This drive should be able to handle 10 Amps per phase
If people think they can use something like this i will lay out a pcb
and get a price kit or assembled and tested.
i have been using a similar one ( with an older processor for 15 years now)

i don't see the image in my posting.
how does one get an image there ?
humm, i don't see the vote box either.
i can program in machine language
101010101011 A6D8FF0CCB9
but can't figure this out

Image needs to be .bmp, .gif or .jpg. PDF file won't show up as image, only link.

thank you abasir, perhaps someone should chande the faq statememt on here as pdf's are on the list.

Is it a chopper drive?

when u tell it to step it steps , a chopper cct if needed and ramping and current limiting would be in your power supply.
as these effects are controling the power, i think this is where these circuits should be anyways.
i could chop the fets in software,

when u tell it to step it steps , a chopper cct if needed and ramping and current limiting would be in your power supply.
as these effects are controling the power, i think this is where these circuits should be anyways.

Thanks. The board I'm using doesn't have it. So I guess I can add it on the PS? How could I do that, any links?

you could have a mosfet(s) turned on and off in the common power line to your motor phases.
the fets could be controled by the drive input step signal.
a simple 555 timer give you a manual adjustable pulse width, (pwm, pulse width modulation) about 7 components, if u r an electronics guy
i think a chopping cct would only be used if the motors rated voltage and/or current is exceeded to give you more rpm's. if the power is chopped when the motor is stopped you will loose holding power.
unless the voltage and chopper on time are matched for a given motor the motor may get real hot or loose power.

smarbaga,

Do you have the firmware? Are you going to share it with us?

i have the software, and sure i will share it, i have to order some of those pics
and i can write the software in 3 or 4 hours and another 3-4 hours when the prototype is done, probably in 3 or 4 weeks( vacation... yeh yeh yeh )
i'll try to display the schematic and pcb again..... i am doing what the instructions say here..... well here goes ...

Please, let me know when the firmware is available. I am interested to test your board. you said that it is doing microstepping, isn't it?

yes, i was planning to have it do full and half steps would u say microstepping in 1/4 or 1/8 steps or something like that, and i will let u know when i have the new pic's and programmed.
btw the mosfets are IRLZ44's ... (ttl level gating) as irfz's take 10v to turn on

yeah, you said microstepping, and i was thinking about 1/4, 1/8, 1/16..anyway, thank you.

What would be the maximum voltage you could use with this driver to drive your motors.

with this drive the fets are rated at 60 volts but they come in up to 600v packages, pc boards would (should) have to conformally coated ( a spray on material ) and the trace size would have to be accordingly. and the zener piv would have to be checked.
the more features one adds the more the thing costs.
sometimes one is paying for features you will never use, (like the vcr's are)
i think a modular aproach is in line, like a plug in ramping board, a pulse with modulation board, etc.... this way if something does fry you don't have to replace the whole system.
i have what i think is a nice design of a stepper controller using latest ic's available, i took all the features of controllers i could find and put them on a single system, but i can't display it on here yet as this kinda stuff keeps a roof over my head and a crust of bread on the table, i think it will be out in 2 months. the one i displayed on here is a basic driver module the pcb is only 1.5" x 2.5".

Hi,

How is going with the firmware for this controller that you uploaded here? You said that as it would be finished you publicize it here. Still, keep this promise?

Zoltan

hello :
infact i have the software done, it runs ok on the simulator,
i plan to order the pics tomorrow.
this will let me do a real live test,
i will post it in about 1 week,
the pcb layout is not exactly the same, but it is close
that was a rough draft of the pcb and schematic.
ps: for the fets to turn on with 5 volts you must use the 5 volt turn on fets,
i can't think of the # exactly something like iflz44 (national rectifyer, digikey)

Hi,

What is the status with your controller?

Zoltan

Hello to all; I too am interested in this drive. I require an 8amp(min) microsteping drive for a Bridgeport retrofit.

I have been searching for this. I wondered why noone has designed a "universal" drive that the power capability can be altered by changing the rated mosfets or IGBT's. All of the deticated IC solutions I have found are rated at 3amps max, very low for my needs.

Please let me know if you need anyone to test a high current design. I can alter the design using the higher power mosfets and create the pcb to test it. Of course the results would be available to the community, good or bad.

Thank you for sharing and please keep me in mind for any schematic/pcb layout. I can create a pcb up to 4.5" x 6.5" in Eagle.

I am looking at using a pic18252 and high side drivers to drive high voltage, high current FETs.
The 18252 will supply current sense and control for up to 1/8 step drive and high side drivers should drive FETs to 150 volts and over 15 amps.

Has anyone done this before?
If they have, did it work?
From the data sheets, the high side drivers are good to 600 volts.
Dollar FETS are good to 50 amps.

The basic circuit should work for unipolar and bipolar drivers, except unipolar will have 4 FETs with low side drivers and bipolar will have 8 FETs with bridge drivers.

I have 10 PBL3776 chips but they only single and 1/2 step to 10 amps.
I would like to go to microstepping.

Anyone done this before? (I'm sure someone has done it- I just have to find them.

bcwanderer :

i don't see where the pic18f2520 has a current sensor.
am i missing something ?

I am considering using 18252 to output to a resistor ladder.
A comparator will compare the voltage at the ladder with the current from each phase.
The output from the comparator will e fed back to the Pic.
4 outputs per phase can give me 1/8 step values.
I am working on timing issues and laying out a board.
I have not tested it in real life.
Still working on the board.
Any ideas or experience with this type of idea would be appreciated.
Thanks

Hello
I`m very interested in this hi-current drives. I have the same problem as "rboeser". I have high Amp steppers. I dont have any PIC-programers or the ability to make the PCB so i am very interested in the "kit" you mentioned when you started this thread. If you have some, I´m ready to buy....!
Thanks