Microchip Technology's Motor Control Design Tools Improve Efficiency and Performance, Reduce Development Time

MOTION CONTROL:  Microchip Technology Inc. recently announced two new low-cost development systems, one for the control of high-voltage motors and another for stepper motors. Along with related applications notes and free source-code software, these development tools enable rapid designs using dsPIC^® digital signal controllers (DSCs).

The new dsPICDEMTM MCHV Development System is the industry’s only development tool for the rapid evaluation and design of a wide variety of high-voltage, closed-loop motor control applications using ac Induction Motors (ACIMs), Brushless dc (BLDC) motors or Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSMs). The board includes in-circuit debugging circuitry, eliminating the need for a separate debugger for development with Microchip’s dsPIC33 Motor Control DSC families. Additionally, this tool combines a proven motor-control system and Power Factor Correction (PFC) for regulatory requirements.

Watch a video demonstration of the dsPICDEM MCHV at: http://www.microchip.com/get/PCJT

The new dsPICDEM MCSM Development Board is the industry’s most cost-effective tool for creating unipolar and bipolar stepper motor applications. This board enables the rapid development of both open-loop and current-closed-loop microstepping routines using Microchip’s dsPIC33 Motor Control families. This development tool also provides engineers with a control GUI, which allows them to focus on integrating the other application features and fine-tuning the motor’s operation.

Software Tools and Libraries

Five royalty- and license-free software application notes with source code are being released for development, five with the dsPICDEM MCHV and one with the dsPICDEM MCSM. Designers can utilize Microchip’s proven, optimized and efficient code to produce reliable results, while reducing software creation and debug time:

Microchip’s free Field Oriented Control (FOC) software libraries enable the development of green motor-based systems. By using these libraries, the engineer can run motors at their peak efficiency and generate the maximum torque using the minimum amount of energy.

Microchip’s stepper motor control library enables the development of high-speed stepper motor control applications with variable micro-stepping down to 1/64 of a step. By using closed-loop current control, stepper motors can be run several times faster than their rated speeds with high torque and very-low-noise operation.

Included with Microchip’s free MPLAB® IDE integrated development environment is an application called the Data Monitoring and Control Interface (DMCI). Using this GUI with a USB cable for communications to the target board via the included Real Time Data Monitoring (RTDM) protocol promotes rapid parameter tuning for different motors. Unlike Microchip, other competitor systems require that the motor be stopped, the source code modified, recompiled, downloaded and the DSC or MCU reprogrammed to see the effect of a control parameter change.

Pricing and Availability

Both tools are available today for purchase from microchipDIRECT.com or any authorized worldwide distributor. The dsPICDEM MCHV Development System (part # DM330023) is $650. The dsPICDEM MCSM Development Board (part # DM330022) is $129.99, and is also available as the dsPICDEM^TM MCSM Development Kit (part # DV330021, $269.99), which includes a stepper motor and 24V power supply. For a complete overview of Microchip’s dsPIC DSC motor control solutions, visit http://www.microchip.com/get/SVSE.

- Edited by Liz Taurasi