Introduction to A4988

Hello friends, I hope you all are doing great. In today's tutorial, we are gonna have a look at detailed Introduction to A4988. The A4988 is a micro-striding driver for governing the stepper motors, it is incorporated with the interpreter (translator) for the tranquil process. By this controller stepper motor can control by 2 pinouts, one pin is to regulate the direction of motor revolutions and other is for steps regulation of motor. It works on 3 to 5.5V and it consumes per phase two amperes current in presence of the proper cooling environment. It consists of an immovable off-time current controller which has the capacity to works in sluggish or assorted falling-off styles. In today's post, we will have a look at its cascading, pinout, sorts, uses, etc. I will also share some links where I have interfaced it with other microcontrollers. You can also ask about it in comments, I will direct you additional about it. So, let's get started with a basic Introduction to A4988.

Introduction to A4988

  • The A4988 is a micro-striding driver for governing the stepper motors, it is incorporated with the interpreter for the tranquil process.
  • This motor driver offers five, unlike step tenacities which are, 1. Complete Step 2. Half (1/2) Step 3. A quarter (1/4) Step 4. Eight (8th) Step and 5. 16-Step. It also has a potentiometer which regulates the output current, over temperature updraft stoppage and crossover current safety.
  • The interpreter of this driver is fundamental to the stress-free employment of the A4988. Only entering one pulse on the stride input drives the motor one micro-step.
  • There is no need for phase classification tables, higher frequency outlines, or multifaceted borders to plug-in.
  • The interfacing of this module is suitable for such applications where a composite microprocessor is inaccessible or is overloaded.
  • During the stepping process, the cutting governer in this module robotically chooses the current falling-off way, sluggish or diversified.
  • In diversified decay style, the expedient is set firstly to a fast deterioration for a magnitude of the steady off-time, then to a slow deterioration for the remains of the off-time.
  • In this module, interior synchronous modify integrated circuit is connected to mend power indulgence during the PWM process.
  • This special integrated circuit consists of thermal cessation with hysteresis, under voltage lockout (UVLO), and crossover-current fortification
  • It is available in superficial mounted QFN cascading (ET), with the dimensions of 5mm x 5mm, having a cascading height of .90mm and an uncovered wad for boosted thermal indulgence.

Pinout of A4988

  • These are the main pinout A4988 which are described below.
Pin# Type Parameters
Pin#4 CP1 It is a charge drive capacitor point.
Pin#5 CP2 It is a charge drive capacitor point.
Pin#6 VCP It is a reservoir capacitor point.
Pin#8 VREG It is controller decoupling point.
Pin#9 MS1 It is a Logic input pinout.
Pin#10 MS2  It is reasoning input pin.
Pin#11 MS3  It is reasoning input pin.
Pin#12 RESET  It is reasoning input pin.
Pin#13 ROSC It is timing setting pin
Pin#14 SLEEP  It is reasoning input pin.
Pin#15 VDD It is the Logic source.
Pin#16 STEP It is reasoning input pin.
Pin#17 REF It is Gm reference voltage input pinout.
Pin#3,18 GND It is ground pinout.
Pin#19 DIR  It is a reasoning input pin
Pin#21 OUT1B DMOS Complete Bridge 1 Output B pin.
Pin#22 VBB1 It is a supply voltage for load.
Pin#23 SENSE1 It is sagacity resistor terminal for Bridge.
Pin#24 OUT1A DMOS Complete Bridge 1 Output A pin.
Pin#26 OUT2A DMOS complete Bridge 2 Output A pin.
Pin#7,20,25 NC It is open pinout.
Pin#1 OUT2B It is DMOS Complete Bridge 2 Output B
Pin#27 SENSE2 Sagacity resistor terminal for Bridge 2.
Pin#28 VBB2 It is a supply voltage for load.Pin#2ENABLEIt is Logic input pinout.
        - PAD It is unshielded wad for improved thermal indulgence.
Let's see a pinout diagram.

Features of A4988

  • These are some features of A4988. Let's discuss them.
    • It has a squat RDS (ON)  every output pinout.
    • It has Instinctive current falling-off type assortment.
    • It has Varied and Sluggish current falling-off modes.
    • It provides coetaneous rectification for low-slung power indulgence.
    • This module has an interior UVLO.
    • It provides crossover current fortification.
    • It is well accorded with the 3.3 and 5 v logic source.
    • It has thermal cessation circuit.
    • It also provides fortification from short to ground.

Difference between A4988 and DRV8825

  • Now we discuss differences between A4988 and DRv8825.
    • The DRV8825 proposals to 1/32 striding, while A4988 only steps to 1/16.
    • Both have potentiometer at the dissimilar place.
    • There is no coherence between a reference voltage and current limiter.
    • DRV8825 needs the smallest step pulse period of 1.9us, while A4988 needs 1us.
    • DRV8825 used for high current consuming motors, while A4988 is used for low current consuming motors.
    • In the case of A4988, we need special colling to draw high current but in the case of DRV8825, there is no need for any special colling.

Applications of A4988

  • These are some applications of A4988.
    • As we discussed it is used to control the speed and rotation of stepper motor.
    • It is used in robotics to control their motion.
    • It is used in different toys.
So, friends, it was all about A4988, if you want to know something more about it please ask in comment. Take care until the next tutorial.
Syed Zain Nasir

I am Syed Zain Nasir, the founder of <a href=https://www.TheEngineeringProjects.com/>The Engineering Projects</a> (TEP). I am a programmer since 2009 before that I just search things, make small projects and now I am sharing my knowledge through this platform.I also work as a freelancer and did many projects related to programming and electrical circuitry. <a href=https://plus.google.com/+SyedZainNasir/>My Google Profile+</a>

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Syed Zain Nasir