Can't make stepper motor nema 17 run

Other Hardware Motors, Mechanics, Power and CNC
1

Hello everyone Im new on this forum and I'm a completely ignorant with electricity, i don't know nothing about electricity, when i say nothing is NOTHING, but a wanna build a motorized dolly slider to make time lapse with my camera.
I spend all day searching everywhere for a solution but nothing works.

I bought this...

stepper motor nema 17

Easy driver

Breadboard

Arniuno UNO
http://store-usa.arduino.cc/products/a000066

Battery holder

I have connected 6 AA baterries 1.2v 2000mAh and 2 AA batteries 2500 mAh.

I connect everything using this page

Here is my problem....

When i load the code the motor only vibrates.

Here you can see my connections.

Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3

A little vídeo of what i'm doing.

Video

I don't know what I'm doing wrong I hope I can get some help here, thanks and sorry for my bad English.

2

It is not surprising that it won't work.

The motor requires 2 amps but the Easydriver can, at best, provide 0.75 amps. You need at least a Pololu DRV8825 driver but, ideally, a driver that can provide more current - I think Pololu have a newer device that can provide up to 3 amps. You can also get bigger and more expensive industrial drivers such as Gecko and Leadshine.

You would be best driving the motor with 12v, 24v or more.

Because the motor needs 2 amps per coil (or about 4 amps total) it is not really suitable for battery power.

Have a look at Stepper Motor Basics and this Simple Stepper Code

...R

3

Reduce stepping pace. (give the stepper a chance to finishe one step before next ir ordered)

4

knut_ny:
Reduce stepping pace. (give the stepper a chance to finishe one step before next ir ordered)

Perhaps I have missed something, but I did not see any indication of the speed at which the OP's code is generating steps.

...R

5

Okey, i read Stepper Motor Basics and now I thing I have an Idea...
I have a question...knowing I need more power (12v/24v) to run this project, is extremely necessary to change the easy driver if a put a battery 12v or more? If yes i will buy the Pololu DRV8825 but i wanna be sure because i saw i lot of videos online and people run the stepper motor nema 17 with the easydriver, i'm a little confused on that. Thanks you again for your help and I apologize if I'm asking too much.

6

Nema 17 is only a specification for the dimensions of the front face of the motor. It tells you nothing about the electrical characteristics. I have Nema 17 motors that just draw 0.33 amps and could easily work with an Easydriver.

You might also consider this Pololu AMIS-30543 which seems able to provide more current than the DRV8825. Read all the specs carefully before you part with your money.

...R

7

In fact the 17 means 1.7 inches between the shaft and a non-existant side-mounting plate
if I recall correctly - its an extension of a US motor size scale for industrial motors to smaller
sizes. Any motor can be would for high voltage low current or vice versa, it just depends on
the thickness of the wire used for the windings. 2A is about the highest current rating for a NEMA
stepper I've seen.

For slow moving system like you want to build you don't even need a bipolar motor, a high
impedance unipolar motor is fine, which could be driven by an ULN2083 or similar.

8

For slow moving system like you want to build you don't even need a bipolar motor, a high
impedance unipolar motor is fine, which could be driven by an ULN2083 or similar.

Before i bought the motor I search and ask for something that can move my camera for the slider rail step by step (one single move every 1 or 2 minutes) I need that time (1 or 2 minutes) for night pictures for a time lapse and long exposure. A couple people told me the nema 17 was the best to do that so I hope I can make this project work with what I have.
Searching online to make this motor move I found this battery

http://www.amazon.com/UPG-UB1280I-Sealed-Lead-Batteries/dp/B0009GIKNE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1446507420&sr=8-1&keywords=lead+acid+battery

Will this battery work with what I have right now ? not connecting the Arduino UNO, just the easy driver and the stepper motor, for the Arduino I still don't understand a couple of things.

9

FernadoB:
Will this battery work with what I have right now ? not connecting the Arduino UNO, just the easy driver and the stepper motor, for the Arduino I still don't understand a couple of things.

Assuming you really mean "a suitable stepper driver" rather than the Easydriver then the motor will be drawing a lot of current from that battery.

