Nema34 Doesn't have any torque problem

Other Hardware Motors, Mechanics, Power and CNC
1

I want to start by saying that I have a pretty good knowledge of stepper motors and drivers, but I have run into an issue that has me baffled. I am trying to make a rotating platform that can turn a human and I elected to use a nema 34 motor and a Stepperline DM556T Driver controlled by an ESP_32 with the Arduino IDE.

I have attached a photo of the setup that I am using and the simple code that I am driving it with. I can literally stop the motor with my hand no matter what I use as my step delays. Is that normal?
(I am also using a nema23 with 24v and a different driver for another part of the project and I can't stop that motor.)

I am using a 10A 48v power supply and I have the driver set the the highest amps available. Any suggestion as to what I may be doing wrong would be greatly appreciated!

Jeremy

void loop() {

  digitalWrite(LAZY_SUZAN_DIRECTION, LOW); //sets motor clockwise direction for LAZY_SUZAN
  digitalWrite(LAZY_SUSAN_ENABLE, LOW);
  digitalWrite(LAZY_SUZAN_STEP, HIGH); //LAZY_SUZAN stepper motor moves clockwise
  delayMicroseconds(2000);
  digitalWrite(LAZY_SUZAN_STEP, LOW);
  delayMicroseconds(200);
}

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2

IF your power supply was made in China, the specifications are probably one or the other, but NOT both at the same time. Measure the power supply voltage while you are operating the stepper motor.

In short, measure, measure, measure.

Paul

3

jman31:
(I am also using a nema23 with 24v and a different driver for another part of the project and I can't stop that motor.)

Would it be practical to swap the motors to see how they perform with the other driver and power supply?

I assume the working motor is also being controlled from an ESP32 ?

...R

4

Check your jumper settings of the stepper driver: what current did you set?

5

Thanks for the replies!

@Paul_KD7HB - I had tested that before, but just went and tested it again. I am getting a rock solid 48.5 volts even under load so I don't think that is the problem.

@Robin2 - Tried that as well and it was even weaker.

I wonder if I'm expecting to much from this motor. I was grabbing the wood gear to stop it and I was grabbing a small aluminum gear on the nema23. I grabbed the nema23 gear with a pair of plyers and stopped it quite easily so I think maybe I'm getting all I can out of the nema34.

@zwieblum - I set it at the highest current rating as per the chart on the driver. Also tried several different step settings.

We have a CNC machine with two nema34's on the Y axis and it will literally drag a human across the machine table so that's why I was expecting more.

6

jman31:
@Robin2 - Tried that as well and it was even weaker.

and what about the Nema23 in place of the 34?

How much holding torque has the Nema 34 when it is powered up and stationary - it should not be too difficult to measure that approximately.

...R

7

"We have a CNC machine with two nema34's on the Y axis and it will literally drag a human across the machine table so that's why I was expecting more."

Those are probably significantly geared down to increase accuracy. Is your platform being driven directly by the motor shaft?