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Posted by on March 28, 2008, 8:20 pm
On Fri, 28 Mar 2008, Adman wrote:
> Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:43:24 -0700 (PDT)
> Newsgroups: comp.robotics.misc
> Subject: Driving stepper motors / schematic comprehension help
>
> Hi all... I'm a software guy trying to learn the ropes of electronics.
> I have the goal of controlling a stepper motor using my PC parallel
> port to create +5v control signals. Shouldn't be that hard, right?
> My understanding of 5-wire stepper motors is that there will be one
> common power wire, and four other wires coming out. Attach the power
> wire to the power source, and attach the other wires to ground (using
> some logic to connect the right ones to ground at the right time), and
> you're all set.
> I bought a unipolar stepper motor... the first one listed on this
> page:
> http://www.futurlec.com/StepperMotors.shtml
> One thing I noticed is that the spec sheet lists that it has a "drive
> circuit".
> Some more investigation led me here:
>
http://www.eminebea.com/content/html/en/engineering/motors/pm_motor/selection_pm/drivecircuit.shtml
> Since I bought a unipolar stepper, I think the first schematic on the
> page applies. I'm not quite sure how to read it. It appears that
> what I want to do is attach my parallel port data pins DIRECTLY to the
> bases of each of the transistors (which is what the four non-power
> wires coming out of the motor will be).
> If that's the case, it looks like I use my parallel port control
> signals to activate each transistor according to activate the internal
> electromagnets in the proper order. Being a smart software guy, I can
> handle that. When I do that, the power will go through the coils,
> through the transistors, and into the little black boxes.
> What are those little black boxes? Some sort of internal ground?
> Sorry for the newbish questions, but every description of a unipolar
> stepper motor seems to imply that I need to build or buy my own drive
> circuitry. So the idea that this one might come with its own already
> built right in is throwing me for a loop.
> If someone could confirm my suspicions, or point me in the right
> direction, I'd appreciate it.
> Also, I don't actually have the motor in my hand yet. It's being
> shipped. I'm just trying to get things figured out before it gets
> here. :)
> Thanks!
> Adman
See if this kids course doesn't help:
http://www.taomc.com/bits2bots/index.htm
I believe they used BASIC print commands to move their stepper ...
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> Newsgroups: comp.robotics.misc
> Subject: Driving stepper motors / schematic comprehension help
>
> Hi all... I'm a software guy trying to learn the ropes of electronics.
> I have the goal of controlling a stepper motor using my PC parallel
> port to create +5v control signals. Shouldn't be that hard, right?
> My understanding of 5-wire stepper motors is that there will be one
> common power wire, and four other wires coming out. Attach the power
> wire to the power source, and attach the other wires to ground (using
> some logic to connect the right ones to ground at the right time), and
> you're all set.
> I bought a unipolar stepper motor... the first one listed on this
> page:
> http://www.futurlec.com/StepperMotors.shtml
> One thing I noticed is that the spec sheet lists that it has a "drive
> circuit".
> Some more investigation led me here:
>