Cheers guys.
For a really simple 'get you up & running testing a stepper nice & quick', it's really handy to have one of these in your component tray...

http://www.datasheetcatalog.org/data...stems/5804.pdf
That sounds perfect for testing the motors, I was also after something to control the whole driver/ motor setup without a pc.


Tell you what, Nottingham is nearer and I can take them down to Bristol on the 22nd when I go to the show.

Let's shame the bastard
Good idea, he's not biting yet tho..... maybe have to offer some cash:heehee:
Is that a CNC/ machinery show?

Ross, are you saying to exercise the stepper drivers directly without a PC, or to drive the motors without a stepper driver?
Yes I would like to be able to control the whole driver and motor system without a pc. I was thinking along the lines of a varible pulse generator that could feed each axis as required by using a joystick, (like on a Playstation controller) That way i could control direction with the pad and the speed with a trim pot, If it works i might look at using a ps3 analouge type joystick so the speed it proportional to the stick movement.

Ive been looking on the the net at 555 timer circuits feeding a schitt trigger, but I'm not skilled enought to design it for the correct voltages and pulse timings:sad: