An easy-to-use stepper motor controller/driver


This is a simple (and cheap!) stepper motor controller for use with DC 12V four-phase unipolar stepper motors. It consists of only 3 IC:s and a zenerdiode. (Plus of course the power supplies). It is easily connected for example to PC:s parallel port. This controller has only two control signals, direction control (DIR) and step (STEP). With the DIR signal you control the direction of rotation (of course...) and with the STEP signal you tell the circuit when it is time to do the rotation. Every time the STEP signal goes low, rotates the motor one step.

Connecting the controller to PC:s parallel port



Just connect the STEP signal to pin 2 (D0) of your parallel port and the DIR signal to pin 3 (D1). Here is shown the parallel port pin numbering:


NOTE: I'm not responsible if you damage your computer by making any mistakes, or misconnections!
(If you are not sure what you are doing, don't do it.)


And finally the circuit:


Here is a better and more complete drawing including the ULN2003 chip, use this when you make your circuit! Sorry for the size of this pic, too busy to make it smaller right now...



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