- R3 1kΩ
- R4 4.7kΩ
- R5 10kΩ
- C1 0.1μF
- C2 0.1μF
- C3 3nF
- U1 PIC16F628
- U2 SN754410 (or a stack of two SN754410s, see below)
Schematic
Preparing the board
Making the board
Board connections
Variations
J7 is for connection to slave motor boards where multiple motors need to run synchronised. It is not required if you are only driving a single motor.
For the NEMA 17 stepper motors, the wiring to J5 should be
- Green (top pin)
- Black
- Blue
- Red (bottom pin)
Firmware
See the Stepper Motor Controller page for a copy of the firmware.
The network addresses for these are:
- X-Axis: 2
- Y-Axis: 3
- Z-Axis: 4
A snapshot of the latest source is available for viewing
Troubleshooting
If you experience trouble, please share the problems (and resolutions) with us.
Testing The Unit
If opto-interrupters are not available, the limiters can be bypassed for testing by shorting out pins 1 and 2 of the opto-interrupter connectors (the top two pins). If this is not done, the motors will not move.
See Also
- Slave board for additional motors
- RepStrap
- Building A Stripboard Stepper Controller for a unipolar motor
- Building A Stripboard Comms Controller
-- Main.SimonMcAuliffe - 11 Mar 2006
