MECHATRONICS

3 AXIS@10A MICRO STEPPER MOTOR DRIVER

DATASHEET

















FEATURES
Two phases bipolar driver (PWM Technology)
Resolution: Full, 1/2, 1/4, 1/16, selectable via DIP switch per axis, you can get 3200
steps per revolution with a 1.8 common stepper motor
Individual disable via hardware, using optocoupler input terminal (it can be used as
axis limit switch), per axis
12 Adjustable levels for stepper motor current, via DIP switch on board
4 Adjustable levels for PFD (Percent Fast Decay), via DIP switch on board
DB25 male connector on board for PC parallel port
All inputs signals are optocoupled for PC parallel port protection
Full access to all unused DB25 port pins via terminal block
24VDC to 48VDC input voltage
Mounted in aluminium clamping plate, you can screw it in a big heatsink if you are
using large stepper motors
For stepper motors large than 3.5A extra heat sink and fan is required
Automatic current reduction, when the driver doesn't receive any control signal, it
decrease the current to 40% of the selected, it helps to avoid motor's overheating
when it doesn't turn
4 Wire, 6 Wire and 8 Wire (NEMA17, NEMA23, NEMA34 and NEMA42) stepper
motors can be used with this driver board
Fuse per axis integrated for driver board protection
1.2A/phase per axis as minimum and 10 A/phase per axis as maximum
MECHATRONICS
HIGH POWER
STEPPER MOTOR DRIVER
+
V
C
C

N
E
G
A
T
I
V
E

F
U
S
E

1
0
A

M
A
X

1 2 3 4
DIP SW CONF
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
DIP SW RESOLUTION
X AXIS
IDLE
POWER X
A A B B
WARNING
FOR MOTORS
LARGE THAN
3.5A FAN IS
REQUIERED
F
U
S
E

1
0
A

M
A
X

1 2 3 4
DIP SW CONF
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
DIP SW RESOLUTION
Y AXIS
IDLE
POWER Y
A A B B
F
U
S
E

1
0
A

M
A
X

1 2 3 4
DIP SW CONF
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
DIP SW RESOLUTION
Z AXIS
IDLE
POWER Z
A A B B
WARNING
DO NOT CONNECT OR
DISCONNECT MOTORS
WHILE POWER IS ON
1
1

1
2

1
0

1
7

1
3

1
6

1

1
5

1
4

Z COM
LIMIT SWITCHES
Y X
9

T
O

2
5

CAUTION
ONLY LPT
GROUND
8

3 Axis@10A Micro Stepper Motor Driver Datasheet Mechatronics 2008

www.easy-cnc.com Page 2 of 12

PARALLEL PORT CONNECTION TO DRIVER BOARD

A DB25 male-female Straight-Through Cable can be used to interconnect the driver board
to your PC; in this connection you do not have to use any adapter, like hubs, USB to
Parallel cables. This is because most of the CAM software requires the original
input/output (I/O) ranges of 378, 278 or 3BC and these adapters do not work as CAM
software needs.

If your computer is a laptop it is probably you do not have access to a parallel port, if that is
the case you must install a parallel PCMCIA card. If your computer is desktop you have
to install a PCI-parallel bus card. You can purchase them in a Computer Store. See
pictures below.











Also is important you know that a single parallel port is able to control 4 axes as maximum,
if your application needs to control more axes or you want to use an attached encoder each
motor you have to install an extra parallel bus card. The DB25 connector pin description of
the driver board is the following:

DB25 MALE CONNECTOR
PIN NUMBER
USE IN DRIVER
BOARD
USE IN PROTOTYPING
TERMINAL BLOCK
1 Strobe
2 Step X
3 Dir X
4 Step Y
5 Dir Y
6 Step Z
7 Dir Z
8 Data 6
9 Data 7
10 ACK
11 Busy
12 Paper Empty
13 Select
14 Auto Feed
15 Error
16 Init
17 Select in
18-to-25 Ground for Step and Dir LPT Ground
Parallel PCMCIA card PCI-parallel bus card
3 Axis@10A Micro Stepper Motor Driver Datasheet Mechatronics 2008

www.easy-cnc.com Page 3 of 12

1 2 3 4
DIP SW CONF
ON
OFF
A
A
B B
DIP SWITCH RESOLUTION SELECTION

The switches 3 and 4 of the DIP switch configuration on board are used in the driver step
resolution configuration. i.e., If you have a 1.8 stepper motor and select full step you will
get 200 steps each 360 turn, with a 1/16 step resolution you will get 3200 steps each 360
turn.

