Steppers about pwdr-model-0.1 HOT 4 OPEN

Microstepping is used for all steppers (Z-steppers 16 steps/rev, all others 8 steps/rev).

It could be possible to power the steppers using ULN2003 chips and some electronics. However, you would have to rewrite the firmware as it now uses the AccelStepper class that handles all the stuff for the stepper motors.

from pwdr-model-0.1.

Just my few cents. You should be using highest microstepping available, unless your micro is super slow, or you need 99% of it's processing power to do something else.
ULNs do no regulate current, can't reverse direction of current, so can only drive unipolar steppers. Now, these have less torque and are slower than bipolar steppers. Could work in this application as long as the design remains small. If you want to build a bigger one... you'll fail ;)

from pwdr-model-0.1.

I'll just leave the questions on ULN and stick to commercial stepper boards.

For Model 1.0, a higher microstepping will be used, increasing the printers speed. Makers can do this on their own by connecting the correct contacts.

from pwdr-model-0.1.

Thanks nothinman for your input! I am now using 3 driver boards with 128 micro-stepping and 2 with 16 micro-stepping.

from pwdr-model-0.1.