Interfacing
with
Stepper
Motors


Michael
DiRamio

Leigh
Pauls

Sir
Winston
Churchill
Secondary

District
School
Board
of
Niagara


Michael
Grieve

Pierre
Ellio:
Trudeau
High
School

York
Region
District
School
Board

 Interfacing
System


Computer
 Interface
 Peripheral


• Parallel
Port
 • Wire
 • Stepper
Motor


• Transistors
 • Needle

• Resistors

• Diodes


Wires
 Wires

 Connected

(Horizontally)

Breadboard
 Connected

(VerIcally)


Connected
 Divider

(Horizontally)

 Hardware

•  12V
DC
Power
Supply
(1)

•  NPN
Transistors
(4)

•  DB25
Connector
(1)

•  Male
Pins
(12)

•  12V
Stepper
Motor
(1)

•  Wire
(about
3
feet
with
crimps,
some
loose
wire)

•  Diodes
(4)

•  Resistors:
330
Ohm
(4),
1K
Ohm
(4),
220
Ohm
(4)

•  Red
LEDs
(4)

 Interface
Wire

Crimp
vs
Solder
Types

•  Crimp
style:


–  Pins
are
crimped
on
to
the
wires
and
then
inserted

into
the
connector.

–  Works
best
with
a
crimping
tool,
but
needle
nose

pliers
will
work.

•  Solder
style:


–  Pins
are
already
in
the
connector.


–  Wires
are
soldered
onto
lugs
at
the
back
on
the

connector.

 SoWware
‐
Turing

•  parallelput

•  parallelget

•  if

•  for

•  loop


•  Provincially
Licensed
and
now
free
from
Holt

SoWware
Associates
Inc.
(www.holtsoW.com)

 Parallel
Port

•  How
we
connect
to
the
computer.

•  Pins
are
numbered
1
‐
25

•  Turing
uses


–  8
outputs:
D0
–
D7

–  5
inputs:
S3
–
S7

•  We
will
also
use
a
ground.
There
are
many,
but

we
only
really
need
one
of
them.

S4
 S5
 S7
 S6
 D7
D6
D5
D4
D3
D2
D1
D0
 Output

13
 12
 11
 10
 9
 8
 7
 6
 5
 4
 3
 2
 1

Input


25
 24
 23
 22
 21
 20
 19
18
 17
 16
 15
 14

Grounds
 S3
 Input

 Interfacing
with
Turing

(output)

•  The
command
parallelput
takes
a
number
from


0
–
255
as
a
parameter.

•  Based
on
this
number,
specific
outputs
will
turn

on
and
off
(based
on
this
number
in
binary)

•  A
one
means
that
output
is
high,
a
zero
means
it

is
low.

D7
 D6
 D5
 D4
 D3
 D2
 D1
 D0

parallelput

(128)
 (64)
 (32)
 (16)
 (8)
 (4)
 (2)
 (1)

14
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 1
 0

45
 0
 0
 1
 0
 1
 1
 0
 1

2
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0

255
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1

 Interfacing
with
Turing

(input)

•  Similar
to
parallelput
in
that
it
interprets
pins

from
the
parallel
port
as
binary
digits.

•  The
method,
parallelget,
returns
a
value
based

on
the
inputs
of
S3
–
S7
being
high
or
low.

•  This
project
will
only
be
using
output
to
the

parallel
port,
not
input.

 Stepper
Motor

1


2
 4


3

 Stepper
Motors

•  Meant
for
accurate
posiIoning,
not

conInuous
rotaIon
(but
it
can
do
that!).

•  Uses
electromagnets
to
step
along
the

different
posiIons
around
the
circle.

•  Two
types:

–  Unipolar:
more
common
for
our
interfacing

projects,
less
complicated
interface.


–  Bipolar:
need
to
reverse
the
direcIon
of
current

through
the
motor.
More
complicated
to
interface.

 Stepper
Motor
Control

•  To
spin
the
motor
conInuously,
use
a
loop
to

go
through
each
step
in
sequence,
then

returning
back
to
step
one.

–  Step
Sequence:
1,
2,
3,
4,
1,
2,
…

•  To
refine
the
accuracy
of
the
steps,
turning

two
magnets
on
at
the
same
Ime
can
make
it

go
in
between
them.
This
provides
smaller

steps,
but
uses
more
power.

–  Step
Sequence:
1,
1
&
2,
2,
2
&
3,
3,
…

 STEPPER
MOTOR
PROJECT

Purpose:
Create
a
visual
representaIon
of
a
student’s

mark
as
a
meter
from
0
to
100.
The
needle
will
point
to

the
proper
place
for
an
entered
mark.


In
creaIng
the
meter
we
will
be
learning
concepts
that

can
be
applied
to
many
different
stepper
motor
based

projects.