You can change the step resolution when the power is ON or OFF without fear of risk the
driver board.
DIP Switch Position
Resolution
3 4
Steps number per
360 turn
Full step OFF OFF 200
1/2 step ON OFF 400
1/4 step OFF ON 800
1/16 step ON ON 3200


STEPPER MOTOR BASIC SCHEMATICS

4 LEADS STEPPER MOTOR

Connect each lead to the terminal block as shows you. i.e.,
The B lead of the stepper motor must be connected to the B
screw in the terminal block.







6 LEADS STEPPER MOTOR (SERIAL WIRING)

Do not connect the central tap of each coil; do not forget
to insulate all connections and central tap.

In this way the stepper motor will need half of the
nominal current.

For example, if a 1.2A/phase stepper motor with 6 leads is
wired in serial way the motor's current will be half, it
means 0.6A/phase. Do not forget to insulate all
connections.

Connect each lead to the terminal block as shows you. i.e., The B lead of the stepper
motor must be connected to the B screw in the terminal block.

A
A
B B
NO CONNECT
NO CONNECT
3 Axis@10A Micro Stepper Motor Driver Datasheet Mechatronics 2008

www.easy-cnc.com Page 4 of 12

8 LEADS STEPPER MOTOR (SERIAL WIRING)

One extreme lead of each two coils must be joined with the
other; you will get one pair of 'two serial coils'. In this way
the stepper motor will need half of the nominal current.

For example, if a 3.8A/phase stepper motor with 8 leads is
wired in serial way the motor's current will be half, it means
1.9A/phase. Do not forget to insulate all connections.

Connect each lead to the terminal block as shows you. i.e.,
The B lead of the stepper motor must be connected to the
B screw in the terminal block.


8 LEADS STEPPER MOTOR (PARALLEL WIRING)

The extremes of two coils must be wired in parallel way,
you will get one pair of 'two parallel coils' as you can see
in the diagram. In this way the stepper motor will need
twice the nominal current.

For example, if a 4A/phase stepper motor with 8 leads is
wired in parallel way, you will use one pair of 'two coils'
and the motor's current will be twice, it means 8A/phase.
Do not forget to insulate all connections.

Connect each lead to the terminal block as shows you.
i.e., The B lead of the stepper motor must be connected to the B screw in the terminal
block.

It is suggested you must have the diagram of the stepper motor that you are going to use;
this will help you to avoid short circuits, damage the board or something similar.

Do not worry if you have not the diagram, you can get the properly configuration with a
multimeter, in the ohm section (), take a wire as reference, then, measure the resistance
between this and the other wires, when you get a smaller resistance (less than 10 ohm) you
have found a coil (Most of the stepper motors has a resistance lower than 10 ohm per coil).


WARNING !
DO NOT CONNECT OR DISCONNECT ANY MOTORS OR ANY MOTORS
LEAD WHILE POWER IS ON, THE DRIVER BOARD CAN BE DAMAGED
IMMEDIATELY


A
A
B B
ISOLATE
CONNECTION
ISOLATE
CONNECTION
A
A
B B
ISOLATE
CONNECTIONS
ISOLATE
CONNECTION
3 Axis@10A Micro Stepper Motor Driver Datasheet Mechatronics 2008

www.easy-cnc.com Page 5 of 12

ON
OFF
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
DIP SW RESOLUTION
ADJUSTMENT OF THE STEPPER MOTOR CURRENT

For every axis you have to adjust the motor current using the DIP switch resolution
according to the following configuration table:

DIP Switch Position
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Motor Current [A]
OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON ON OFF 10
OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF ON OFF 9
OFF OFF OFF ON OFF OFF ON OFF 8
OFF OFF ON OFF OFF OFF ON OFF 7
OFF ON OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF 6
ON OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF 2.5
OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF ON 5
OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF OFF ON 4.2
OFF OFF OFF ON OFF OFF OFF ON 3.8
OFF OFF ON OFF OFF OFF OFF ON 3.2
OFF ON OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON 2.9
ON OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON 1.2

As you can see the DIP switch resolution has 8 mini switches, the ON position is up and the
OFF position is down. e.g. The configuration for a 2.9A stepper motor is, mini switches 2
and 8 are ON, the others are OFF.





