Hi,
I am trying to control an integrated stepper motor from NI ( stepper motor and driver integrated). I have been reading about using Arduino for the last week. However,It is my first experience with Stepper motor and Arduino and I have two points I need to be sure before I start wiring and programming.
1- Genuino Uno: Is it suitable for generating this signals?
2-Should I worry about the current used for generating the Step and Dir signals?
Regards
The answer to both questions is, perhaps (or maybe probably). Without seeing the data sheet for the stepper (and driver) there is no way to provide a definitive answer. There are many Arduino boards. Some are 5V and some 3.3V. That may have a bearing on suitability for controlling the motor. Also you will need an external power supply for the stepper. While an Arduino may be able to CONTROL a stepper, it cannot POWER a stepper.
groundfungus:
Also you will need an external power supply for the stepper. While an Arduino may be able to CONTROL a stepper, it cannot POWER a stepper.
Thanks for your comment. and I am sorry for the lack of electricity experience.
The stepper and its integrated driver has its separate power supply. what I need from The Arduino board is to generate STEP and DIR signals for the integrated driver. the driver accepts signals between 5 and 30 volts.
What I am worried about is the current. would it affect the driver or all I need is the voltage [high] then [Low] to rotate the motor.
You need to post a link to the datasheet for the motor/driver that you are using.
An Uno should be perfectly suitable. The step and direction inputs will only take a tiny current.
In addition to the link that @groundfungus posted this Simple Stepper Code could be used for testing.
...R
So you need a 5V Arduino. The simplest for a beginner, in my opinion, is the Uno. An Uno digital output can provide, safely, 20mA (40mA absolute max.) and still maintain a near 5V high and 0V low. If the step and dir signals need to be a higher voltage and/or current, there are ways to provide that with external circuits.
Robin2:
You need to post a link to the datasheet for the motor/driver that you are using.An Uno should be perfectly suitable. The step and direction inputs will only take a tiny current.
In addition to the link that @groundfungus posted this Simple Stepper Code could be used for testing.
...R
Thanks for your comments. here is a link to the motor datasheet.
http://www.ni.com/pdf/manuals/374807a.pdf
Thanks for codes as well.
That document could do with a somewhat longer introduction. The device seems to offer a choice between controlling it using an Ethernet connection or more directly using step and direction signals. Fig28 on Page 22 suggests to me that you must use your PC to tell it which system you intend to use.
...R
That is right. The motor can be controlled by Ethernet connection which I have no clue how to do it.
That is why I am trying with the STEP and DIR signal input.