Need Help!- Don't know how to use stepper driver

[Cain]

I recently acquired a stepper driver (CY-41), I have the datasheet and complete pinout, I just have no idea how to make it work.

Here's all the useful bits from the .PDF in .jpg form:

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/4941/74408178.jpg

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/8784/90117057.jpg


I just don't understand how I'm supposed to control it, there's no interface port for a computer of any kind built onto it, it's a small rectangular aluminum brick with metal pins sticking out the top.

The motors still have the connectors for them, so I'm fine with that, but what does "High" and "Pulled Low" mean (NC is Not Connected, right?) Is the pin "High" if I connect 12v from the power supply to it, and "Pulled Low" if I connect one of the ground wires to it?

Is the resistor to limit the motor current required, or can it be left out?

Is this something I could hook to a parallel port to control a stepper? How many of this controller could I hook to a parallel port to control, if possible?

Sorry for so many questions, I've had the parts and the motors for years to make a cnc machine, but I've always had an extremely hard time with the electronics, I've never had a stepper motor run before

[naveen.a019]

First of all you need to brush up on stepper motor basics...

[vger]

The resistor must be there and of the correct value for your motor.
Pulled low means at or near ground from a logic level driver (parallel port)
High means +5 volts from a logic driver (parallel port)
NC means not connected.

You will only need to connect pins 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, & 10.

Pins 3 and 4 will connect to the parallel port (perhaps through a break out board)

Pin 7 must connect to a +5 volt power supply.

The correct resistor must connect across pins 8 and 9

Pin 10 must connect to the stepper motor power supply ground, and the 5 volt power supply ground, and ground from the parallel port or breakout board.

Don't get frustrated, just read a lot, and look at how other stepper motor drivers are connected.

[Cain]

Originally Posted by vger The resistor must be there and of the correct value for your motor. Pulled low means at or near ground from a logic level driver (parallel port) High means +5 volts from a logic driver (parallel port) NC means not connected. You will only need to connect pins 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, & 10. Pins 3 and 4 will connect to the parallel port (perhaps through a break out board) Pin 7 must connect to a +5 volt power supply. The correct resistor must connect across pins 8 and 9 Pin 10 must connect to the stepper motor power supply ground, and the 5 volt power supply ground, and ground from the parallel port or breakout board. Don't get frustrated, just read a lot, and look at how other stepper motor drivers are connected.

Thanks, this has been very helpful, although I still have a few questions...

So, pin 7 needs +5v. Could I just use a computer power supply to supply the +5v and the +12v for the motor, and just use any ground wire from the power supply?

Also, 2 pins of a parallel port needed...wouldn't I need to use a ground pin from the parallel port too? where would that go?

I understand how steppers work, the drivers just confuse me horribly. Thanks guys.


EDIT: Just re-read that, nevermind about the ground question...should not read things like this at 6 AM.

So, say I wanted to test this driver to see if it even worked. Could I substitute the parallel port for a low-voltage power supply, and rapidly connect/disconnect the step in pin (3) to make the motor step a few times?

[vger]

You should use a seperate power supply for the 5V. If you have an extra computer power supply, that will work, as long as you have it jumpered so it will operate without being connected to a computer.

To test, you will be touching the step pin to ground. Ground in this case being one of the black wires from the computer supply you are using. Internally of the driver there is an opto-isolator. The LED in the opto-isolator(s) is connected so that the positive side goes to the +5V pin (through a resistor) and the negative side goes to the input pin. So with 5V on pin 7 when you ground (take low) the step input pin, the step occurs.

The ground of the 5V supply (any of the black wires on a computer supply) must be connected to one of the ground pins on the parallel port for it to work with the computer.

I was a bit wrong here....

"Pin 10 must connect to the stepper motor power supply ground, and the 5 volt power supply ground, and ground from the parallel port or breakout board.
"
I should have said....

Pin 10 must connect to the stepper motor power supply ground, and the 5 volt power supply ground must be connected to the ground on the parallel port or breakout board.

You do not have need to connect the stepper motor power supply ground (pin 10) to the ground of the 5V supply. Although it would probably not hurt anything, it is not needed.

[Cain]

Originally Posted by vger You should use a seperate power supply for the 5V. If you have an extra computer power supply, that will work, as long as you have it jumpered so it will operate without being connected to a computer. To test, you will be touching the step pin to ground. Ground in this case being one of the black wires from the computer supply you are using. Internally of the driver there is an opto-isolator. The LED in the opto-isolator(s) is connected so that the positive side goes to the +5V pin (through a resistor) and the negative side goes to the input pin. So with 5V on pin 7 when you ground (take low) the step input pin, the step occurs. The ground of the 5V supply (any of the black wires on a computer supply) must be connected to one of the ground pins on the parallel port for it to work with the computer. I was a bit wrong here.... "Pin 10 must connect to the stepper motor power supply ground, and the 5 volt power supply ground, and ground from the parallel port or breakout board. " I should have said.... Pin 10 must connect to the stepper motor power supply ground, and the 5 volt power supply ground must be connected to the ground on the parallel port or breakout board. You do not have need to connect the stepper motor power supply ground (pin 10) to the ground of the 5V supply. Although it would probably not hurt anything, it is not needed.

Holy ****, it worked!

Finally some progress....it actually MOVED

So, since each motor requires 2 inputs, I could control 4 motors with a parallel port and correct input...

This makes me wonder how I could, say, control 3 motors and have either limit switches or optos so I would be able to find the home position...

Time to read up some more on control software. Thanks for your help, this is a huge step in the right direction for me.

[vger]

Great! Yep, 4 motors or... maybe even 5... The parallel port has some other inputs and outputs originally intended for things like Strobe, Paper Out, Error, Busy, Acknowledge, etc... In addition to the 8 data lines (pins 2-9) There are 4 outputs and 5 inputs. I've got 2 outputs running to SSR's (solid state relays) to control the spindle and dust collector and 3 inputs connected to optical limit switches.

What software are you using? Mach3? TurboCNC? EMC2?

Steve

[Cain]

Originally Posted by vger Great! Yep, 4 motors or... maybe even 5... The parallel port has some other inputs and outputs originally intended for things like Strobe, Paper Out, Error, Busy, Acknowledge, etc... In addition to the 8 data lines (pins 2-9) There are 4 outputs and 5 inputs. I've got 2 outputs running to SSR's (solid state relays) to control the spindle and dust collector and 3 inputs connected to optical limit switches. What software are you using? Mach3? TurboCNC? EMC2? Steve

None yet, looks like I'm probably going to use EMC2, been reading the documentation.

I'm actually a highschool student, also building a reprap for my senior project. My electronics teacher was tossing out a large number of steppers and other equipment (Not enough time to tech them to kids anymore, along with impatient students, etc.) so I decided to take them off his hands, he's extremely supportive.

I'm going to download EMC2 shortly, thanks for your help.

[vger]

RepRap machine! Cool I've been thinking of building one too when I get past some other projects...

Best of luck.
Steve

[gylron]

Hope someone can help me out with this; I've got CY-40 drivers which are actually in a Huntron Robotic Prober 388. These are similar with the CY-41's of Cain. Can someone tell me at which frequency these drivers are run?

Thanks,
Ronny.