GenStepper Firmware
The GenStepper firmware is designed to allow our controllers to operate two stepper motors independently of each other, or one stepper motor at up to twice the rated current of the given board.
Double Current Mode: The GenStepper firmware (version 1.59 or later) for our products now allows you to run one motor (instead of two) at double the rated current of the board! For example, if you purchase a BiStepA06 board, which can handle two 1-Amp motors, then that board can now be configured by you to handle one 2-amp motor instead. Please review the motor connections faq for more information.
The following table summarizes the currently released stepper motor control product key capabilities. Note that the double current mode (using a single motor) is only available using GenStepper firmware version 1.59 or later. You will first want to review the calculating motor current faq in order to determine the current requirements for your motor.
| Product | Unipolar | Bipolar | Current/Winding with 2 motors | Double Current Current/Winding with 1 motor | Motor Voltages |
| SimStep | x | 0.5 Amp | 1.0 Amp | 5-26 | |
| SS0705 | x | 0.5 Amp | 1.0 Amp | 5-26 | |
| SS0705USB | x | 0.5 Amp | 1.0 Amp | 5-26 | |
| SS0710USB | x | 1.0 Amp | not supported | 5-26 | |
| BiStepA06 | x | x | 1.0 Amp | 2.0 Amp | 5-34 |
| BiStep2A | x | x | 2.0 Amp | 4.0 Amp | 5-43 |
The GenStepper key capabilities may be summarized as follows:
- Up to two stepper motors may be independently controlled at one time.
- If only one stepper motor is to be controlled by the unit, then you can configure the product to operate at double the rated current of the board.
- Limit switches may be used to automatically request motion stop of either motor in either direction.
- Rates of 1 to 62,500 microsteps per second are supported.
- Step rates are changed by linearly ramping the rates; the rate of change is independently programmed for each motor, and can be from 1 to 62,500 microsteps per second per second.
- All motor coordinates and rates are expressed in programmable microstep units of 1/64 to one full step. Once the base step size is selected, changing stepping modes between half, full and micro does not change any other value other than which winding pairs may be driven at the same time.
- Motor coordinates are maintained as 32 bit signed values, and thus have a range of –2,147,483,647 through +2,147,483,647.
- Both GoTo and Slew actions are fully supported.
- Four modes of stepping the motor are supported:
- Half steps (alternates 1 winding and two windings enabled at a time),
- Full power full steps (2 windings enabled at a time)
- Half power full steps (1 winding enabled at a time)
- Near-constant-current microsteps (each from 1/64 to one full step)
- A TTL "busy" signal is available, which can be used to see if the motors are still moving. Note that this information is also available from the serial communications subsystem.
- Simple control of the motors may be done by switch closure: i.e., each motor can be told to slew left or right, or to stop by simply grounding some input lines. Similarly, the rate of motion can be controlled via stepping through a standard set of rates via grounding another input.
- Complete control of the motors, including total monitoring of current conditions, is available through the 2400 or 9600 baud serial connection. If you purchase a USB-to-serial conversion cable with drivers, you may also operate our products via USB.
- An additional mode is available which allows an external computer to directly generate step sequences on the motor control lines. Up to 62,500 microsteps per second may be requested. This mode gives you control over which edge of the pulse "triggers" the step, and it allows you to either use "Step" and "Direction" lines to request a step for a given motor, or to have a separate "Step" line per possible direction of each motor (GenStepper version 1.73 or later).
- The system can be configured to operate in 1/2 power mode, wherein it reduces the power to all windings by 1/2 for all actions. This can be used to "overvoltage" a motor, in order to generate more torque. Please see the PDF manual "HalfPowerNotes" for more information about this feature.
- Runs off of a single user-provided 7.5 to 15 volt DC power supply. Some models may also be configured using a split supply, wherein the motor runs off of a separate DC power supply, while the logic circuit runs off of a 7.5 to 15 volt DC supply.
- Theoretically, an unlimited number of boards can be controlled via one serial line, if the SerRoute product is used.
Click Here for the full PDF manual for the BiStep06 with the GenStepper firmware installed.
Click Here for the full PDF manual for the BiStep2A with the GenStepper firmware installed.
Hint: If you want to save your own copy of the manual, right click on the appropriate link (above), and then select the 'Save Target As...' option which appears. Tell the system where to save the manual, and then you will be able to browse it at your leisure.
Click here if you need to download the current version Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe's site.
Click here if you prefer to use Foxit Reader as is available from the Foxit Software site.