3d printer drivers are an important part of any 3D printer. This article explains this component so you know what it is and what it does.
What Is Stepper Driver For A 3D Printer?
If you’re building a 3D printer, this is the component you have to buy
3D printer stepper drivers are the small electric devices that cache the 3D print info coming from 3D printer’s controllers for a stepper motor.
It’s responsible for controlling the power given to the electromagnetic coils on a stepper motor to rotate the motor’s shaft a specific distance. It has a direct impact on the noise of the printer.
It’s a precision controller that makes the internal functionality of a stepper motor more controllable. It’s also an integrated circuit chip that can be removable.
Removeable drivers require assembly and it’s made to be easy for the users to do so.
How Does It Work?
Stepper motors comes in a variety of sizes and the popular sizes are:
NEMA ( National Electrical Manufacturers Association ) refers to the frame size of the motor.
- NEMA 14
- NEMA 17
- NEMA 23
- NEMA 24
Popular Stepper Drivers
A4988 Stepper Driver
This one is the cheapest one and works pretty well for the price point.
- 35V and +/- 2 amp output
- Built in steps & direction translator
- Full, half, quarter, eigth and sixteenth resolution step
- Voltage throttling capability
Benefits:
- Easy to use and works on any stepper motor up to 8 wire model
- Delivers 16 micro steps per step
- Use to throttle voltage to increase stepper speed
DRV8825
Very robust for the price and it’s a great starter stepper driver
LV8729
Benefits:
- Very quiet
- 0.8 – 1.5 amps
- Works with 8 bit and 32 bit printer controllers
- Resolutions up to 1/128 step
- Single channel operation
TMC2130
Benefits:
- 1.2 amps
- Auto step velocity
- Adjustable resolution to 256 micro steps
- Better for heat dissipation
TMC2208
Very affordable
Benefits:
- 1.4 – 2 amps
- 4.75 – 36 volt
- Resolution to 256 micro steps
- Auto velocity and decay switchover
- Auto standby current reduction
TMC2209
Benefits:
- 2.8 amps
- 29 volt
- Resolution to 256 micro steps
- Integrated pulse generator
- Auto stop and power down
- Overcurrent protection
- Internal 5V linear regular
- Low power standby mode
TMC2225
Benefits:
- 1.4 – 2 amps
- 4.75 – 36 volt
- Resolution to 256 micro steps
- Low heat emission
- Noiseless operation
- Works with all 3D printers
TMC2226
Benefits:
- 2.8 amps
- 29 volt
- Up to 64 micro steps configuration
- Internal pulse generator
- Up to 256 micro step max step resolution
TMC5160
Benefits:
- 20 amps
- 8 – 60 volt
- Low heat operation
- Overcurrent protection
- No control software needed
- Built in motor logic
- SPI and single wire UART config interface
TMC5161
Benefits:
- 3.5 amps
- 40 volt
- Resolution to 256 micro steps
- Smooth and quiet
- Sensor less stall detection with passive braking and freewheeling modes