DSPICDEM MCSM DEVELOPMENT BOARD

The Microchip dsPICDEM™ MCSM Development Board is targeted to control both unipolar and bipolar stepper motors in open-loop or closed-loop (current control) mode. The hardware is designed in such a way that no hardware changes are necessary for 8-, 6- or 4-wire stepper motors in either bipolar or unipolar configurations. Software to run motors in open-loop or closed-loop with full or variable micro-stepping is provided. A GUI for controlling step commands, motor parameter input, and operation modes is included. This flexible and cost-effective board can be configured in different ways for use with Microchip’s specialized dsPIC33F Motor Control Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs). The dsPICDEM MCSM Development Board offers a mounting option to connect either a 28-pin SOIC device or a generic 100-pin Plug-In Module (PIM). A dsPIC33FJ32MC204 DSC PIM (MA330017) is included.  An updated version of this board, DM330022-1, is available which includes a dsPIC33CK64MP105 PIM.

The dsPICDEM MCSM Development Board supports terminal voltages up to 80V and currents up to 3A. The dsPIC33F device uses the MOSFET driver to drive the two full-bridge inverters that power the motor windings. The board includes various circuitries to perform the following functions: 

• Drive two motor windings with the two on-board full-bridge inverters 
• Measure feedback and other analog signals (i.e., current, DC voltage, Potentiometer and Fault signals)
• Communicate with a host computer or an external device via USB

The dsPIC DSC devices feature an 8-channel, high-speed PWM with Complementary mode output, a programmable ADC trigger on the PWM reload cycle, digital dead time control, internal shoot-through protection and hardware fault shutdown. These features make the dsPIC DSC an ideal solution for high-performance stepper motor control applications where control of the full-bridge inverter is required.