If your motor has different current, you have to adjust it to the nearest low current
configuration. e.g. For a 3.5A stepper motor the nearest low configuration is 3.2A, then the
mini switches position are: pins 3 are 8 ON, the others are OFF.


This board has an automatic current reduction, if the driver does not receive any control
signal in one second, it decrease the current to 40% of the selected, it helps to avoid motor's
overheating when it doesn't turn. When the IDLE led is ON you will notice this is working.


By default the fuses installed on the board are 10A, if your motors are less than 5A we
suggest you to change the fuses to keep them according to the load, every board includes an
extra kit of 5A fuses for this.

If you use 6 or 8 wire motor use the series wiring, it reduces the amperage rating in 50%.
i.e., A 3A motor wired in this way should be considerate as 1.5A motor.

If your motor is large than 3.5A is needed to screw the clamping plate in a big heat
sink or in a case, also a fan is required to avoid overheating. Every axis can give you
10A per phase as maximum.
3 Axis@10A Micro Stepper Motor Driver Datasheet Mechatronics 2008

www.easy-cnc.com Page 6 of 12

1 2 3 4
DIP SW CONF
ON
OFF
ADJUSTMENT OF PFD VOLTAGE

The Percent Fast Decay (PFD) voltage manage the output current decay when the PWM
circuit switches the control current, using the mini switches 1 and 2 of the DIP switch
configuration you can adjust the PFD voltage value in order to decrease the resonance noise
in the stepper motor.

DIP Switch Position
1 2
PFD
OFF OFF 0%
ON OFF 8%
OFF ON 26%
ON ON 100%


It is normal that you hear a little resonance noise in the motors, this is caused by the current
pulse control, in fact, is imperceptible in high quality motors. We suggest you to use 0% of
the PFD, this a good reference to make any adjustment if you have any trouble.

There is no risk of damage if you adjust the PFD voltage when the power is on and the
stepper motor is connected to the board.


WARNING!

DOUBLE CHECK ALL CONNECTIONS BEFORE TO CONNECT TO POWER
SUPPLY, THEN, TURN ON THE POWER SUPPLY
DO NOT CONNECT OR DISCONNECT ANY MOTOR OR ANY MOTORS
LEAD WHILE POWER IS ON, THE DRIVER BOARD CAN BE DAMAGED
IMMEDIATELY
MINIMUM POWER SUPPLY:
24VDC@5A
MAXIMUM POWER SUPPLY:
48VDC@30A
RECOMMENDED FUSE 10AMP MAX.

LTP GND AND POWER SUPPLY GND ARE INDEPENDENT, FOR ANY
REASON THESE TERMINALS SHOULD NOT BE INTERCONNECTED









3 Axis@10A Micro Stepper Motor Driver Datasheet Mechatronics 2008

www.easy-cnc.com Page 7 of 12

BASIC CONNECTION













































+VCC
GND
POWER
SUPPLY
MECHATRONICS
HIGH POWER
STEPPER MOTOR DRIVER
+
V
C
C

N
E
G
A
T
I
V
E

F
U
S
E

1
0
A

M
A
X

1 2 3 4
DIP SW CONF
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
DIP SW RESOLUTION
X AXIS
IDLE
POWER X
A A B B
WARNING
FOR MOTORS
LARGE THAN
3.5A FAN IS
REQUIERED
F
U
S
E

1
0
A

M
A
X

1 2 3 4
DIP SW CONF
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
DIP SW RESOLUTION
Y AXIS
IDLE
POWER Y
A A B B
F
U
S
E

1
0
A

M
A
X

1 2 3 4
DIP SW CONF
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
DIP SW RESOLUTION
Z AXIS
IDLE
POWER Z
A A B B
WARNING
DO NOT CONNECT OR
DISCONNECT MOTORS
WHILE POWER IS ON
1
1

1
2

1
0

1
7

1
3

1
6

1

1
5

1
4

Z COM
LIMIT SWITCHES
Y X
9

T
O

2
5

CAUTION
ONLY LPT
GROUND
1
8

8

STEPPER
MOTOR
Y
STEPPER
MOTOR
Z
3 Axis@10A Micro Stepper Motor Driver Datasheet Mechatronics 2008

www.easy-cnc.com Page 8 of 12

DISABLE SWITCHES VIA HARDWARE

These switches can be used to disable the electrical current in the stepper motor; this is a
safe way to avoid incidental damages in your machine if the computer fails or gets down.
You can wire them each one to a mechanical switch in your machine.

