Dual Axis, Stepper Motor Controller + Driver

Packaged in a two-cubic-inch size (40 × 40 mm), the EZHR17EN dual-axis stepper motor controller + driver from Allmotion Inc. is designed to enable rapid implementation of miniature stepper motor solutions. The unit's motherboard incorporates both a controller and microstepping drive (2A, selectable from 1/2 to 1/256 step and up to 20 million microsteps/sec). A miniature daughter card provides a second microstepping drive (1A, 1/8 step) or an optional bidirectional DC driver can be used to control a solenoid or DC motor. The unit is designed to be bolted onto the back of the stepper motors they control, and work with any stepper motor that is three inches or smaller (size 23). The drive's small size allows it to be used as an off-the-shelf component in miniature products. The unit provides an on-board EEPROM for user program storage, dual encoder inputs for closed-loop operation and/or a pacer encoder, four digital I/O and two 1A Power On/Off Drivers and four ADC inputs. Drives can be daisy chained on the same four wires, which simplifies wiring instruments using these drives, and can link up to 16 stepper motor controllers. EMI is greatly reduced due to the length of the motor wires. A simple-to-use programming language allows complex functions to be achieved with minimal effort and provides intelligent stand-alone operation. For example, the drive can read its ADC inputs and turn on a pump to regulate the quantity independently, with no external intervention. This solution is well suited to 2 axis instruments such as an XY robot or a Syringe + Valve drive as in a syringe pump. Tightly-coordinated motion is possible since both axes are run by the same CPU. The list price for the motherboard is $225; the miniature daughter card is $69. For more information, go to http://rbi.ims.ca/4917-640. View larger product image More from our Golden Mousetrap Awards Best Product Finalists Engineer of the Year Readers Choice Awards Building a Better Mousetrap

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