You should assume that the "real" battery capacity is 50% of the sticker value.

How long to you want the motor to work for between battery charges?

...R

10

FernandoB,

You may like to have a look at my post "Camera slider".

This may help you to achieve your goal.

Ken

11

How long to you want the motor to work for between battery charges?

2 to 3 hours max.

You may like to have a look at my post "Camera slider".

This may help you to achieve your goal.

I will check your post when I get home, thank you.

12

FernadoB:
2 to 3 hours max.

The specs for the motor say it requires 2 amps per coil and the coil resistance is 1.1 ohms. That suggests a nominal voltage of about 2v. The 12v battery has 6 times that voltage. Then the average current from a 12v battery would be about 2/6 amps per coil or 4/6 amps total - call it 1 amp because there are many imponderables.

That suggests that your battery should be good for 2 - 3 hours. But don't contact me if it is not.

Do be careful to recharge the battery fully as soon as possible after each use if you want it to last a long time. Lead acid batteries do like being left discharged.

...R

13

That suggests that your battery should be good for 2 - 3 hours. But don't contact me if it is not.

I hope so. Im getting the battery tomorrow so I will post the result tomorrow and don't worry I will not contact you if the battery doesn't work. thanks for your help

14

Well I tried now with this battery

I charge the battery 100% and I get the same problem, the motor just shake.

what can be the problem ?

15

FernadoB:
I charge the battery 100% and I get the same problem, the motor just shake.

what can be the problem ?

Have you replaced the Easydriver with a more suitable stepper driver?
If not, have you at least adjusted the Easydriver to ensure it can provide its full 0.75amp current?

That battery should certainly make the motor move. The problem is somewhere else.

Post your code.
Make a pencil drawing showing all the wiring connections and post a photo of the drawing.

...R

16

Have you replaced the Easydriver with a more suitable stepper driver?

I bought the pololu DRV8825 but i didn't received yet so I was trying with the easy driver for now until I get the Pololu.

If not, have you at least adjusted the Easydriver to ensure it can provide its full 0.75amp current?

Yes

Post your code.
Make a pencil drawing showing all the wiring connections and post a photo of the drawing.

Wiring Connections

Code

void setup() {
pinMode(8, OUTPUT);
pinMode(9, OUTPUT);
digitalWrite(8, LOW);
digitalWrite(9, LOW);
}

void loop() {
digitalWrite(9, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(9, LOW);
delay(1);
}

17

I can't say whether that wiring is correct. A pencil drawing with everything labelled is easier to follow.

Do you know which wires from the motor belong to the different coils?

Try increasing the second delay() to 100 millisecs and reducing the first delay to 10 microsecs. If that works then you can experiment with shorter delays. (Don't change the 10 µsecs).

...R

18

okey so i didnt have too much time this week but i get the pololu drv8825 and connect everything, I connect everything exactly like this picture

i plug the 12v battery and the capacitor start coming a lot of smoke and the pololu too, so I'm guessing i born everything :frowning:

im not sure if i wanna continue with this project like i said my knowledge of electricity is 0, I thought it would be easier but it wasn't.

Any body knows where i can get a motor already done so the only thing i need to do is push the button and the motor start moving ?

19

FernadoB:
I connect everything exactly like this picture

I specifically asked you to make a pencil drawing because it is easier to understand and to see where there may be a mistake.

Any body knows where i can get a motor already done so the only thing i need to do is push the button and the motor start moving ?

Sorry, I don't.

...R

20

Hi FernadoB

I'm also new to Arduino, but my motor is running.

I also use UNO and Easy driver. The motor I use is nema 17 ( PHB42S34-430) as yours but 0.4 A pr. coil.
Your is 2A. You don't have enough volts and ampers to run this motor.

I use a computer screen PSU which is 12V / 4,16A.
It' s connected to Easydriver and to Arduinos Vin and GND, exactly as on this site:

http://fstop138.berrange.com/2014/01/building-an-barn-door-mount-part-1-arduino-stepper-motor-control/

Just look how the PSU is connected.