They are placed in both extreme of each axis, if the mechanical system active one of these
switches the corresponding motor will be automatically disabled, you need to deactivate the
switch to move again the motor.

Keep in mind that these limit switches has been implemented via hardware, is not possible
to control them via software, if you want to enable/disable them via software you have to
check your favourite CAM software for this.

Note: The power supply GND disable the limit switches, for any reason this terminal
should not be interconnected to the LPT GND.






























SWITCHES X
LEFT
RIGHT
SWITCHES Y
FRONT
BACK
SWITCHES Z
TOP
DOWN
MECHATRONICS
HIGH POWER
STEPPER MOTOR DRIVER
+
V
C
C

N
E
G
A
T
I
V
E

F
U
S
E

1
0
A

M
A
X

1 2 3 4
DIP SW CONF
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
DIP SW RESOLUTION
X AXIS
IDLE
POWER X
A A B B
WARNING
FOR MOTORS
LARGE THAN
3.5A FAN IS
REQUIERED
F
U
S
E

1
0
A

M
A
X

1 2 3 4
DIP SW CONF
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
DIP SW RESOLUTION
Y AXIS
IDLE
POWER Y
A A B B
F
U
S
E

1
0
A

M
A
X

1 2 3 4
DIP SW CONF
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
DIP SW RESOLUTION
Z AXIS
IDLE
POWER Z
A A B B
WARNING
DO NOT CONNECT OR
DISCONNECT MOTORS
WHILE POWER IS ON
1
1

1
2

1
0

1
7

1
3

1
6

1

1
5

1
4

Z COM
LIMIT SWITCHES
Y X
9

T
O

2
5

CAUTION
ONLY LPT
GROUND
1
8


3 Axis@10A Micro Stepper Motor Driver Datasheet Mechatronics 2008

www.easy-cnc.com Page 9 of 12

RELAY BOARD CONNECTION WITH 3 AXIS@10A BOARD

The relay board is used to operate (from the PC with your favourite CAM program) tools
that work at 120VAC or 220VAC as a motor tool router, coolant pumps, etc. Without any
fear of risk the PC parallel port, because this connection is totally optocoupled.

The CAM software sends a trigger signal through the DB25 breakout terminal blocks to the
relay board. The relay board optocouplers switches on the relay that works as 120VAC or
220VAC circuit switches.

Every relay can close electrical circuits at 125VAC@15Amp or 250VAC@10Amp as
maximum.




























The relay board power supply can be the same of the driver boards power supply;
otherwise you can use an independent power supply from 12VDC to 35VDC, as
maximum, to feed the drive board.

For further information about how to connect the Relay Board, check the Relay Board
Datasheet available in our website.
R
E
L
A
Y

1

R
E
L
A
Y

2

1 2 3
MECHATRONICS
TWIN RELAY BOARD
1-2 SLAVE OF No.1
2-3 NO SLAVE MODE
O
U
T

1

O
U
T

2

R
E
L
2

R
E
L
1

C
O
M

G
N
D

+
V
C
C

POWER
SUPPLY
+VCC
GND
120VAC OR
220VAC
MOTOR
TOOL
ROUTER
COOLANT
PUMP
MECHATRONICS
HIGH POWER
STEPPER MOTOR DRIVER
+
V
C
C

N
E
G
A
T
I
V
E

F
U
S
E

1
0
A

M
A
X

1 2 3 4
DIP SW CONF
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
DIP SW RESOLUTION
X AXIS
IDLE
POWER X
A A B B
WARNING
FOR MOTORS
LARGE THAN
3.5A FAN IS
REQUIERED
F
U
S
E

1
0
A

M
A
X

1 2 3 4
DIP SW CONF
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
DIP SW RESOLUTION
Y AXIS
IDLE
POWER Y
A A B B
F
U
S
E

