PDA

View Full Version : Driving 2 steppers from one driver?



Dan Brown
20-12-2009, 12:01 PM
hello, is there any way of running more than one stepper motor from a single signal/driver??

tribbles
20-12-2009, 02:17 PM
You'll either end up drawing twice the current, give each motor half the driver's current, or give half the voltage to each motor depending on the configuration and the driver.

Wiring in parallel would try to get twice the current drawn through the driver - if it's a constant current driver, then this would effectively split the current to each motor. If your driver is capable of feeding more current, then you could configure your driver to do that.

Wiring in series would end up with the same current, but half the voltage (with everything that entails).

Gary
20-12-2009, 07:26 PM
While in theory it will work, it is not a good idea.
1) drivers are not designed to run two motor so will void the warranty
2) any anti resonance circuitry in the driver would be useless.
3) The current would be very high and would need a larger driver, so would most likely be better to get two smaller drivers.