Stepper motors are used for CNC machines, 3D printers, and whenever else one needs precise, powerful motion. But to get good behavior from steppers you need a motor driver chip that can provide high bursts of current, and for smooth motion, be able to PWM that current for microstepping support. You can DIY this with a lot of timers, a microcontroller and an H-Bridge chip – or you could take the easy way out and use an Adafruit TMC2209 Stepper Motor Driver Breakout Board which makes controlling stepper motors easy-breezy and super-silent.
Content Summary:
– The guide explains how to use the Adafruit TMC2209 Stepper Motor Driver Breakout Board for controlling stepper motors with ease and silence, requiring only two output pins without the need for timers, PWM, or a real-time microcontroller.
– It details the process of setting the direction and stepping pins, adjusting microstep resolution, as well as the silent operation of the Trinamic drivers.
Adafruit Products Used:
– The Adafruit TMC2209 Stepper Motor Driver Breakout Board is highlighted for its ease of use in controlling stepper motors with simple direction and step pin toggling. Product Link
– The guide suggests using heatsinks for the TMC2209 when running at higher currents, such as the tall ~80ºC/W heatsink Product Link or the short ~90ºC/W heatsink. Product Link
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