The PmodSTEP provides a four channel drive for a stepper motor via the ST L293DD. Users may wire two pairs of channels in series to drive up to 600 mA of current per channel and can view the current status of a GPIO signal through a set of user LEDs.
 

Functional Description

The PmodSTEP utilizes ST's four channel driver, a L293DD, to drive stepper motors at higher currents than a system board can typically provide from their logic outputs. External test point headers and LEDs are provided for easy testing and observation of the propagation of signals.
 

Interfacing with the Pmod

The PmodSTEP communicates with the host board via the GPIO protocol.

This Pmod offers headers for both 4-pin and 6-pin stepper motors. Stepper motors work by alternately energizing the coils to different polarities inducing the stepper motor to rotate.

4-pin stepper motors only work in the bipolar configuration, requiring that the two inputs on each electromagnetic coil are brought to the correct logic level voltages to induce current flow in the correct direction. The 6-pin stepper motor header on this Pmod can be oriented for either bipolar or unipolar configuration. The two extra pins on this header provide two positive power pins as a source of current for when an input on one end of a coil is driven to a logic low voltage level.
 

Pinout Description Table

 

Pin	Signal	Description
1	SIG1	Signal 1
2	SIG2	Signal 2
3	SIG3	Signal 3
4	SIG4	Signal 4
5	GND	Power Supply Ground
6	VCC	Positive Power Supply
7	SIG5	Signal 5/Output 1 for the Stepper Motor
8	SIG6	Signal 6/Output 2 for the Stepper Motor
9	SIG7	Signal 7/Output 3 for the Stepper Motor
10	SIG8	Signal 8/Output 4 for the Stepper Motor
11	GND	Power Supply Ground
12	VCC	Positive Power Supply

Physical Dimensions