Let’s discuss different stepper motor drivers

[@qcnck2776]

Very nice demo of the same Arduino code working with the different stepper drivers. And thanks for including the links.

[@CuriousScientist]

Thank you, I am happy if you found it helpful!

[@mrteausaable]

I see some video using the L298N Motor Drive Controller as stepper driver and it works too. Also how to choose which driver for my NEMA 17 project? It is all comes down to size and price because all do the same job??

[@CuriousScientist]

L298N is totally different, it is an old H-bridge circuit. You could run a stepper with four power transistor as well if you toggle them in the correct sequence and basically that's why you can use the L298N. But you could not use the exact same code for the L298N as for these drivers shown in the video because it has to be driven differently. A step and direction pin will not be enough. These drivers are not really comparable with the L298N. These can do microstepping, their current can be adjusted, they often have over-temperature/voltage/current protection and so on... So, it is not only about the price. To answer your question, check the current (Amperes) requirement of your stepper and choose a driver that can deliver the required current. Also consider how good resolution you want. The resolution is determined by the microstepping. Some driver can only to 1/16 (a 200 step/turn motor will be able to do 3200 step/turn), but others can do 1/200 (same motor could do 40000 steps/turn). You are not only picking the driver for the motor but also for the application.

[@isidoromaich7226]

Very well explained, as usual 👍 I wish I have more free time to try this stuff because is presented so easy I could do it too indeed. Thanks

[@CuriousScientist]

Thank you! I also have difficulties with free time, but we all need to create some in order to pursue our interests. I always try to dedicate a few hours to tinkering and programming every week.

[@pgabrieli]

nice work! will you revisit this topic at some point covering the silent TMC drivers? like the TMC 2209 or 5160? thanks!

[@CuriousScientist]

Thank you! Those drivers are quite expensive, so I am not planning to work with them in the near future.

[@rigergun]

Great video! I know you made this video a long time ago, but could I know how you home the nut slider stepper motor in the video? Putting a limit switch on small nut sliders (

[@CuriousScientist]

Thanks! If I recall correctly, there wasn't any homing done in this video. However, if you have small parts, a good idea could be to put a small piece of magnet on the carriage and use Hall sensors as limit switches. It needs a little tuning because of its contactless nature, but it should work.

[@rigergun]

@@CuriousScientist Thank you for the quick reply! Could I also ask if I overstep the nut slider stepper motor, would I damage it? Keep up the good work man! subbed.

[@CuriousScientist]

You're welcome! You won't damage it immediately, but after a while you and damage both the mechanism and the motor. I guess you meant that the carriage hits the end and the motor would still try to move. The motor would basically stall, so a lot of current would rush through it and that can damage/destroy it. I did this a few times while testing, but as soon as I noticed that the motor hit the end, I manually cut the power. The motor is still alive and well.

[@sergioswiszcz6015]

Excellent video. Have you used the L298 ? What's your opinion of that driver?

[@CuriousScientist]

Hi! Check my videos, I made a video about it. L298N is NOT a stepper motor driver. It is for DC motors.

[@mohammadjavadg.2759]

Hello, thanks for your video. I am using Arduino board with Arduino shield, 2 drv8825, 3 jampers for each driver, 2 stepper motor nema 17 2.8 kg/cm 1.7A, 80w laser module and the power supply 12V 15A. My stepper driver doesn't work any more and before of that I had problem with the function of the cnc machine. I think it's due to high amperage and making high temperature. What is your opinion about using drv8825 for this system, it's suitable or not? And if not which stepper driver do you suggest?

[@CuriousScientist]

Hi! The DRV8825 should be rated up to 2.5 A if I remember correctly, so it should be just fine for your motors. There is a potentiometer on it that allows you to adjust the current. Maybe you can try fiddling with it. Also, I hope you had a heatsink on the driver chip.

[@mohammadjavadg.2759]

Yes, I have heatsink on the driver. Thanks for your reply

[@paul.alarner6410]

Just a couple of questions 1 what sketch is being used and what dip settings is the tb6600 set too?,i am trying to test my setup but motor is not reversing direction+ its running noisy and slow,i am using bounce sketch,cheers paul 73

[@CuriousScientist]

Why don't you read the description and visit my website? Everything is published.

[@paul.alarner6410]

@@CuriousScientist how about you just answer my question,i looked at your site but did not find the answer,is my question to complex for you to give me a strait answer?.also what is the cost inc p+p for the pcb?,in gbp?.

[@CuriousScientist]

How about that I am not your free support service? Both the sketch and the microstepping settings can be found in the video and the related article. I am not your slave. If you can't comprehend the contents of the video and the provided resources it is not my problem. Regarding the cost, again, you can look it up on my site as I have a specific page where provide links for each components I ever used in my videos. Have fun!

[@simpliciobobadilla8117]

So in the expansion board, the 5v that go to the arduino, are to power the A4988 right? I mean, you can’t power the arduino from the expansion board to only have 1 12v input

[@CuriousScientist]

Not exactly. The 5 V is used to provide the logical voltage. Actually, if you use 12 V, you can power the arduino via the VIN pin. In that case you are using the built in voltage regulator of the arduino board. The upper (recommended) limit is 12 V, so make sure you don't exceed it.

[@simpliciobobadilla8117]

@@CuriousScientist thanks a lot for you answer, excellent video! Cleared many doubts i had!

[@drew_meat]

Muchas gracias por el video amigo.

[@CuriousScientist]

You're welcome!

[@wadib3eed7]

Which steps is better for using ? i mean , if i use full step or 1/2 step or even 1/32 step , which of them is better to use ? or that depend on application ?

[@CuriousScientist]

Depends on the application: depends on the speed, torque and "resolution" requirements.

[@wadib3eed7]

​@@CuriousScientist​ That means , if i have a heavy load i must choose using low speed to have a high torque to maintain precision and step skip not to be happened.

[@CuriousScientist]

In a nutshell yes. Look up the datasheet of the stepper motor you use and you can see how the speed-torque tradeoff works.

[@RaphaelOE.]

Can you make a toturial for Accelstepper and Multistepper library?

[@CuriousScientist]

Hi! Check my other videos related to stepper motors. I have a bunch of tutorials on the accelstepper library.

[@RaphaelOE.]

@@CuriousScientist Thanks for answer but my stepper motors don't run with A4988 Driver a cnc shield and a arduino mega!

[@CuriousScientist]

@@RaphaelOE. Sorry, but I don't exactly understand what you mean. Do you use the above hardware and it is not running, or you are _not using_ the above things?

[@RaphaelOE.]

@@CuriousScientistI use this things

[@CuriousScientist]

It is really hard to know what's wrong without seeing the circuit and the code. Did you connect the SLP and RST pins together on the A4988?

[@wojciechlisicki1064]

Can you hell me, and tell me How you choose controller to stepper motor? I mean Why you choose big controller to nema stepper motor?

[@CuriousScientist]

I look at mainly two things. 1: current consumption of the motor. I pick the driver accordingly. 2: available microstepping settings. Better microstepping allows more precise and more silent operation. However, you can lose torque. And then there are other parameters that one can look out for. It depends on the application.

[@wojciechlisicki1064]

Thank You@@CuriousScientist

[@tinmaunghla648]

Can I use the big driver you used in this video to run Nema 23 and 24 stepper motor?

[@CuriousScientist]

Yes.