Details
This discrete MOSFET stepper motor driver enables control of one bipolar stepper motor. It supports a wide 8 V to 50 V operating voltage range and can deliver up to 4 A continuous per phase without a heat sink or forced air flow (6 A max with sufficient additional cooling). The SPI interface allows configuration of the current limiting, step mode (9 step modes from full-step through 1/256-step), decay mode, and stall detection. The driver also provides back-EMF feedback that can be used for more advanced control and stall detection algorithms. Additional features include reverse-voltage, under-voltage, and over-current protection.
The Pololu High-Power Stepper Motor Driver 36v4 combines the DRV8711 stepper motor driver IC from Texas Instruments with external MOSFETs to enable control of large bipolar stepper motors at operating voltages from 8 V to 50 V. The DRV8711 has many configurable settings, so please see the DRV8711 datasheet (3MB pdf) for a detailed explanation of its features and how to use them (we also have an Arduino library that simplifies getting started by providing basic functions for configuring and operating the driver).
The driver’s power performance is a function of the external dual H-bridges, which allow the driver to deliver continuous currents up to 4 A per phase without any additional cooling such as heat sinks or forced air flow. (With sufficient additional cooling, the driver can support currents up to around 6 A per phase; see the Power dissipation considerations section below for more information, including important information about using this product safely.)
Key features
- Wide 8 V to 50 V operating voltage range
- High-power: can deliver up to 4 A continuous per phase without extra cooling (6 A max with sufficient additional cooling)
- Highly configurable through SPI interface
- Optional STEP/DIR control pins (stepping can also be controlled through SPI interface alone)
- Nine different step resolutions down to 256 microsteps: full-step, half-step, 1/4-step, 1/8-step, 1/16-step, 1/32-step, 1/64-step, 1/128-step, and 1/256-step
- Adjustable current control lets you set the maximum current output, enabling the use of voltages above your stepper motor’s rated voltage to achieve higher step rates
- Adaptive blanking time, adjustable decay times, and various current decay modes enable the creation of ultra-smooth motion profiles through the SPI interface
- Optional STALL output enables stall detection when microstepping
- Optional BEMF output enables more advanced control and stall detection algorithms based on the back EMF of the stepper motor
- Driver supports alternate operating mode for controlling two brushed DC motors with PWM inputs instead of one bipolar stepper motor with STEP/DIR inputs
- Inputs compatible with 1.8 V, 3.3 V, and 5 V logic
- Digital outputs are all open drain with pull-ups to externally supplied IOREF voltage for use with non-5V systems (IOREF can be connected to neighboring 5V OUT pin for use with 5V systems)
- Under-voltage lockout, over-current protection, short circuit protection, and reverse-voltage protection (up to 40 V)
- Arduino library and example sketches are available that provide basic functions for configuring and operating the driver
Dimensions
Size: | 1.3″ × 1.2″ |
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Weight: | 4.9 g1 |
General specifications
Minimum operating voltage: | 8 V |
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Maximum operating voltage: | 50 V |
Continuous current per phase: | 4 A2 |
Maximum current per phase: | 6 A3 |
Minimum logic voltage: | 1.5 V |
Maximum logic voltage: | 5.5 V |
Microstep resolutions: | full, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64, 1/128, 1/256 |
Current limit control: | SPI-programmable |
Reverse voltage protection?: | Y4 |
Header pins soldered?: | N |
Identifying markings
PCB dev codes: | md38a |
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Other PCB markings: | 0J12286 |
Notes:
Included hardware
This product ships with all surface-mount components installed as shown in the product picture. However, soldering is required for assembly of the included through-hole parts. The following through-hole parts are included:
- Two 1×12-pin breakaway 0.1″ male header
- Three 2-pin, 3.5 mm terminal blocks (for board power and motor outputs)
- One 0.1″ shorting block (for optionally connecting IOREF to neighboring V5 pin when using this driver in 5 V systems)
The 0.1″ male headers can be broken or cut into smaller pieces as desired and soldered into the smaller through-holes. These headers are compatible with solderless breadboards, 0.1″ female connectors, and our premium and pre-crimped jumper wires. The terminal blocks can be soldered into the larger holes to allow for convenient temporary connections of unterminated power and motor wires (see our short video on terminal block installation). You can also solder your motor leads and other connections directly to the board for the most compact installation.
While the High-Power Stepper Motor Driver 36v4 allows control of a stepper motor through a simple step and direction interface, it first needs to be enabled and configured through its SPI interface. This means that the controlling microcontroller must be capable of acting as an SPI master (either with an SPI peripheral or software SPI), and it must be connected to the SDATI, SCLK, and SCS pins. While the SDATO and FAULT pins are not required to use this driver, it is generally a good practice to use them to monitor for error conditions.
Warning: This motor driver has no meaningful over-temperature shut-off (while the DRV8711 IC has over-temperature protection, it is the external MOSFETs that will overheat first). An over-temperature condition can cause permanent damage to the motor driver. We strongly recommend you do not increase the current limit setting beyond 4 A (or lower in applications with reduced heat dissipation) unless you can first confirm that the temperature of the MOSFETs will stay under 140°C.
Note: When the driver powers up, the current limit setting defaults to the maximum (~18 A). Make sure you set it to something appropriate for both your stepper motor and the driver before activating the outputs!
This product can get hot enough to burn you long before the chip overheats. Take care when handling this product and other components connected to it.
File downloads
- DRV8711 Stepper Motor Controller IC datasheet (3MB pdf)
- Schematic diagram of the Pololu High-Power Stepper Motor Driver 36v4 (152k pdf)
- Dimension diagram of the Pololu High-Power Stepper Motor Driver 36v4 (320k pdf)
- 3D model of the Pololu High-Power Stepper Motor Driver 36v4 (7MB step)
- Drill guide for the Pololu High-Power Stepper Motor Driver 36v4 (81k dxf)
- This DXF drawing shows the locations of all of the board’s holes.
- DRV8711 Quick Spin and Tuning Guide (540k pdf)
- DRV8711 Decay Mode Setting Optimization Guide (470k pdf)
Recommended links
- Arduino library for the Pololu High-Power Stepper Motor Driver
- This library for Arduino makes it easy to interface with Pololu High-Power Stepper Motor Driver 36v4.
- DRV8711 documentation
- Texas Instruments’ product page for the DRV8711 stepper motor gate driver IC, with links to its most up-to-date datasheet, application notes, and other resources.
Specifications
Part. No. : | 3730 |
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