50


0
 100

 Connect
Power
Supply

•  PosiIon
breadboard
with
negaIve
(blue)
rail
at
the

top.

•  Insert
the
power
supply
wires
into
the
two
rails
across

the
top
(any
hole,
but
make
sure
they
don’t
touch).

•  Link
the
top
and
boiom
negaIve
rails
together.

At
other
end

link
the
two

ground
rails

Dashed
 together

Wire
is

PosiIve

 Note:
Transistor

•  Think
of
it
as
an
“electronic
switch”.

•  Power
flows
from
the
collector
to
the
emiier.

•  The
base
acts
as
the
“switch”.
If
power
is
applied

to
the
base,
the
transistor
allows
current
to
flow

through
the
collector‐emiier
path.

Emiier


Collector


Base

 Place
Transistors

•  Place
the
four
transistors
in
the
breadboard
all

facing
in
the
direcIon
shown.

•  Leave
at
least
two
holes

 Metal
at
back
of

transistor

behind
each
transistor.

Connect
Emiier
Pins
to
Ground

Emiier
is
the
pin

 In
ground

on
the
right
 (blue)
rail


Use
the
spare
wire
provided
in
your
kit
(not
the
one
with
crimps
on
it)

 Note:
Resistor
Colour
Chart

•  Resistors
are
labeled
by
coloured
stripes.

Colour
 Band
1
 Band
2
 Band
3

Black
 0
 0
 (100)
=
1

Brown
 1
 1
 (101)
=
10

Red
 2
 2
 (102)
=
100

Orange
 3
 3
 (103)
=
1
000

Yellow
 4
 4
 10
000

Green
 5
 5
 100
000

Blue
 6
 6
 1
000
000

Violet
 7
 7
 10
000
000

Gray
 8
 8
 100
000
000

White
 9
 9
 1
000
000
000

 Note:
IdenIfying
the
Resistors

•  We
will
be
using
two
resistors:
330
Ohm
and

1K
Ohm
(1K
=
1000).


330
Ohm
 1K
Ohm
 220
Ohm


(Orange,
Orange,
Brown)
 (Brown,
Black,
Red)
 (Red,
Red,
Brown)






3













3






x



10


 





1









0


x

100

 





2




2


x

10

=
330
ohm
 =
1000
ohm
(1K
ohm)
 =
220
ohm

 Note:
Diodes

•  Diodes
allow
current
to
flow
in
only
one

direcIon.

•  This
means
that
it’s
very
important
that
they
face

the
proper
way
in
the
circuit.

•  DirecIon
can
be
idenIfied
by
markings
on
the

casing.

PosiIve
End

(Unmarked)


NegaIve
End

(Marked)

 Connect
Resistors
and
Diodes

•  Insert
the
330
Ohm
Resistors.

•  Make
sure
the
diodes
are
in
the
correct
direcIon.

(NegaIve
end
into
transistor)


Diode

negaIveend

in
Collector
 Resistor
in

(middle
pin)
 Emiier

(right
pin)

Same

Column
to

Connect

 Resistors
to
Transistor
Base

•  Insert
the
1K
Ohm
resistors.


•  This
will
be
connected
to
the
interface
from

the
parallel
port.

Resistor
in

Base


(leW
pin)


In
Empty

Column

 Aiach
Wires
to
Dsub
Connector

•  The
chart
below
outlines
where
each
wire
is
to
be

connected,
and
its
use.

•  Use
the
crimped
end
of

the
3‐foot
cable.

Pin
Number
 Wire
Colour
 Use

2
(D0)
 Blue
 Stepper
A

3
(D1)
 Green
 Stepper
A*

4
(D2)
 Orange
 Stepper
B

5
(D3)
 Brown
 Stepper
B*

25
(Ground)
 White‐Green
 Ground


Pins
will
click
into
place
when
fully
inserted.


Aiach
a
spare
piece
of
wire
to
the
Dsub
(easier
to
pull
out
of
computer)

 DSub
wires
to
Breadboard

•  Expose
about
8cm
of
the
other
end
of
the
wire.

•  Strip
about
0.5cm
from
the
end
of
each
of
the
wires
used
from
the

Dsub
to
the
breadboard.

•  Connect
each
wire
to
the
1K
resistors
on
the
breadboard.


White‐green

Blue
 Green
 Orange
 Brown

in
ground
rail

 Resistor
for
LED

•  Add
the
220
ohm

resistors
in
the
same

column
as
the
1K

ohm
resistors
and

wires
from
the
Dsub

connector.
 Other
end

in
empty

column


All
three

in
same

column

 Note:
LEDs

•  Light
Emiqng
Diodes

•  Share
the
same
property
as
a
normal
diode,

energy
can
only
flow
in
one
direcIon.

 Add
LED

•  Connect
posiIve
to
empty
end
of
220
ohm

resistor
and
negaIve
to
the
ground
rail.


