Help with Stepper Motor and TMC2209 - Microstepping Issue

Other Hardware Motors, Mechanics, Power and CNC
1

Hi everyone,

I'm working on a project involving a stepper motor, and I could use some help troubleshooting. Here's my setup and the issue I'm experiencing:

Setup:

  • Stepper Motor: Usongshine Nema 17
  • Driver: TMC2209
  • Microstepping cables connected to 5V

Problem:

The system was working perfectly until recently. Here’s what’s happening now:

  • When I run the stepper motor without connecting the microstepping cables to 5V, it spins fine.
  • However, as soon as I connect the microstepping cables to 5V, the motor stops spinning entirely.
  • Even after disconnecting the cables, the motor remains "jumpy" and doesn’t operate smoothly.

Questions:

  1. Could I be wiring something incorrectly, or is there a configuration I’ve overlooked?
  2. Are there specific steps I should take to troubleshoot this problem?
  3. Could the TMC2209 settings or microstepping connections be causing the issue?

Thank you in advance for your guidance!

Additional Information:

If you need more details about my setup, configuration, or code, let me know, and I'll provide them promptly.

2

What signals are on the microstepping cables?

Please keep all posts relating to this subject all on the SAME THREAD!

3

The microstepping pins MS1 and MS2 use every combination of VCC and GND, so those two pins could not have been "mis-wired"

The only way to find what is happening with the issue is to honestly tell the whole story between "it worked" and "it does not work." Go through the physical motions, the programming motions, and whatever else you did, with the motor, with the driver, with the sketch... and you will find the answer. You can flag this post for being "offensive" just like @jreebel did when I pointed exactly to where he would "find" his missing hardware, but stuff happens, people make mistakes, and you have to own up to the fact: Only you touched it. That other user blamed the manufacturer for sloppy, negligence, then blamed me for breaking into his house (it couldn't have been for keen observation - that's not breaking rules), then had my post taken down, and if I can see the future, will keep taking down honest posts.

4

I will guess that the microstepping selected by the potential on the two wires made the motor require more power that was available from the power supply.

5

Hi!

I am trying to build a project using a stepper motor. I have a Usongshine Nema 17 and a TMC2209. I had the whole setup working but now it doesnt work anymore. Right now, when I just have it spin the stepper, it works fine until I connect the microstepping cables to 5V. Then it completley stops spinning and even when I unplug the the stepper stays very jumpy.

Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks!

6

Yes.

Begin by reading and following the advice contained in How to get the best out of this forum.

2 Likes
7

Please, do not start multiple topics with the same subject.

8

@aidenmccomiskey, please do not cross-post. Threads merged.

9

To troubleshoot microstepping issues with the TMC2209, ensure correct wiring and microstepping settings via MS1, MS2, and MS3 pins or UART mode. Adjust the motor's current limit using the VREF voltage for optimal performance. Test the motor movement and consider switching between StealthChop and SpreadCycle for smoother operation.

10

Say what?

That would be nice to explain.

Switching or is one preferred over the other?

11

The "MS3 pin" on the TMC2209 is typically used for controlling the microstepping mode, but in many cases, it is tied to "logic low" or "high" to select different microstepping resolutions. The setting for MS3, along with MS1 and MS2, determines how finely the motor steps.

12

and (UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter)) mode is a communication protocol used to control the TMC2209 stepper driver. In this mode, you can configure various settings, including microstepping, current limits, and more, using a microcontroller (like an Arduino or Raspberry Pi) that communicates via serial (TX/RX) pins.

13

Hi, @aidenmccomiskey
Welcome to the forum

Do you have a DMM? Digital MultiMeter?

What are you using as a powersupply for the driver/stepper.

Can you post some images of your project?
So we can see your component layout.

Thanks.. Tom... :grinning: :+1: :coffee: :australia:

14

Would you show this on an image?

15

bigtreetech-tmc2209-v13-stepper-motor-driver
bigtreetech-tmc2209-v13-stepper-motor-driver540×540 68.7 KB

16

@jorden5566

You circled MS2. Did chatGPT not tell you where is MS3?

That is the trouble with your copy/pasting the garbage chatGPT produces.

17

Can add my questions in this thread?

Can work 5-28V?
I expected 5-28V for the motor not for the logic...sorry but i don't want fire the board EVAL immediately.
I must connect a motor to 12V..so about the STEP it needs 0-12pk-pk, or also 0-5Vpk?pk. Sorry i'm a little confused.
MS1-MS2 not connected (pull down resistor) it obtains 8 microsteps

1 Like
18

This topic was automatically closed 180 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.