The Stepper Motor Driver DRV8825 A4988 42 Expansion Board is a small-sized module that allows easy adjustment of the drive segments using the onboard DIP switch. It comes with digital ports and is compatible with both A4988 and DRV8825 drivers.

 

Package Includes:

• 1 x Stepper Motor Driver DRV8825 A4988 42 Expansion Board

 

Features:

1. On-board DIP switch for easy adjustment of drive segments
2. Digital ports compatible with A4988 and DRV8825 drivers
3. Terminal power connectors for easy connection of drive power
4. Compatible with 12/24V drive scheme
5. The logic voltage of 5V and input voltage ranging from 12-30V
6. Suitable for 42 stepper motor drives, 3D printers, and DIY projects
7. Interfaces for rotation enable, direction, and speed control are all led out
8. Compatible with the Arduino 3P interface
9. Compact size of 42 x 42 x 15mm
10. Uses A4988 and DRV8825 chips on the board

 

Description:

The Stepper Motor Driver DRV8825 A4988 42 Expansion Board is a module designed for easy adjustment of drive segments with its onboard DIP switch. It comes with digital ports and is compatible with both A4988 and DRV8825 drivers. The module has terminal power connectors that make it convenient to connect drive power. It can be used with a 12/24V drive scheme, with a logic voltage of 5V and an input voltage ranging from 12-30V. The board is ideal for use in 42 stepper motor drives, 3D printers, and DIY projects. The interfaces for rotation enable, direction, and speed control are all led out and are compatible with the Arduino 3P interface. The module has a small size of 42 x 42 x 15mm and uses A4988 and DRV8825 chips on the board, making it an efficient and effective solution for driving stepper motors.

 

Principle of Work:

The principle of work of the Stepper Motor Driver DRV8825 A4988 42 Expansion Board is to provide an easy-to-use interface between a microcontroller and a stepper motor. The module controls the rotation, direction, and speed of the motor by adjusting the drive segments using an onboard DIP switch. The logic voltage of the board is 5V, and it is compatible with both A4988 and DRV8825 drivers. The module features terminal power connectors that make it easy to connect drive power, and it is suitable for 42 stepper motor drives, 3D printers, and DIY projects. The interfaces for rotation enable, direction and speed control are all led out and are compatible with the Arduino 3P interface. Overall, the module simplifies the process of controlling a stepper motor and enables precise control of its movement.

 

Pinout of the Module:

1. VIN: This pin is used to supply power to the motor. It can range from 12 to 24v.
2. GND: This pin is the ground reference for the board.
3. VDD: This pin is used to supply power to the logic circuitry of the board. It can range from 3V to 5V.
4. DIR: This pin is used to set the direction of the motor rotation. A high signal means one direction, while a low signal means the other direction.
5. STP: This pin is used to input pulses to the board to drive the motor. The board will move the motor one step for each pulse received.
6. MS1, MS2, MS3: These pins are used to set the microstepping mode of the board. They are used to select full-step, half-step, quarter-step, eighth-step, or sixteenth-step modes.
7. EN: This pin is used to enable or disable the board. When enabled, the board will respond to input signals. When disabled, the board will ignore input signals.
8. MA, MB: Output for Nema 42 motor.

 

 

Applications: 

1. Robotics: Stepper motors are widely used in robotics for precise control of movements. The expansion board can be used to control the motion of robot arms, grippers, or other moving parts.
2. CNC machines: Computer numerical control (CNC) machines use stepper motors to control the motion of cutting tools or other components. The expansion board can be used to control the operation of stepper motors in CNC machines, such as 3D printers, laser cutters, or milling machines.
3. Automation: The expansion board can be used in various automation systems to control the movement of conveyor belts, robotic arms, or other machinery.
4. Camera sliders: Stepper motors can be used to control the movement of camera sliders for time-lapse photography or video production. The expansion board can be used to precisely control the motion of the slider and the speed of the camera movement.
5. Telescope mounts: Stepper motors are used to control the motion of telescope mounts for precise tracking of celestial objects. The expansion board can be used to control the motion of the mount and the speed of the tracking.

 

Circuit:

The stepper motor driver board has three pins connected to the Arduino: pin 6 for the enable signal, pin 5 for the step signal, and pin 4 for the direction signal. don't forget the power should be external from Arduino but the GND is shared.

 

 

Library:

No Library Needed

 

Code:  

 

int Index;

void setup()

{

  pinMode(6, OUTPUT); //Enable
  pinMode(5, OUTPUT); //Step
  pinMode(4, OUTPUT); //Direction
  digitalWrite(6, LOW);

}


void loop()

{

  digitalWrite(4, HIGH);

  for (Index = 0; Index < 2000; Index++)

  {

    digitalWrite(5, HIGH);
    delayMicroseconds(500);
    digitalWrite(5, LOW);
    delayMicroseconds(500);

  }

  delay(1000);
  digitalWrite(4, LOW);

  for (Index = 0; Index < 2000; Index++)

  {

    digitalWrite(5, HIGH);
    delayMicroseconds(500);
    digitalWrite(5, LOW);
    delayMicroseconds(500);

  }

  delay(1000);

}

In the loop() function, the code first sets the direction signal to HIGH (clockwise), and then generates 2000 pulses on the step signal with a delay of 500 microseconds between each pulse to make the stepper motor rotate. After the rotation, the code sets the direction signal to LOW (counterclockwise) and generates another 2000 pulses on the step signal with the same delay between each pulse to rotate the stepper motor in the opposite direction. The code then waits for 1 second before repeating the rotation sequence.

 

Technical Details:

• Size: 42 x 42 x 15mm
• Fixed: 3mm
• Pitch: 1400 x 1400mil (35.56 x 35.56mm)
• Logic voltage: 5V
• Input voltage: 12-24V
• Ports: Digital
• Interface: Direction, enable, speed
• Applicable module: A4988, DRV8825

 

Resources:

• More Info

 

Comparisons:

When using the DRV8825 or A4988 modules without the Stepper Motor Driver Shield Expansion Board, the user must connect the module to the microcontroller and motor directly, and additional circuitry may be required to control and regulate the current. This can be a complex and time-consuming task, especially for beginners.

On the other hand, when using the DRV8825 or A4988 modules with the Stepper Motor Driver Shield Expansion Board, the board provides a convenient and easy-to-use solution for driving stepper motors. The board includes the necessary circuitry to control and switch the microstepping of the motor, and it can be easily plugged into the microcontroller without requiring any additional wiring or circuit design. This saves time and simplifies the process of controlling stepper motors, especially for beginners or those who do not have a lot of experience with electronics.