# Bipolar stepper and EasyDriver problem

**URL:** <https://community.sparkfun.com/t/bipolar-stepper-and-easydriver-problem/29774>\
**Category:** Projects\
**Created:** [November 10, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/bipolar-stepper-and-easydriver-problem/29774 "2014-11-10T16:57:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Harryboss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e480ec/32.png) [@Harryboss](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/Harryboss)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/bipolar-stepper-and-easydriver-problem/29774/1 "2014-11-10T16:57:12Z")

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Hello!

I am trying to put together a photo stacking equipment. LCD 1602, IR-remote to camera, stepper moving object or camera.

The problem is controlling the stepper. I have several bipolar, 4-wire bipolar stepper motors coming from DVD-readers, flatbed scanners and printers. But in my setup they all behave in the same way. They don´t rotate, only wiggle.

The steppers are connected absolutely according to all the good tutorials, and I have tested several different codes, all with the same result. The motor reacts, but just jerks a little to and fro. Even tested with two different EasyDriver boards. What makes the stepper motor lock like this? Voltage? Current? What shall I change?

Help! I am new to this field,

Everything else in the project works smothely, LCD-menues, IR-remote for camera and the overall program flow.

But what makes the steppers “cramp”?

Hoping for help to be able to go on!

Harryboss

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**Author:** ![Harryboss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e480ec/32.png) [@Harryboss](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/Harryboss)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/bipolar-stepper-and-easydriver-problem/29774/2 "2014-11-11T18:31:50Z")

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Let me add some information.

The motors tested are Mitsumi M49SP-2K, Mitsumi M35-SP-7n and a very small one, aprox. 5x12 mm from a DVD-unit.

I have connected to dir, step and ground from Arduino on pins 8 and 9 or 2 and 3 according to code. The motor voltage has been 3.3V, 5V, 9V, and 12V, all with the same result - the motor is stalling!

I have turned the small pot to low, and to high current values.

I have also tried pushing MS1 and MS2 low and high in different cominations. Frequency of the motorsound changes, but it only vibrates.

It seems like the motor takes a step, but immediately is forced back to the first position, that there is a force first in one, then in the other direction.

I realise that I am missing something here, BUT WHAT?

Harryboss

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**Author:** ![JamesL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c0e974/32.png) [@JamesL](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/JamesL)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2014, 2:23am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/bipolar-stepper-and-easydriver-problem/29774/3 "2014-11-15T02:23:44Z")

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Now it’s been a while since I played with stepper motors, but I’ve come across the same problem as you a few times. I think what it came down to each time was the motor being wired wrong. An ‘A’ or ‘A\*’ might be flipped etc… so I’d run through that thoroughly.