How to Select the Best Stepper Driver

A stepper motor driver is an electronic gadget that helps drive the stepper motor. There are many types of stepper motor drivers available and though all of them do the same thing, that is, move the stepper motors, nonetheless, they are different, and each has their own advantage and disadvantage. The driver you choose depends largely on the type of task the stepper motor will be required to do and also on the step mode requirements.

Let us now get to learn about the different types of stepper motor driver available for you to choose from.

1. Chopper Drivers

These are the most popular type of stepper driver. Chopper drivers are constant current drivers and they provide the coils with current continuously. High voltage current will be sent to each of the coils simultaneously until they reach the desired current level. Once this happens, the voltage that was being passed is "chopped" or so to say the voltage is considerably reduced, but the coils still enjoys the high levels.

Chopper drivers generally come with interchangeable resistors, which helps the users alter the voltage perfectly. The best models are those with frequencies of at least 20 KHz or more. Though they provide great services they can also be slightly pricier compared to the lower frequency models. Low-frequency drivers, however, provide comparatively reduced performance and efficiency, and also might create a whining sound.

If you plan to purchase a chopper stepper driver online, you will come across two options or two types – bipolar and unipolar. Each of them can be used with different types of stepper motors.

Bipolar Drivers - These drivers are suitable for 4, 6, and 8 wire stepper motors, and are created to be used with two-phase motors. Such drivers have just a single wound coil each phase. These are a slightly complex device as with just a single coil each phase, the current direction seamlessly and rapidly needs to be reversed to alter the motor’s polarity. They are pricier compared to unipolar drivers, but at the same time are more efficient, offering about 40 % higher torque than unipolar drivers, with a similar motor and input.

Unipolar Drivers - Unipolar drivers work well with motors having 5, 6, or 8 wires. Such drivers have a double wrapped coil in every phase. Owing to this, you will not have to reverse the current direction to alter magnetic polarization. Unipolar drivers are cheaper compared to the bipolar models but are set up in a similar way. However, a problem with unipolar driver is that they are not as efficient. A good amount of the input energy is converted into heat and thus is wasted.

2. Resistance and Inductance Drives

While browsing through a stepper driver online you will also come across resistance and inductance drivers. Similar to chopper drivers, these too are constant voltage drivers. They are not as efficient as other types of drive circuits, but then they are also less expensive. They work on an induction and resistance circuit, and reaching the complete torque is a slow and long procedure. In this process, lots of energy is also wasted, which gets transformed into heat, and thus the input is always more than the output.

3. Bi-Level Drivers

These drivers waste little energy and are highly efficient. Bi-level drivers work just like the chopper drivers. The coils receive the current very rapidly, and once the preferred level is reached, a low voltage replaces the high voltage to maintain the levels. Bi-level drivers can be used only with half step and full step modes and not with micro stepping.

While buying a stepper driver online for your motor, you need to consider your budget, the intended use of the motor, and the necessary features. Also, make sure to find out if the drivers are compatible with the motor you will be using, as motors will not work with an improper driver.

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