Stepper Motor Controller

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I found this circuit in my files. I don't know where it came from, but it looks like I photocopied it from somewhere years ago. I have been told that it came from "The Robot Builder's Bonanza", by Gordan McComb. Anyway, I thought that it should be fairly useful, so I decided to post it here. The circuit is very simple and inexpensive. This is good thing because most commercial stepper motor controller ICs are quite expensive. This circuit is built from standard components and can easily be adapted to be controlled by a computer. If you use cheap surplus transistors and stepper motor, the price of the circuit can be kept to under $10.

Schematic

Parts

Part	Total Qty.	Description	Substitutions
R1, R2 ,R3, R4	4	1K 1/4W Resistor
D1, D2, D3, D4	4	1N4002 Silicon Diode
Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4	4	TIP31 NPN Transistor (See Notes)	TIP41, 2N3055
U1	1	4070 CMOS XOR Integrated Circuit
U2	1	4027 CMOS Flip-Flop
S1	1	SPDT Switch
MISC	1	Case, Board, Wire, Stepper Motor

Notes

You should be able to substitute any standard (2N3055, etc.) power transistor for Q1-Q4.

Every time the STEP line is pulsed, the motor moves one step.

S1 changes the motors direction.

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Comments

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shonex Stepper Motor Controller Wednesday, December 16, 2009 2:56:24 AM

Perfectly working schematic. Think no one mentioned that controller works in full step - high torque mode.

anonymous Stepper Motor Controller Monday, October 19, 2009 6:06:33 AM

this is a very useful article about stepper motor. i just want to point out an italian tutorial about stepper motor: http://it.emcelettronica.com/motori-passo-passo-stepper-motor thank you!

alperen Stepper Motor Controller Sunday, October 18, 2009 2:47:24 PM

i dont understand all that commnets 'cause there's alot question but no answer ?_?. this circuit needs more explaination. i'm answering as i know, 1- this circuit can drive directly UNIPOLAR stepper but not BIPOLAR. 2- if you want to drive bipolar u need a "H bridge" circuit. and my question; how sould i wire the unipolar stepper to continuously, step by step move. ( when i wired it randomly it started to turn freakly)
(Editor's notes: As the comments form says, comments really aren't for asking questions. Try posting in the forum.)

anant Stepper Motor Controller Tuesday, April 21, 2009 4:06:31 AM

Hii i am using the inkjet printer stepper motor(12V and 0.9A) for controlling my robot. But recently my two motors are damaged. I am using Programmable Logic Controller(PLC) to control the this motor and giving the 12 V supply. is it because i give 2A current. Thanks in advance

Shurovik Stepper Motor Controller Friday, April 17, 2009 10:36:58 AM

Please, correct page name - this circuit is for unipolar stepper only. For bipolar stepper you will need H-bridge circuit.

abdul mughni Stepper Motor Controller Saturday, April 11, 2009 2:44:13 PM

can anyone plz tell me how to connect a 4-phase motor to the above circuit.that circuit is currently not working properly it is kind of dancing.Its funny but its true.plz reply fast with a wire configuration.Ineed to submit this project within 2 WEEKS time.The one who solves this problem will get my blessings.INSHA ALLAH!!!

Viscopj Stepper Motor Controller Wednesday, April 08, 2009 12:23:56 PM

Look at LSI's website url http://www.lsicsi.com/StepperDrivers.htm for a really inexpensive stepper motor controller LS7290.

chandru Stepper Motor Controller Thursday, April 02, 2009 10:34:25 PM

I have a stepper motor from sanyo denki (Made in Japan). Its Type number is 103H8582-8044, 1.5A, 0.72 degrees. It is having 5 wires(Blue, Black, Red, Yellow, and Orange). I dont know the sequence to run it continuously. All the poles are working but i am not able to get the continuous rotation. Please help me soon. I need to finish my final year project in1 week. please reply soon.

