Hello there, I'm trying to make a rotating platform for some 3D imaging. I'm new to both soldering and arduino and need some advice. I've hooked up a mercury motor to an easydriver board and Arduino Uno R2 board. Thankfully I found this online guide (https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/easy-driver-hook-up-guide?_ga=1.155026749.462437268.1433867682) and assuming the redboard is just a modified arduino I thought I wouldn't have any issues. I've copied and pasted the code, verified and uploaded it. However, the only input that brings any response from the motor is the 3rd option, the 1/8th microstep mode. Is there a problem with the code or is this a case of the motor not being correctly connected to the appropriate ports? Any help would be great and I can upload pictures if that makes things easier?
This simple stepper code should work with an Easydriver. I have some of these Mercury motors. They work with that code and a Pololu A4988 driver. Note that the Easydriver defaults to microstepping.
The part number is SM-42BYG011-25, that's useful information, just saying "Mercury motor" isn't
particularly helpful, especially as I was wondering why you wanted to pump mercury!
Its a NEMA17 stepper motor, bipolar 12V 0.33A.
Its a high impedance bipolar, so it won't go fast, and you don't need an EasyDriver unless
you need the microstepping, any old pair of H-bridges will work.
I know ... but isn't an EasyDriver soooo much easier to work with - both in terms of code and connections. And it can use high voltages to improve performance.
Ok so I clearly need to give more info haha! (Data sheet for the motor - https://www.sparkfun.com/datasheets/Robotics/SM-42BYG011-25.pdf). Robin2 I moved the DIR and STEP connections to the appropriate ports and your code worked! Huzzah! Its the same motor that you linked and the arduino is the R3 model. In reality I just need the motor to turn between 10 and 30 steps at a time in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, it doesn't need to be both. As a result do I need all the other connections like MS1, MS2 and ENABLE? Would the STEP and DIR connections suffice for this? As for pumping mercury I think I'll leave my thermometer to do that ;). There's a link to some images of the project so far (Soldering Images - Album on Imgur) and no, I didn't remove the pins.
ben_mclarney:
As a result do I need all the other connections like MS1, MS2 and ENABLE? Would the STEP and DIR connections suffice for this?
I think all you need is step and dir. But try it and see.
Unless you want to change them from the program you don't need to use Arduino I/O pins for the other connections. Just connect them to GND or 5v as appropriate (read the manual). I suspect you may want to use the MSn connections if you want full steps - but I don't actually have an Easydriver myself.
