Unipolar Stepper run with Bipolar Driver

[bcromwell]

I thought I read this some where on the forum before but I can't find it now.

I have a stepper with 6 wires (Unipolar), and I want to run it using my Xylotex Bipolar Driver, How do I figure out which wire go where?? Are two of the wires not used??

Thanks

[abasir]

I am also in process of doing same thing. I believe you are correct (two wires not used). If you ignore the center (common) wire, current rating has to be half of rated value (since resistance is double). If you ignore the other ends wire, current rating is as rated. I believe there's some info at Gecko site on this matter but let the CNC Guru confirm this.

My question, running unipolar as bipolar means two phase are energise same time (more torque). Doesn't this means the heat to be dissipated is doubled? Is motor heating something I should worry about?

Thanks

[CNCadmin]

Originally posted by bcromwell I thought I read this some where on the forum before but I can't find it now. I have a stepper with 6 wires (Unipolar), and I want to run it using my Xylotex Bipolar Driver, How do I figure out which wire go where?? Are two of the wires not used?? Thanks

http://www.cnczone.com/showthread.ph...=stepper+wires

[bcromwell]

Thanks for the info guys!!

[bunalmis]

6 wire motor coils.

[NWUpgrades]

What about reversing this. Using a Unipolar Stepper Driver to control a Bipolar motor. Is that possible?

[MrBean]

I don't think you can run a bi-polar motor with a unipolar drive.

I'm running unipolar motors on a bi-polar drive. Using half winding.

Done some testing and for me it runs better than full winding / half current.

Regards Terry......

[ger21]

Originally Posted by NWUpgrades What about reversing this. Using a Unipolar Stepper Driver to control a Bipolar motor. Is that possible?

As long as it's not a 4 wire motor. 4 wire motor = bipolar only. 6 and 8 wire motors work with both.

[rdmotors]

What about 5 wire?

[Ferenczyg]

a 5 wire motor is or can be seen like a 6 wire unipolar motor with both commons linked. look to bunalmis picture

/Fer

[NWUpgrades]

Next issue. I have a 4 wire Bipolar stepper motor. I have ordered pretty much everything I need to get it going. I do have one question. On all the documentation I have been reading it states "Power to the Motor". If you have only 4 wires, how do you get power to the motor? It was my assumption that the power was controlled via the controller card. I am a little confused.

[MrBean]

Power to the motor is delivered down those 4 wires. The controller manages How much and when.

Regards Terry.....