Control Stepping Motors with Motor Drivers (DRV8833, TB6612FNG)

Introduction

　In this article, I controlled a stepping motor with motor drivers. It is a bipolar type of stepping motor. When I looked for a module for stepping motors, I found the DRV8833 and bought it. it is made by Adafruit and is easy to use with a bullet board.

▼It was much more expensive on Amazon, so I recommend buying it elsewhere.

Adafruit DRV8833 DC/Stepper Motor Driver Breakout Board : ID 3297 : $5.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits

　I looked up how to use it after I bought it, and found a sample using the DRV8833 on the Adafruit website. And it also described how to use a stepping motor with the TB6612FNG, which I had been using a lot. Then I didn’t have to buy the DRV8833…

　As written in the page, it was recommended to use other modules if you want more voltage and current for the motors.

　There is a clear difference between the DRV8833 and the TB6612FNG: The DRV8833 is more suited for lower voltages; the TB6612FNG can withstand higher voltages but still cannot run larger motors, so in that case it is better to use other modules.

▼Here is a page from Adafruit that was helpful.

Overview | Adafruit DRV8833 DC/Stepper Motor Driver Breakout Board | Adafruit Learning System

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• ・DRV8833: 2.7V～10.8V
  • 　this chip is better for low voltage uses (can run from 2.7V up to 10.8V motor power) and has built in current limiting capability.
• ・TB6612FNG: 4.5V～13.5V
  • 　For higher voltages, check out the TB6612.
  • Good for motor voltages from 4.5V up to 13.5V!
• ・DRV8871: 6.5V～45V
  • 　For much higher voltages and currents check out the DRV8871!
  • 6.5V to 45V motor power voltage

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Build a circuit

▼I refer to the Adafruit website

　Overview | Adafruit DRV8833 DC/Stepper Motor Driver Breakout Board | Adafruit Learning System

　I used an Arduino Uno. I connected the Vin pin of the Uno to the VM pin of the motor driver to feed power to it.

▼Here is the circuit diagram of DRV8833

▼Here is the circuit diagram of TB6612FNG

▼I used this stepping motor.

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Write Programs

▼This is a program from the Adafruit website.

▼This is a pin-changed version of the program in the Stepper library of the Arduino IDE. I have also tested the operation of this program.

Control Stepping Motors

▼This is the first program using the DRV8833. It is moving in the Forward and Backward directions as programmed, but it turns around before making a full revolution.

▼This is the first program using the TB6612FNG, which is not particularly different from how it works with the DRV8833.

▼This is the second program. This program is turning one revolution, probably due to the delay before the direction change.

Finally

　I thought that running a stepping motor would be more complicated than a DC motor, but it was surprisingly easy. I am used to using the TB6612FNG, and I have chip components that I would like to embed in my design.