ProDriver randomly shuts down when current limit is set above 1A

Robotics
1

Hello,

I’m currently using a SparkFun 125-oz.in stepper motor (https://www.sparkfun.com/products/13656) with a ProDriver control unit (https://www.sparkfun.com/products/16836). I need a maximum current of at least 1.3A for my application. However, when I set the current limit above ~1.1A, the board stops providing power to the stepper motor after some arbitrary time interval. This interval is shorter for higher current-limit settings: at 2A, the motor stops receiving power within a second; at 1.2A, the motor operates without problems for a minute or so before dying. The power cut is not associated with any particular operation; it often fails silently while standing still after successfully executing a move. At the default current limit of 1A, the motor never loses power (but this gives insufficient torque for my application). When the motor loses power, the error line remains high, but the board stays unresponsive until I do a full power cycle.

Details: I am controlling the ProDriver inputs with digital (5V) output lines from a DAQ (National Instruments USB-6221) on all pins (STBY, EN, MODE0-3). I am using the motor in fixed-resolution mode at single-step resolution (no microstepping). The motor emits some low-volume, high-frequency noise when its coils are supplied with power, and goes silent when it loses power.

Debugging efforts:

  • - At first, I was using a 5V, 2A wall-wart power supply. I tried using a 12V, 2A power supply, but the issue persisted with no noticeable change in the time to failure.

  • - I have controlled the current-limiting option with the onboard potentiometer and the Vref input (set using the DAQ's analog output to values between 0 and 1.8V). Both control methods yield the same issue around the same current limit.
  • - I have double-checked the input lines, and all behave as they should. The motor operates as expected until it loses power.
    • I need this system to be operational in the next few days for a series of experiments, so any assistance you could offer would be greatly appreciated. If you think the Big Easy Driver would be more reliable, please let me know so I can get one in time.

    Best regards,

    Nathan

    2

    Thanks for reaching out to us on this.

    Stepper motors are bi-polar, so they pull the set current amount PER PHASE (in this case, the board is rated to 2A MAX, meaning 1A per phase = 2A total)

    The suggested https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12859 does provide up to 2A PER PHASE, which should suit your application (that motor uses 2A/phase)

    Hope this helps, and happy sparking!

    3

    Thanks for the quick response, and for the clarification to what I now realize was a silly oversight on my part! I ordered a Big Easy Driver and hopefully that does the trick.