Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 54
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Oz
    Posts
    615

    Default stepper motor use.

    I have a 2 amp, 12 volt bipolar stepper I would like to use on my lathe cross slide. Simple operation just continuous clockwise and switchable continual anti clockwise to wind a cross slide.

    The stepper: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-2A-4...72.m2749.l2648

    Youtube has several videos showing how to wire a stepper without a controller, similarly there are several text explanations all basically the same just using a 12 volt supply and a capacitor. I have tried every wiring configuration without success with just four wires but can't get the thing to move. Any tips?

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Latrobe Valley
    Posts
    160

    Default

    If you want full control cheap and easy, I have used this little control board for a couple of different projects - DIN Rail Step Pulser :: Step/Servo Controllers :: Motor Drivers & Controllers :: Welcome to Ocean Controls

    They have a few different flavors depending on your requirements - Stepper Drivers :: Motor Drivers & Controllers :: Welcome to Ocean Controls

    Probably the easiest solution.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Oz
    Posts
    615

    Default

    Most seem to be 20 volt, I'd prefer 12 volt because I already have a 12 volt supply to my lathe, and of course it all means beans to me anyway.

    I took a guess and guesstimated this one would do the job, correct? And of course it has pretty pictures on it.

    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Single-A...53.m2749.l2648

    Also trying to keep costs down because I'll probably have to try a few before finding options that work together and will actually drive the cross slide.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Sydney Upper North Shore
    Posts
    4,464

    Default

    Just a thought. From the diagrams i’ve seen using a capacitor, the 12v voltage supply is AC not DC. The capacitor is just used to change direction.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Oz
    Posts
    615

    Default

    You had me thinking then, but on checking all the steppers on ebay are DC, perhaps the steppers on youtube are AC. Would be a bit odd though. I just had another look, the transformers in the videos don't have rectifiers so the output would indeed be AC. Does that mean a DC stepper can't work without a driver/controller?

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Sydney Upper North Shore
    Posts
    4,464

    Default

    For a stepper motor to work, it needs to have the coils “pulsed”. Lots of good info on the Web. This is just a brief note.

    https://electronics.stackexchange.co...dc-or-ac-motor

    More detail

    https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/tex...tepper-motors/

    cheers

    BTW the only experience I have with steppers are DC pulsed idle speed motors and EGR motors

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Latrobe Valley
    Posts
    160

    Default

    The links I posted earlier were for a controller and for the driver as you will need both (unless you have an external controller: pc with the correct software and parallel port or a circuit board with pulse & direction outputs)

    Not sure if the driver is ok that you linked to, as I haven't used one of those particular ones - but to drive it you will still need some sort of pulse and direction control.
    The signal part of the driver on that link will require an enable signal, pulse signal and direction signal.

    Stepper motors are not as simple to drive as a DC or AC motor but have the advantage of precision control.

    From what limited experience I have, the stepper motor driver gets a DC input and provides a stepped output. My CNC is running 48V DC input into the driver which produces the square pulse output per step. Step is a repeatable measured movement so can calculate pulse input to movement output, etc.

    It's easier to change a DC supply to a square wave form rather than use AC in this case - AC would require a recifier/inverter combo to change the wave form.

    Are you after measured control or just basic movement?
    What size NEMA frame is the stepper you have?

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Oz
    Posts
    615

    Default

    DC12 volt, 2 amp, 2 phase, 4 wire, hybrid, Nema17 stepper motor. All I need is constant rotation, forward/reverse and I'll also be adding speed contol. I'd prefer no controller just to keep it as simple as possible.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Sydney Upper North Shore
    Posts
    4,464

    Default

    Have you tried AC yet?

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Oz
    Posts
    615

    Default

    It's a DC motor!

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Sydney Upper North Shore
    Posts
    4,464

    Default

    Did you read the links I posted? If you want to use DC, then it will have to be pulsed ie. a square wave, which is what controller boards deliver. If you connect it to a standard DC supply, all you will feel is resistance to rotation if you try to rotate the armature by hand.
    I dont know what part of OZ you are in, but if you where near me you could bring it around and hook it up to my power supply, which can be either DC or AC, and we could test the question “Will a DC stepper run on AC?”

