4 phase input to Step/Dir conversion?

[Konstantin]

Hello.
I have this unipolar stepper drive module that accepts 4 phase input, A 'A B 'B and you know I would need 2 LPTs to drive 3 motors if I want more outputs and limit switches.
Is there a converter of some sort (single IC hopefuly) so I could supply Step/Dir inputs and it would translate it in Full/Half 4 phase?


Thank you.
Konstantin.

[kreutz]

L297 (stepper motor controller IC) from ST

[ViperTX]

Konstantin....are you sure that is correct. It almost seems like those are quadature encoder inputs?

[smarbaga]

you can get the motor signals for the phases from the port then go through drive transistors, but a separate breakout board and separate motor drive boards is the way to go.
feeding just step and direction to each of the motor drive boards.
the motor drive boards will look after the rest ( current, voltage, phase switching)

[Clyde Crashkop]

You can also get another 4 bits from the LPT control register but some need inverting.

[pminmo]

Originally Posted by Konstantin Hello. I have this unipolar stepper drive module that accepts 4 phase input, A 'A B 'B and you know I would need 2 LPTs to drive 3 motors if I want more outputs and limit switches. Is there a converter of some sort (single IC hopefuly) so I could supply Step/Dir inputs and it would translate it in Full/Half 4 phase? Thank you. Konstantin.

Those look like motor connections.

[Konstantin]

Thanks for the replays guys.

Right, Kreutz, the L297 looks like the way to go.
I have looked at the schematic and hopefully I could interface my drive board with the L297 and the sensing resistors wont be needed.

The thing is that there this guy, who can get alot of copiers and he salvages many parts from them, so I have bought a couple drive modules, one is a 1/16 microstepping drive that accepts STEP/DIR input and the other simple one that accepts A A' B B' phases to drive it. Both modules are in the 2A range 48V.

This guy promises that he has somewhere around his piles of junk a bag full of this modules, but it is yet to be confirmed.


I have been figuring out the way the microstepping drive works and thus it looks a bit dirty here and there, I removed the resistor network used as pull up for some signals. One thing to be careful about is that (imho) the amperage selection for this board uses voltage less that the 5V stated in the Sanyos IC datasheet, so the Vref voltage dividing circuit wont make sense if you use the datasheet's formulas.

Konstantin.

In the photo the one on the left is the simple drive, on the right is the microstepping drive.
Usually the drives are mounted on the stepper itself and use a thin sheet of aluminum as heat sink.

[kreutz]

I have looked at the schematic and hopefully I could interface my drive board with the L297 and the sensing resistors wont be needed.

Is the board taking care of the current limiting (chopping)? If it is not, how will you limit the current on the coils?

[Konstantin]

Originally Posted by kreutz Is the board taking care of the current limiting (chopping)? If it is not, how will you limit the current on the coils?

Yes the Sanyo ICs are chopped.


Konstantin.

[Konstantin]

I was experimenting with the L297 and no success. THe l297 sure looks like it performs the function I need, to convert STEP/DIR into coil activation signals but will it work standalone without L298?

At the beginning I just powered the L297 and wired the AA BB from my drive to the L297 pins 4,6,7,9 and used a LM555 to supply the L297 pin18 STEP pulse and nothing, also I tried to connect it to +5 or GND and no output on the motor.
When the drive phases are connected to GND the coils energize. So the drive is working, but the L297 is to be used in conjunction with the L298 and I just don't know what to do with the INH1 INH2 signals nor the pins 13 14 which connect to current sensing resistors.
I am worrying that I might damaged the L297, hopefully not.

Or I should just go with a microcontroller and write some code for this translator I need. The thing is I never used any microcontroller and I have no idea which one to use.


Konstantin.

[kreutz]

Originally Posted by Konstantin I was experimenting with the L297 and no success. THe l297 sure looks like it performs the function I need, to convert STEP/DIR into coil activation signals but will it work standalone without L298? At the beginning I just powered the L297 and wired the AA BB from my drive to the L297 pins 4,6,7,9 and used a LM555 to supply the L297 pin18 STEP pulse and nothing, also I tried to connect it to +5 or GND and no output on the motor. When the drive phases are connected to GND the coils energize. So the drive is working, but the L297 is to be used in conjunction with the L298 and I just don't know what to do with the INH1 INH2 signals nor the pins 13 14 which connect to current sensing resistors. I am worrying that I might damaged the L297, hopefully not. Or I should just go with a microcontroller and write some code for this translator I need. The thing is I never used any microcontroller and I have no idea which one to use. Konstantin.

Konstantin;

The L297 could be used without the L298, but you need to know more about the circuit you are driving, do you happen to have any schematics?

INH1 and INH2 are chopper signals.

[Konstantin]

Hi Kreutz.
Of course I am using the L297 documentation and the STK6713BMK4 drive module documentation.
I just cant make the L297 do what I want, I could simply forget about the drive I wish to hook up and use 4 leds to see it working. If it works then my drive will work as well.

Konstantin.