Introduction
Stepper motors are widely used in various industries for precise and controlled movements. However, unlocking the full potential of stepper motors requires advanced controlling techniques. One such technique is utilizing the powerful combination of the Tb6600 controller and Raspberry Pi, allowing for precise control and synchronization. This blog post will provide you with the technical knowledge needed to harness the capabilities of this advanced stepper motor controlling setup. Whether you are a DIY enthusiast or a professional in the field, this article will guide you through the process of unlocking the true power of the Tb6600 controller and Raspberry Pi for your stepper motor applications.
Wiring Diagram:
Required items
- Raspberry pi
- Nema 23 stepper motor
- Regulated power supply
- TB6600 motor controller
- Jumper wires
Exploring the features and functions of the Tb6600 controller
The Tb6600 controller is a powerful tool for advanced stepper motor control. In this section, we will delve deeper into its features and functions, allowing you to fully understand its capabilities and make the most out of your stepper motor system.
One of the standout features of the Tb6600 controller is its ability to handle a wide range of motor types, including both bipolar and unipolar stepper motors. This versatility allows you to choose the motor that best suits your application, without worrying about compatibility issues.
Additionally, the Tb6600 controller offers adjustable micro stepping, which enables you to achieve smooth and precise motion control. With micro stepping, you can break each full step into smaller increments, resulting in smoother movements and improved motor performance.
Furthermore, the Tb6600 controller provides various protective functions, such as overheat and overcurrent protection, ensuring the safety and durability of your stepper motor system.
Stay tuned for the next section, where we will guide you through the process of connecting the Tb6600 controller to the Raspberry Pi and configuring the necessary software. Get ready to unlock the full power of the Tb6600-Raspberry Pi combination and take your stepper motor control to new heights.
For our Nema 23 example we are going to keep the 1 micro step option. Which is ON, ON, OFF. We’ll talk about where we will use this later in the article.
Your stepper motor amp setting can be found on your models specification sheet. For our example, the Nema 23 motor required 1.5 amps or a value of ON, ON, OFF.
The first three switches reference your micro steps, and the following three switches are to your stepper motors amp requirement. Note the direction on the switch module that ON is in the down direction.
Circuit setup
Code:
import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
from time import sleep
# Direction pin from controller
DIR = 10
# Step pin from controller
STEP = 8
# 0/1 used to signify clockwise or counterclockwise.
CW = 1
CCW = 0
steps=200 #200 steps for 360 degree
speed=.0005 #sleep time
# Setup pin layout on PI
GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BOARD)
# Establish Pins in software
GPIO.setup(DIR, GPIO.OUT)
GPIO.setup(STEP, GPIO.OUT)
# Set the first direction you want it to spin
GPIO.output(DIR, CW)
try:
# Run forever.
while True:
“””Change Direction: Changing direction requires time to switch. The
time is dictated by the stepper motor and controller. “””
sleep(1.0)
# Esablish the direction you want to go
GPIO.output(DIR,CW)
# Run for 200 steps. This will change based on how you set you controller
for x in range(steps):
# Set one coil winding to high
GPIO.output(STEP,GPIO.HIGH)
# Allow it to get there.
sleep(speed) # Dictates how fast stepper motor will run
# Set coil winding to low
GPIO.output(STEP,GPIO.LOW)
sleep(speed) # Dictates how fast stepper motor will run
“””Change Direction: Changing direction requires time to switch. The
time is dictated by the stepper motor and controller. “””
sleep(1.0)
GPIO.output(DIR,CCW)
for x in range(steps):
GPIO.output(STEP,GPIO.HIGH)
sleep(speed)
GPIO.output(STEP,GPIO.LOW)
sleep(speed)
# Once finished clean everything up
except KeyboardInterrupt:
print(“cleanup”)
GPIO.cleanup()