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Caboolture QLD AU
    Posts
    781

    Default

    Stepper motors are exactly that - they step XX deg per pulse depending on the design. In order to step they have multiple windings, the windings have to energised with a pulse in the correct sequence in order for the motor shaft to rotate.

    The confusion about DC and AC comes from the fact that when you switch a DC voltage from off to on and then off again you create a square wave. This preoccupation with AC and DC when applied to a stepper is technically wrong if you confuse AC with AC mains sinusoidal waveform or a distorted version of that.

    You don't apply a mains 50hz or 60hz AC signal to a single winding of a stepper motor - it won't move. You apply a DC pulse, it doesn't have to be a square wave, and you apply a DC pulse to each winding in the correct sequence to match the type of stepper motor, the type of winding configuration and the rate (frequency) to match the speed you wish to rotate the shaft.

    Various winding configurations and stepper designs can give you the options for various step sizes and torque trade off's in a given project- based on how you pulse and configure the motor windings,.

    Capacitors are crudely used to supply a pulse as they discharge into the winding with out causing a constant voltage across the winding - which would stall (Hold) the motor and could burn out that set of windings if the current is to high. Depending on how they are used they can severely limit the rotational speed and step accuracy (stall during a step cycle).

    The simplest way to get accurate and reliable operation is to use a tiny controller that allows you to connect switch for: Direction and Pulse (step). To make it a continuous movement you need to supply a pulse train to the pulse (step) input, the pulse train frequency determines the speed of rotation. You can get the two thing separately or in some cases combined. Or a PC or small micro controller to supply the variable pulse input and direction latches to the tiny controller (driver) .

    The maximum speed that a stepper motor can turn at is determined by the Load (twisting force) applied to the shaft, the rating and design of the motor. If you exceed the motor ratings it will start to miss step (skip steps). This can happen at low speeds and therefore counting XX pulses for a selected shaft position will fail.

    Most precision applications will require a Digital position sensor (feedback) to verify the motor has indeed moved to the requested position.

    NOTE: The above is a simplified version of a stepper motor - That means it DOES NOT APPLY to every friggen stepper motor, controller or user situation over the past 1000 years on this planet.

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Oz
    Posts
    615

    Default

    Thanks gents, you managed to confuse the heck out of me. No idea what you're talking about!
    A tip: when someone asks a question it's generally because they don't know the answer. If they don't know the answer you can probably bet they don't know a lot about the subject matter.

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Caboolture QLD AU
    Posts
    781

    Default

    Don't worry about the technicalities. You have a stepper motor, decide what it is you want to do with it and see if it's the best choice.

    Most people use steppers because they can be easily controlled in tiny increments (steps) via a simple driver board by a PC or other micro interface or accurately move a slide mechanism X amount, if the correct motor is selected and a good driver board used (not a cheap Youtube cap drive) then they can step without skipping and can be used to make a simple repeatable movement device.

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Oz
    Posts
    615

    Default

    I have decided what I want to do with it, constant revolution, forward and reverse. I did some more experimenting this morning with a 12 volt battery, connected two wires to a 12 volt battery the other two to a 220 cap and discovered if I tap the - or + battery post with the cap the shaft moves a step at a time. Still can't get it to continually rotate though.

    Seems to be some trouble accepting that a stepper can be used in this manner without a controller, so to that end, here you are: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWCpj0V5BsY

    Looks like the same motor as mine but obviously the power supply is AC. And he's using it in the manner I want.

    Still confused, not a clue.

Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Stepper Motor drivers
    By KBs PensNmore in forum CNC Machines
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 30th August 2016, 10:31 PM
  2. Stepper motor mounts
    By 3Dsigns in forum CNC Machines
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 13th February 2015, 08:44 AM
  3. stepper motor control
    By azzrock in forum ELECTRONICS
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 18th March 2013, 08:52 AM
  4. Stepper Motor Id
    By wbleeker in forum CNC Machines
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 3rd June 2011, 02:11 AM
  5. help with what i need to setup stepper motor.
    By weisyboy in forum CNC Machines
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 6th December 2010, 12:54 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •