What are the options for 3A to 4A drives?

[Konstantin]

Hello.
Have the holy grail of 4 amp microstepping stepper drives been found?
Something ST or Allegro with few parts for bi or uni?
So far I have experimented doing discrete w chopper board, L297-8 and I used up all my small motors and left with 3A,3.5A motors. Half step is nicer than full step but it feels like its not enough. One dreams with at least 1/8.

Is anyone out there making such drives? I confess total newbiness in the field of in dept electronics, I like to build things and experiment.

[hesham morsy]

avr 5 amp
http://www.pminmo.com/kreutz/mkuni.htm


L297 + mosfets 5 amp
http://pminmo.com/l297unipolar/l297unipolar.htm
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9145

[Konstantin]

Mardus Kreutz is very good and I actually have 2 pcb's from him but havent got to pupulate them yet.
I am looking for something less complex, with fewer parts as possible. I guess if there were such a solution we were all be doing it by now, he he.

[pminmo]

Do you need unipolar or bipolar?

[Konstantin]

Hi Phill.
I am looking for something with the following caracteristics:
Low piece count.
Microstep capable.
4A (not just peak but regular operation)
Bipolar or unipolar does not matter.

That is why I ask for the "holy grail".

[pminmo]

Does it make any difference if there is a programmable microcontroller such as a PIC or AVR? The reason I'm inquisitive is future projects. I've become a fan of quarterstepping as it's less taxing on PC speed and a significant improvement in minimizing resonance.

[Konstantin]

Well I wish to build something in that range as well. Quad step or Octa step would be great. Which drive is it?

I am a little bit apprehensive with pics/avr but I would try.

[pminmo]

Right not it doesn't exist with the PIC or AVR, just contemplating something.