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Question #: 14407

Question: I cannot turn the shaft of my stepper motor. It not even connected to a driver

Current Solution

The motor is creating it's own EMF when you try to turn the shaft manually. When coils are connected (or not connected) to any circuit that is not powered can cause unpredictable results.

The motor freezing from just turning it by hand with no connection is surely the wires touching each other. This is actually how we test if a motor is good or bad. If the motor freezes when two of the wires are touching, that means the motor is functioning properly since the magnets are causing current to flow through that coil opposing the magnet.

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Other Possible Solutions to this Question

  • I cannot find a driver for the NEMA 14 Stepping Motor (17 oz-in 1/4" dual shaft) on your site, would something like the Pololu DRV8834 be okay? (I note that the stepper requires 2.7v)
  • I have a KL-4030 stepper motor driver that I only have about an hour use on it but seems to be bad already. Has anyone out there had the same problem?

    The KL-4030 is a Keling 3.0 amp stepper motor driver. These are generally pretty robust drivers. You mentioned in the question that it worked for one hour. This sounds like it could be a contact issue with the wiring in the terminals. I would recommend that you check all of the connections. The terminals that are used in these drivers have terminals that are easily used incorrectly.

    Make sure to open the terminal all the way using a small screw driver. Then insert the exposed wire into the opening and re-tighten the terminal. Make sure of a good connection by tugging on the wires.

    Also, check kthe digital wires that connect from the driver to the control board.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    I have a KL-4030 stepper motor driver that I only have about an hour use on it but seems to be bad already. Has anyone out there had the same problem?

  • What side of the x and y axis do you mount the stepper motor to? If it does not matter what side, do I have to change something in mach3?

    It is usually best to mount the motor in a way so it is spinning clockwise to avoid confusion.

    Additional Information:
    ok, but lets say the motors turn clockwise. if you mount it to ether side of the y axis it will pull to that side so what are the correct positions of the stepper motors. is it the left side or the right side of the y axis and also is it the front or back of the x axis?

    Additional Information:
    cw250 with mach3 controller

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    What side of the x and y axis do you mount the stepper motor to? If it does not matter what side, do I have to change something in mach3?

  • Is there a way to change the direction of a motor with the motor to driver wiring?

    You can change the direction of a stepper motor's rotation by swapping the A and B coils where the stepper motor is connected to the stepper driver. This may not work with every stepper motor and driver combination.

    To do this:
    - Turn off all power to the stepper drivers. If this is not done, you will damage the stepper driver.
    - Wait at least 1 minute for the power to dissipate from the drivers and power supply.
    - Once power is off, remove the wires from the A+ and A- and insert these wires into the B+ and B- respectively. Then insert the wires that were in the B+ and B- into the A+ and A- respectively.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    Is there a way to change the direction of a motor with the motor to driver wiring?

  • Can you sell me a kit to control my motor from the pc? I already have a motor, driver and power supply.

    All you need is a CNC controller like the following options:

    https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-breakout-Mach3-USB-Board

    This controller is easy to connect using standard wire screw terminals and works with the mach3 control software.

    https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-breakout-Mach4-mach3-USB-ethernet-Board

    This controller is a little bit more difficult to connect, but is a more feature-rich controller and will work with both mach3 and mach4 CNC control software titles.

    Specifically, a CNC controller connects to the computer via a USB cable and connects to the motor drivers. These controllers also connect to the limit switches, spindle/router control, air/fluid/mist control, etc.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    Can you sell me a kit to control my motor from the pc? I already have a motor, driver and power supply.

  • I HAVE ONE OF YOUR SMALLER STEPPER MOTORS RUNNING MY X AXIS BRIDGE CRANE AND IF IT IS MOVED TO FAST THE MOTOR SOUNDS LIKE SKIPPING STEPS WILL 651OZ REQUIRE A DIFFERENT POWER SUPPLY CONTROLER?

