Newsgroups: comp.robotics
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From: rstevew@armory.com (Richard Steven Walz)
Subject: Re: Stepping motor
Organization: The Armory
Date: Tue, 16 Aug 1994 11:41:42 GMT
Message-ID: <CuMLtK.AMu@armory.com>
References: <2985923419.0.p01106@psilink.com>
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In article <2985923419.0.p01106@psilink.com>,
Glenn H Knauss <p01106@psilink.com> wrote:
>  I am a complete novice at robotics but I do have stepping motor laying
>around and would like to get some basic information.  Can I operate this
>motor from a PC thru a serial or parallel port?  And what sort of program 
>can be used to run it?  Also, it is 1.8 volts but 4.7 amps, so would'nt
>it need its own power supply?  Thanks for any help.
>
>P.S. I know I'm not being very specific but I just want to know if it can
>be fairly easily done.
>
>Glen
-------------------------------------
Yes, you will need another power supply. First start out with switches to
the coils finding out how to make it go around in steps, then implement
that out your data lines on your parallel port. The port will need to drive
transistors to run the external power to each coil, however. I hope you have
the kind of stepper with six leads. Thats a unipolar, and a cinch to work
with! Read up in books about how steppers work, or better yet, find one you
don't need and take it apart. Then put power to the coils and find out what
they do. Quickest way to learn! Use a nail and use a distant compass to
test the nail's magnetization with it. If you don't know how to use a
transistor as a switch, it's time to learn, again hit the books. Best are
simple hobby books and/or basic electronics books emphasizing control and
logic. Good luck.
-Steve Walz   rstevew@armory.com