1
0
A

M
A
X

1 2 3 4
DIP SW CONF
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
DIP SW RESOLUTION
Z AXIS
IDLE
POWER Z
A A B B
WARNING
DO NOT CONNECT OR
DISCONNECT MOTORS
WHILE POWER IS ON
1
1

1
2

1
0

1
7

1
3

1
6

1

1
5

1
4

Z COM
LIMIT SWITCHES
Y X
9

T
O

2
5

CAUTION
ONLY LPT
GROUND
1
8

3 Axis@10A Micro Stepper Motor Driver Datasheet Mechatronics 2008

www.easy-cnc.com Page 10 of 12

COMPLETE SYSTEM: 3 AXIS@10A DRIVER AND RELAY BOARDS













































STEPPER
MOTOR
X
STEPPER
MOTOR
Y
STEPPER
MOTOR
Z
POWER
SUPPLY
+VCC
GND
SWITCHES X
LEFT
RIGHT
SWITCHES Y
FRONT
BACK
SWITCHES Z
DOWN
R
E
L
A
Y

1

R
E
L
A
Y

2

1 2 3
MECHATRONICS
TWIN RELAY BOARD
1-2 SLAVE OF No.1
2-3 NO SLAVE MODE
O
U
T

1

O
U
T

2

R
E
L
2

R
E
L
1

C
O
M

G
N
D

+
V
C
C

120VAC OR
220VAC
MOTOR
TOOL
ROUTER
UP
COOLANT
PUMP
MECHATRONICS
HIGH POWER
STEPPER MOTOR DRIVER
+
V
C
C

N
E
G
A
T
I
V
E

F
U
S
E

1
0
A

M
A
X

1 2 3 4
DIP SW CONF
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
DIP SW RESOLUTION
X AXIS
IDLE
POWER X
A A B B
WARNING
FOR MOTORS
LARGE THAN
3.5A FAN IS
REQUIERED
F
U
S
E

1
0
A

M
A
X

1 2 3 4
DIP SW CONF
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
DIP SW RESOLUTION
Y AXIS
IDLE
POWER Y
A A B B
F
U
S
E

1
0
A

M
A
X

1 2 3 4
DIP SW CONF
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
DIP SW RESOLUTION
Z AXIS
IDLE
POWER Z
A A B B
WARNING
DO NOT CONNECT OR
DISCONNECT MOTORS
WHILE POWER IS ON
1
1

1
2

1
0

1
7

1
3

1
6

1

1
5

1
4

Z COM
LIMIT SWITCHES
Y X
9

T
O

2
5

CAUTION
ONLY LPT
GROUND
1
8

8

3 Axis@10A Micro Stepper Motor Driver Datasheet Mechatronics 2008

www.easy-cnc.com Page 11 of 12

BEFORE TURN ON THE POWER!!!

Once you have finish to wire your driver board it is important to check the following things
to get results as you desire:


Double check ALL connections.

Good connections in the output motor terminal per axis. Non strong connections and
short circuits will damage the board.

Correct polarity of the power supply.

If your motors has large cable to the driver board make sure ALL polarities are okay.
Do not forget to insulate ALL leads connections.

Plug the DB25 male/female Straight-Through Cable between the driver board and your
computer.

Turn ON the power supply.

Power LEDs must be ON.

All motors' shaft must be in hold state, you can not move them with your fingers.

As the motors do not receive any control signal the IDLE LEDs are ON.

Configure your favourite CAM software; you can download our Quick Start Guides for
Mach2, Mach3 and KCam from: www.easy-cnc.com

















3 Axis@10A Micro Stepper Motor Driver Datasheet Mechatronics 2008

www.easy-cnc.com Page 12 of 12

MOUNT IN A BIG HEATSINK WITH FAN

This is a good example of an appropriate cooling system if you are using stepper motors
great than 3.5A/phase, the fuses on board are 10A as default, if your motors are less than
5A we suggest you to change the fuses to keep them according to the load, every board
includes an extra kit of 5A fuses for this.

In this example the board with clamping plate is screwed in a big heatsink, in the fins' side
a fan is screwed. You can hold the heatsink with some screws.





































FAN
DRIVER BOARD WITH CLAMPING PLATE
BIG HEATSINK
FUSES
IDLE
INDICATORS