DarwinStepperController
Stepper Motor Controller Card
You need three of these boards for the X, Y, and Z stepper motors respectively. Label them X, Y, and Z with a felt-tipped pen so you don't forget which will be which.
Build It
This board is based on the Universal Controller Board. Its just a tad more complicated. You'll need one of those if you want to build it yourself.
There is very little work needed to take a universal controller board with all the common components and turn it into a stepper controller. All you need to do is add the following components, which are to the right of A in the above picture:
| Component | Value | Quantity | What is it | Mouser Part# |
| PCB | Universal Controller Board | 1 | The base board used for both stepper and extruder boards | n/a |
| P3 | CONN_2 | 1 | a connector to sync the boards | |
| R10 | 4K7 | 2 | a 4 kilo-ohm resistor |
Program a PIC 16F628 chip with its own specific firmware:
- X axis: ~your-id/workspace/firmware/build/16f628/stepmotor/stepmotor.hex
- Y axis: ~your-id/workspace/firmware/build/16f628/stepmotorb/stepmotorb.hex
- Z axis: ~your-id/workspace/firmware/build/16f628/stepmotorc/stepmotorc.hex
The programs in each are identical exept for one number - the address of the corresponding PIC in the token ring.
It's also convenient to label the PICs. I find that the best way to do this is to put a dab of typewriter correction fluid on each one, then to write X, Y, or Z on that when it's dry. (Mystery: there isn't a typewriter left on the planet; so how is it that everywhere still has typewriter correction fluid?)
Run It
You will need a StepperMotor for to actually run now.
Power off your RepRap machine. Connect your stepper motor to the stepper controller board. Then, power back on your RepRap machine.
Attach a piece of tape to the shaft of the motor like a flag to help you see when it moves. Fire up the RepRap software and open the exercising program. If motor turns correctly, then congratulations you've made a working stepper motor controller, an essential step on your way to controlling your own manufacturing unit.
Next, you'll want to attach your motor to the driveshaft of your linear axes. You'll need to build those first if you haven't already.
