Facts about Stepper Motor Drives That You Must Know
Perhaps you don't know how to choose a motor driver for your stepper motor. You will be able to understand everything from this article. 
Before you choose a driver, it is good to know what the stepper driver is.
1. A stepper driver is an electronic device that changes the current into the plus.
2. It actually does nothing on its own; it needs to be used with a controller.
3. There are various kinds of stepper drivers. You need to select it according to the motor.
4. The basic function of them is to drive the motor.
1. The voltage and the current required by the motor are not from the controller.
2. The stepper driver could transform the movement instructions into sequences.
3. The sequences will be fed into the winding of the unipolar step motor to make the motor run. There are basically two types of stepper drivers according to the driver circuits. Namely, they are the constant-voltage drivers and the constant-current drivers.
2. These drivers provide constant voltage to create torque.
3. Normally, the constant drivers could be more efficient.
4. The performance of the constant-voltage drivers is worse than constant-current drivers.
2. The circuits used in these drivers are more complex.
3. These drivers generate a constant current flow to drive the stepper motors.
4. The performance of the constant-current drivers is better than the constant-voltage drivers. The constant-current drivers are commonly used due to their better motor performance. Another reason for its popularity is the availability of many ICs. Know More about the Digital Stepper Drivers & the Analog Stepper Drives.
1. Anti-resonance.
2. The motor movement will become smooth.
3. Low heat and noise.
4. Support multi-axis control.
5. The micro-step resolution is selectable.
6. Support Over-current protection and Over-voltage protection.
Some features of the analog stepper drivers you may concern about:
1. The output current is selectable.
2. The micro-step resolution is selectable.
3. H-bridge Bipolar steady current driving.
4. The signal input and output are isolated.
6. The single pulse interface uses a standard common anode.
7. Off-line protection is available.
8. Semi-closed housing for the rough working condition.
9. Automatic semi-flow lock available.
What is a Stepper Motor Driver?
Before you choose a driver, it is good to know what the stepper driver is.1. A stepper driver is an electronic device that changes the current into the plus.
2. It actually does nothing on its own; it needs to be used with a controller.
3. There are various kinds of stepper drivers. You need to select it according to the motor.
4. The basic function of them is to drive the motor.
Why do you need a Stepper Motor Drive?
And you need to know why a stepper motor driver is necessary.1. The voltage and the current required by the motor are not from the controller.
2. The stepper driver could transform the movement instructions into sequences.
3. The sequences will be fed into the winding of the unipolar step motor to make the motor run. There are basically two types of stepper drivers according to the driver circuits. Namely, they are the constant-voltage drivers and the constant-current drivers.
The Constant-Voltage Drive:
1. Compared with the constant-current drivers, the constant-voltage drivers are less costly.2. These drivers provide constant voltage to create torque.
3. Normally, the constant drivers could be more efficient.
4. The performance of the constant-voltage drivers is worse than constant-current drivers.
The Constant-Current Drive:
1. The constant-current drivers are more expensive than the constant-voltage drivers.2. The circuits used in these drivers are more complex.
3. These drivers generate a constant current flow to drive the stepper motors.
4. The performance of the constant-current drivers is better than the constant-voltage drivers. The constant-current drivers are commonly used due to their better motor performance. Another reason for its popularity is the availability of many ICs. Know More about the Digital Stepper Drivers & the Analog Stepper Drives.
Digital Stepper Drives
Modern technology is used to implement these drivers. They are easy to use and can be effectively utilized for driving 2-phase or 4-phase motors. Some digital stepper drivers can work with a voltage of 24-70 VDC and their maximum current can reach 10.0 A. And you can use a DIP switch to set the required current and micro-steps resolution. Some features of the digital stepper drivers you may concern about:1. Anti-resonance.
2. The motor movement will become smooth.
3. Low heat and noise.
4. Support multi-axis control.
5. The micro-step resolution is selectable.
6. Support Over-current protection and Over-voltage protection.
Analog Stepper Drives
These drivers may use THB7128 IC and can provide a micro-step resolution of as much as 25600 steps per rev.Some features of the analog stepper drivers you may concern about:
1. The output current is selectable.
2. The micro-step resolution is selectable.
3. H-bridge Bipolar steady current driving.
4. The signal input and output are isolated.
6. The single pulse interface uses a standard common anode.
7. Off-line protection is available.
8. Semi-closed housing for the rough working condition.
9. Automatic semi-flow lock available.