What is the subdivision of stepper motor drivers

A stepper motor is a special type of motor that can achieve precise rotation angles by precisely controlling the current. This characteristic makes stepper motors very popular in applications that require high-precision control, such as 3D printers, robots, precision instruments, etc.

So, what is the subdivision of stepper motor drivers? Simply put, subdivision is the process of further subdividing the rotation angle of a stepper motor through technical means, in order to improve its control accuracy and stability. Imagine if a stepper motor can only move forward a small distance at each step, then by subdividing, we can make the distance it moves forward at each step smaller and more precise. In this way, the performance of the stepper motor will be greatly improved!

Usually, there are subdivisions of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512... Subdivision is when the driver divides each pulse emitted by the superior device into coefficient pulses according to the subdivision coefficient set by the driver, which is equivalent to 200 pulses per revolution. If the stepper motor driver is subdivided into 16, then the stepper motor driver needs to output 3200 pulses before the stepper motor can rotate one revolution. That is to say, when there is no subdivision, the step angle of one pulse is 1.8 °. When subdivided into 16, the step angle of one pulse is 0.1125 °. It seems that when it comes to segmentation, it is more accurate.

Stepper motor subdivision drive technology is a drive control technology developed in the mid-1970s that can significantly improve the comprehensive performance of stepper motors.

It is achieved by controlling the currents in each phase winding to rise or fall in a certain pattern, forming multiple stable intermediate current states between zero current and maximum current. The corresponding direction of the synthesized magnetic field vector will also have multiple stable intermediate states, which will rotate in fine steps.

The amplitude of the synthesized magnetic field vector determines the magnitude of the rotational torque of the stepper motor, and the direction of the synthesized magnetic field vector determines the magnitude of the step angle after subdivision.

What are the specific aspects of the subdivision of stepper motor drivers? Firstly, subdivision can improve the resolution of the stepper motor, enabling it to achieve more precise control. This is crucial for applications that require high-precision control. Secondly, subdivision can also reduce the stepping noise and vibration of the stepper motor, and improve the smoothness of operation. This is undoubtedly a huge blessing for applications that require long-term operation or are sensitive to noise.

For example, suppose you are using a 3D printer to print a precise model. If the stepper motor of the printer has not been subdivided, the printed model may have problems such as misalignment and unevenness between layers. If the stepper motor of the printer is subdivided, the printed model will be more precise and realistic, almost achieving seamless connection!

Of course, subdivision of stepper motor drivers is not omnipotent. It also has some limitations, such as increasing the complexity and cost of the system. However, with the continuous development of technology, these problems are also gradually being solved.

In summary, the subdivision of stepper motor drivers plays a very important role in improving the performance and control accuracy of stepper motors.