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DRV8906-Q1: Can DRV8906/08/10/12-Q1 drive stepper motor?

Brian Li
Expert 8655 points
Part Number: DRV8906-Q1

Hi team,

My customer is using our DRV8906/08/10/12-Q1.

Could you please kindly help check if they can drive stepper motor?

If they can, please kindly help check what need customer to pay attention to.

If not, please kindly help explain why.

Thanks,

Brian

  • 0
    TI__Mastermind 18185 points

    Hi Brian,

    While we can say it will be possible to drive a stepper motor in full-step or half-step modes only it will be really a stretch. The drive patterns must be changed via SPI as this is a SPI only input option device. Customer would have to write to this register to enable and disable HS and LS at specific timings based on the step rate and the output pattern. This will be cumbersome and will be limiting on the maximum step rate. DRV devices with hardware pin inputs or better suitable for bit bang method stepper driver still has limitations such as not having the ability to microstep. If they could write the pattern generating firmware DRV89xx-Q1 could drive stepper at slow step rates. I'd not recommend unless such low speeds with step mode limitations can be accepted. 

    I am assuming the intention is to drive a bipolar stepper. If unipolar stepper is contemplated this app note would be a good reference for bit patterns for the outputs, https://www.ti.com/lit/an/sloa312/sloa312.pdf. 

    Regards, Murugavel

  • 0 in reply to Murugavel4637
    TI__Expert 8655 points

    Hi Murugavel,

    Customer only need to drive the unipolar stepper motor work under the 62.5Hz unidirectional drive frequency so they think the low speed is acceptable.

    But they wonder if they only use DRV8906-Q1, will there have any risk for their hardware design or what do they need to pay attention to?

    Thanks,

    Brian

  • 0 in reply to Brian Li
    TI__Mastermind 18185 points

    Hi Brian,

    For driving unipolar stepper motor they must not enable any of the HS FET. Only LS FET enable and disable will be needed to energize the stepper coils. I do not see any risk as long as they follow this control logic. They can use the drive pattern shown in the application note. 

    Regards, Murugavel