MP6500 Stepper Motor Driver Carrier, Digital Current Control

This breakout board for the MPS MP6500 microprocessor-controlled stepper motor driver is Pololu's newest stepper motor driver. The module has a pinout and interface very similar to those of Pololu's popular A4988 carriers, so it can be used as a drop-in replacement for those boards in many applications. The MP6500 offers microstepping down to 1/8 step, operates from 4.5 V to 35 V and can deliver up to approx. 1.8 A per phase continuously without a heat sink or forced airflow. This version allows dynamic current limit control via a pair of digital inputs. The board ships with 0.1" male headers, which are not soldered in.

Features:

• Simple step and direction control interface
• Four different step resolutions: full-step, half-step, 1/4-step and 1/8-step
• The adjustable current control lets you set the maximum current output, allowing you to use voltages above your stepper motor's rated voltage to achieve higher step rates
• Digital current control - with this carrier version, a microcontroller can dynamically set the current limit to approx. 2 A
• Internal current sensing allows the driver to automatically set the decay mode to provide a smooth waveform
• 4.5 V to 35 V supply voltage range
• Can deliver up to 1.8 A per phase continuously without additional cooling
• Built-in regulator (no external logic voltage supply required)
• Can be connected directly to 3.3 V and 5 V systems
• Over-temperature shutdown, overcurrent shutdown, short-circuit protection and undervoltage lockout
• 4-layer, 2 oz copper PCB for improved heat dissipation
• Solderable ground pad under the driver IC on the bottom side of the PCB
• Module size, pinout and interface match those of the Pololu A4988 stepper motor drivers in most respects

Specifications:

• Minimum operating voltage: 4.5 V
• Maximum operating voltage: 35 V
• Continuous current per phase: 1.8 A
• Maximum current per phase: 2 A
• Minimum logic voltage: 2.1 V
• Maximum logic voltage: 6 V
• Microstep resolutions: full, 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8
• Current limit control: digital
• Reverse-voltage protection?: No
• Pin headers soldered?: No