Chapter 3:
Sure
Step
TM
STP-DRV-4035 Microstepping Drive
Sure
Step
TM
Stepping Systems User Manual
3–12
5th Ed., Rev. B 01/2019
Microstepping
Most step motor drives offer a choice between full step and half step resolutions.
In most full step drives, both motor phases are used all the time. Half stepping
divides each step into two smaller steps by alternating between both phases on and
one phase on. Microstepping drives like the SureStep drive precisely control the
amount of current in each phase at each step position as a means of electronically
subdividing the steps even further. The SureStep drive offers a choice of half step
and three microstep resolutions. The highest setting divides each full step into 50
microsteps, providing 10,000 steps per revolution when using a 1.8° motor.
In addition to providing precise positioning and smooth motion, microstep drives
can be used to provide motion in convenient units. When the drive is set to 2,000
steps/rev (1/10 step) and used with a 5 pitch lead screw, you get .0001 inches/step.
Setting the step resolution is easy. Look at the dip switch on the SureStep drive.
Next to switches 2 and 3, there are labels on the printed circuit board. Each switch
has two markings on each end. Switch 2 is marked 1/5, 1/10 at one end and 1/5,
1/50 at the other. Switch 3 is labeled 1/2, 1/5 and 1/10, 1/50. To set the drive for
a resolution, push both switches toward the proper label. For example, if you want
1/10 step, push switch 2 toward the 1/10 label (to the left) and push switch 3 toward
1/10 (on the right).
Please refer to the table below and set the switches for the resolution you want.
400
STEPS/REV
(HALF)
1,000
STEPS/REV
(1/5)
2,000
STEPS/REV
(1/10)
10,000
STEPS/REV
(1/50)
23
1/2
1/10
1/5
1/2
23
1/2
1/10
1/5
1/2
1/5
1/50
1/10
1/50
1/5
1/50
1/10
1/50
23
1/2
1/10
1/5
1/2
23
1/2
1/10
1/5
1/2
1/5
1/50
1/10
1/50
1/5
1/50
1/10
1/50
Factory
Default