stephan Stepper Motor Controller Thursday, February 26, 2009 2:04:46 AM

Hi, kindly excuse me if this question Idiotic, can you please tell me the name of the stepper motor, so that i can get it and start doing this project. Moreover i have a HP Printer Stepper motor with 5 leads i dont know how to use that Stepper Motor in this project, can anyone please suggest me. Thanks

anonymous Stepper Motor Controller Monday, February 09, 2009 3:06:00 PM

Does anyone know how to use the serial or com ports to control two of these circuits? I think I can figure out the programming part but the physical connection is a challenge. I think you should be able to switch it off, go forward or backward using serial port... Anyone knows?

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shonex	Stepper Motor Controller	Wednesday, December 16, 2009 2:56:24 AM
Perfectly working schematic. Think no one mentioned that controller works in full step - high torque mode.
anonymous	Stepper Motor Controller	Monday, October 19, 2009 6:06:33 AM
this is a very useful article about stepper motor. i just want to point out an italian tutorial about stepper motor: http://it.emcelettronica.com/motori-passo-passo-stepper-motor thank you!
alperen	Stepper Motor Controller	Sunday, October 18, 2009 2:47:24 PM
i dont understand all that commnets 'cause there's alot question but no answer ?_?. this circuit needs more explaination. i'm answering as i know, 1- this circuit can drive directly UNIPOLAR stepper but not BIPOLAR. 2- if you want to drive bipolar u need a "H bridge" circuit. and my question; how sould i wire the unipolar stepper to continuously, step by step move. ( when i wired it randomly it started to turn freakly) (Editor's notes: As the comments form says, comments really aren't for asking questions. Try posting in the forum.)
anant	Stepper Motor Controller	Tuesday, April 21, 2009 4:06:31 AM
Hii i am using the inkjet printer stepper motor(12V and 0.9A) for controlling my robot. But recently my two motors are damaged. I am using Programmable Logic Controller(PLC) to control the this motor and giving the 12 V supply. is it because i give 2A current. Thanks in advance
Shurovik	Stepper Motor Controller	Friday, April 17, 2009 10:36:58 AM
Please, correct page name - this circuit is for unipolar stepper only. For bipolar stepper you will need H-bridge circuit.
abdul mughni	Stepper Motor Controller	Saturday, April 11, 2009 2:44:13 PM
can anyone plz tell me how to connect a 4-phase motor to the above circuit.that circuit is currently not working properly it is kind of dancing.Its funny but its true.plz reply fast with a wire configuration.Ineed to submit this project within 2 WEEKS time.The one who solves this problem will get my blessings.INSHA ALLAH!!!
Viscopj	Stepper Motor Controller	Wednesday, April 08, 2009 12:23:56 PM
Look at LSI's website url http://www.lsicsi.com/StepperDrivers.htm for a really inexpensive stepper motor controller LS7290.
chandru	Stepper Motor Controller	Thursday, April 02, 2009 10:34:25 PM
I have a stepper motor from sanyo denki (Made in Japan). Its Type number is 103H8582-8044, 1.5A, 0.72 degrees. It is having 5 wires(Blue, Black, Red, Yellow, and Orange). I dont know the sequence to run it continuously. All the poles are working but i am not able to get the continuous rotation. Please help me soon. I need to finish my final year project in1 week. please reply soon.
stephan	Stepper Motor Controller	Thursday, February 26, 2009 2:04:46 AM
Hi, kindly excuse me if this question Idiotic, can you please tell me the name of the stepper motor, so that i can get it and start doing this project. Moreover i have a HP Printer Stepper motor with 5 leads i dont know how to use that Stepper Motor in this project, can anyone please suggest me. Thanks
anonymous	Stepper Motor Controller	Monday, February 09, 2009 3:06:00 PM
Does anyone know how to use the serial or com ports to control two of these circuits? I think I can figure out the programming part but the physical connection is a challenge. I think you should be able to switch it off, go forward or backward using serial port... Anyone knows?