Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!sgiblab!sdd.hp.com!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!fs7.ece.cmu.edu!honeydew.srv.cs.cmu.edu!news
From: mkb@cs.cmu.edu (Mike Blackwell)
Subject: Controlling stepping motors
Message-ID: <CJzwzu.78G.3@cs.cmu.edu>
Sender: news@cs.cmu.edu (Usenet News System)
Nntp-Posting-Host: sheep.frc.ri.cmu.edu
Reply-To: mkb@cs.cmu.edu
Organization: Field Robotics Center, CMU
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 1994 20:02:17 GMT
Lines: 14


I'm looking for references on designing drivers and control algorithms
for stepper motors. Right now I'm using big current limiting resistors
and FET switches in a unipolar configuration, but in order to get the
speed I need, I have to use a high voltage, so gobs of power is lost
through the resistors. I'm thinking that getting rid of the resistors
and PWMing the FETs will allow me to get current in to the coils
faster and more efficiently, but I'm not sure how to pick a chopping
frequency and other details like that. Any pointers will be greatly
appreciated.

		Mike Blackwell		mkb@cs.cmu.edu


