SparkFun Mini Stepper Motor Driver – TC78H670FTG

The SparkFun Mini Stepper Motor Driver empowers you to control bipolar stepper motors with ease and precision. This compact driver, measuring just 0.6in. by 0.8in. with breadboard-friendly 0.1in. pin spacing shines in space-constrained projects and prototyping applications. Getting started is easy thanks to our comprehensive Arduino Library, which boasts 10 examples to guide you through the process. Furthermore, you achieve unmatched control over your motor’s movement with high-resolution capabilities down to 1/128th of a step.

The Mini Stepper Motor Driver offers two control methods for greater flexibility: traditional clock-in stepping and serial commands. The serial control method unlocks unique features, allowing you to fine-tune your motor’s performance on the fly. Adjust phase, torque, current limit, and mixed decay ratio easily through user-friendly serial commands. Unlike most stepper motor driver ICs that require an external trim pot for current limit adjustments, the Mini Stepper Motor Driver empowers you with software-based control, eliminating the need for physical adjustments.

Note: For a tool-less version of this motor driver, please check out our ProDriver. However, it should be noted that there is a slight difference in the functionality of the 3V3 pin. The ProDriver only requires a single input power supply, as the 3V3 pin is a voltage output.

Get Started with the Sparkfun ProDriver and Mini Stepper Motor Driver Hookup Guide

Features

• Toshiba TC78H670FTG Bipolar Stepping Motor Driver
• Control Protocol:
  • Clock-in
  • Serial
• Step operation: full, half, quarter, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64, 1/128
• Power supply operating voltage: 3.6 V to 16.0 V
• Output current: 2.0 A (max)
  • Over current protection from PTC
• Multi error detect functions:
  • Thermal shutdown (TSD)
  • Over current (ISD)
  • Motor load open (OPD)
  • Under-voltage lockout (UVLO)
• Board Dimensions: 0.6in. x 0.8in

Resources

• Schematic
• KiCad Files
• Board Dimensions
• Hookup Guide
• Datasheet (TC78H670FTG)
• Arduino Library
• GitHub Hardware Repo