Alternative for L298 to bear current beyond 2.8 Ampere.

I am building a CNC machine based on NEMA 23 stepper motor with following specifications:

Step Angle : 1.8 Degree
Configuration: 6 wire stepper motor
Holding Torque: 19kgcm bipolar
Rated voltage : 3.2VDC
Phase current : 2.8Amp
Resistance/phase: 1.13E
Inductance/Phase : 5.6mH
Rotor inertia: 480 gcm2
Detent torque: 0.68kgcm
Length (L): 76mm
Shaft Dia : 6.35mm
Shaft Length : 22mm
Weight: 1030 grams

The current requirement of NEMA 23 is too large for either L293D or L298 to handle.

Is there any alternative to these IC's? I don't wanna purchase a ready made driver because the cost will increase too much.

I don't know what's available but it seems like most higher-power stepper-drivers use discrete MOSFETs

The L298 is totally unsuitable for that motor.

To get the maximum torque, you will need a high power driver like a Geckodrive. However, if you do not need the maximum possible, use an inexpensive chopper driver like the DRV8825 from Pololu and set the winding current to about 1.5 amperes.

Absolutely, you want to use a chopper driver. Otherwise, torque drops off quickly with speed.

abhi11207:
I am building a CNC machine based on NEMA 23 stepper motor with following specifications:
........
Is there any alternative to these IC's? I don't wanna purchase a ready made driver because the cost will increase too much.

Unfortunately for higher-performance steppers like those, you probably do need to spend the money. As Polymorph says, chopper drivers, using higher voltages than rated, for best performance. Then, you're getting somewheres. However maybe,
http://www.mpja.com/Stepper-Motor-Drivers/products/525/
http://www.mpja.com/Stepmotor-Driver-3A-Max-TB6560/productinfo/31306%20MS/
http://www.mpja.com/Stepper-Motor-Driver-3A-Max-CW230/productinfo/17451%20MS/

The TB6560 is available already built, cheap from China on eBay. However, be prepared to fix them. I forget the details, but many of them seem to share the same flaws, but once fixed, reviews are good.

Regarding fixing the flaws:

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/general-cnc-machine-related-electronics/110986-software.html

Be cautious of building any of the projects from Instructables... no one checks them for bad ideas or errors in design.

Regarding the need for a chopper driver, the L297 is the complementary controller IC for the L298:

http://www.st.com/web/en/resource/technical/document/datasheet/CD00000063.pdf

That said - note that both of these chips are considered "obsolete" - in this case, however - as long as it isn't for a portable or otherwise battery-operated device (and a CNC machine should be plugged in) - it should be perfectly capable, provided that the upper limit on voltage of the L298 isn't lower than that of the motor's limit (otherwise you can't obtain max speed). If you can round up the L297 chips needed, and incorporate them into your design (and you don't need any real advanced drive capabilities which newer systems might have) - then you might want to try them out.

Or - spend the money and get something more recent.

Regarding the need for a chopper driver, the L297 is the complementary controller IC for the L298:

I guess you missed the OP's first post wherein he states his phase current is 2.8A, and other posters have advised the L298/293 devices are not only obsolete but not up to the task at those currents.

Something like this is the bare minimum to handle 2.8A comfortably (ie without needing
heatsink and fan):
http://www.geckodrive.com/geckodrive-step-motor-drives/g250x.html

It has 2 MOSFET H-bridges using discrete MOSFETs and chopper-control circuitry.

No single-chip solution for 3A is really viable as lots of power would be dissipated in the
chip, almost as much as in the motor, integrated DMOS MOSFETs are 0.2 ohms or
more, discrete MOSFETs (vertical current flow) can be 0.01 ohms or less...