Connect

posiIve
end

to
resistor


NegaIve
end

in
ground

 Aiach
Needle

•  Use
hot
glue
to
aiach
the
pipe
cleaner
“needle”

to
the
motor.

•  Put
glue
on
the
pipe
cleaner,
then
aiach
this
to

the
motor
to
avoid
geqng
glue
in
the
motor.

 Aiach
Stepper
Wires
to
Breadboard

Black

(in
posiIve
rail)

Green

Wire

Use

Colour

White
 Red

Black
 Common
 Brown

12V

White
 A

Green
 A*

Red
 B

Brown
 B*


Motor
wires
go
in
collector
(middle
pin)
of
transistor.

 Programming:
Steps

Full
Steps

‐
2
possibiliIes

 Half
Steps
(200
steps,
1.8°
per
step)

(100
steps,
3.6°
per
step)

Step
 A
 B
 A*
 B*
 Out
Step
 A
 B
 A*
 B*
 Out (1)
 (4)
 (2)
 (8)
 put

(1)
 (4)
 (2)
 (8)
 put

1
 On
 1

1
 On
 On
 5

2
 On
 On
 5

2
 On
 On
 6

3
 On
 4

3
 On
 On
 10

4
 On
 On
 6

4
 On
 On
 9

5
 On
 2

Step
 A
 B
 A*
 B*
 Out
6
 On
 On
 10

(1)
 (4)
 (2)
 (8)
 put

1
 On
 1
 7
 On
 8


2
 On
 4
 8
 On
 On
 9


3
 On
 2

4
 On
 8

 Programming:
Basics

•  It
is
important
to
put
a
pause
between
the
steps.

–  15
ms
works
well
 Sample
Program:


parallelput(5) % step 1
delay(15) % pause
parallelput(6) % step 2
delay(15) % pause
parallelput(10) % step 3
delay(15) % pause
parallelput(9) % step 4
delay(15) % pause
Programming:
Procedure
for
Steps

procedure step(stepNum : int)
if stepNum = 1 then
parallelput(5)
elsif stepNum = 2 then
parallelput(6)
elsif stepNum = 3 then
parallelput(10)
else
parallelput(9)
end if
end step
Programming:
Looping
Through
Steps

var currStep : int
currStep := 1
var moves : int
put “Enter the number of steps”
get moves

for i : 1 .. moves
step(currStep)
delay(15)
currStep := currStep + 1
if currStep > 4 then
currStep := 1
end if
end for
 Programming:
PosiIoning

•  The
stepper
motors
we
are
using
have
100

steps.
This
means
that
each
step
is
3.6°
(half

steps
are
1.8°).

•  We
will
be
using
half
of
this
range
with
a
mark

of
0
being
0°
and
a
mark
of
100
being
180°.

 Programming:
Mark
Meter

var mark : int
put “Please enter the mark”
get mark

var moves : int

% two marks per step
moves := round(mark / 2)

% same code as earlier to make

% that number of steps
 AddiIonal
Programming
and
Projects

•  Programming

–  Add
sensors
to
know
when
the
needle
has
reached

certain
posiIons
(self‐aligning)

–  Add
LEDs
along
the
meter
(flashing
or
on
when
the

needle
passes)

•  Projects

–  Crane

–  Elevator

–  LiW
Bridge

–  Robots

 Parts
List

Part
 Company
 Product
Number

Transistor
 Digikey
 497‐2573‐5‐ND

330
Ohm
Resistor
 Digikey
 330QBK‐ND

1K
Resistor
 Digikey
 1.0KQBK‐ND

220
Ohm
Resistor
 Digikey
 220QBK‐ND

Diode
 Digikey
 1N4003DICT‐ND

Red
LED
 Digikey
 160‐1701‐ND

12VDC
Power
Supply
 Abra
Electronics
 DC1250

Unipolar
Stepper
Motor
 Abra
Electronics
 SM4202

Breadboard
 Abra
Electronics
 ABRA‐12

DB25
Connector
 Abra
Electronics
 CR25P

Male
Pins
 Abra
Electronics
 CP‐P‐M


www.digikey.ca

www.abra‐electronics.com

 Salvaging
Stepper
Motors

•  As
a
cheaper
alternaIve
to
the
purchasing

stepper
motors,
they
can
be
salvaged
from

devices
such
as
printers.

•  This
websites
will
help
idenIfy
what
each
wire

does
in
a
salvaged
stepper
motor:

–  hip://ssecganesh.blogspot.com/2008/05/idenIfying‐
leads‐of‐unipolar‐stepper.html

–  hip://www.me.umn.edu/courses/me2011/robot/
technotes/stepper/

•  AddiIonal
Stepper
Motor
Resource:

–  hip://www.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/step/types.html

 Contact
Us

•  Michael.Diramio@dsbn.edu.on.ca

•  www.mr‐d.ca