    Yes, the 651 oz/in motor requires a driver that is compatible to the motors (the motor will draw 6 amps max and the driver paired with this motor will be able to allow for a 6 amp draw). I would also recommend a 36 volt power supply for better high velocity performance.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    I HAVE ONE OF YOUR SMALLER STEPPER MOTORS RUNNING MY X AXIS BRIDGE CRANE AND IF IT IS MOVED TO FAST THE MOTOR SOUNDS LIKE SKIPPING STEPS WILL 651OZ REQUIRE A DIFFERENT POWER SUPPLY CONTROLER?

  • Please explain how to connect 2.5AMP stepper motor driver to USB board. All parts are from your store. Thanks

    From the USB controller, the CP+ and CW+ are connected to the 5V terminal. The CP- is connected to the CP terminal of the driver and the CW- is connected to the CW terminal of the driver.

    Additional Information:

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    Please explain how to connect 2.5AMP stepper motor driver to USB board. All parts are from your store. Thanks

  • I need wiring diagram for motor to driver to usb motion card. I cannot find diagram. I have been unable to get information for a week.
  • Can I connect a 36V power supply to 2.5 AMP Stepper Motor Driver. On the actual driver it shows 12V - 24V, but in the description and data sheet it indicates that it can accept 8V - 45V. Will I benefit from more powerful power supply. Thanks

    The 2.5 amp driver can only accept a power supply between 12 volts and 24 volts. If a 36 volt power supply is used for this driver, the main driver chip will exceed its maximum voltage rating and cause failure.

    If you need to spin your motor faster, you can either use a more appropriate driver (i.e. 3.0 amp driver) or you can change the mechanical parts so the axis has faster travel.

    Additional Information:



    Additional Information:



    Additional Information:

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    Can I connect a 36V power supply to 2.5 AMP Stepper Motor Driver. On the actual driver it shows 12V - 24V, but in the description and data sheet it indicates that it can accept 8V - 45V. Will I benefit from more powerful power supply. Thanks

  • The website states the shaft of the NEMA 24 stepper motor is 1/4" in diameter. However, the datasheet states the shaft is 8mm in diameter. Which is correct?

    The input shaft for the NEMA 24 is 1/4" inch/ 6.5mm, the schematic has a error which states 8mm, which should be 6.5mm.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    The website states the shaft of the NEMA 24 stepper motor is 1/4" in diameter. However, the datasheet states the shaft is 8mm in diameter. Which is correct?

  • I need the calculation to determine the stepper motor torque to find the load that it can lift using a lead screw at 1/2" diameter with 13 TPI.

    There are two main questions that we can answer with respect to motor torque and the mechanical advantage of lead screws, 1) What torque motor do you need to lift a particular weight, or 2) What maximum weight will my motor torque be able to lift.

    This formula uses Newtons (N) as it's final unit. Use this with the included radius (R) to determine the torque. Newtons can easily be converted to lbs or ounces using online conversions.

    Effort = Sf + (Load/(2 x pi x (R/p) x Se))

    where:
    p = pitch of the screw
    Se = screw efficiency = Standard lead screw will be between 20% (.2) and 40% (.4)
    Sf = static force. This is the force that is needed to start the movement. The number may be eliminated, but it is good to use a number in the 5 N to 20 N range.
    Load = the expected load that the effort will need to carry (i.e., the router and the included axis assembly that the motor will need to lift)
    R = radius of the lead screw


    This formula is based on the "law of the machine"

    The final effort amount with its unit of newtons and R will be the torque. For example, if the effort comes to 100 N (newtons) and the R is .5 inches, then you can assume that the effort is 50 N-in since it would take twice the effort to turn form the one inch mark from the center of the shaft.

    Example:

    Load = 90 N (20.2 lbs)
    R = 1 inch since that is the length from the center of the shaft that the motor is rated
    p = 1 inch / 13 = .08 inches

    Effort = 5 N + (90 N / (2 x 3.14 x (1 / .08) x .2))
    Effort = 5 N + (90 N / (6.28 x 12.5 x .2))
    Effort = 5 N + (90 N / (15.7))
    Effort = 5 N + (5.73 N)
    Effort = 10.7 N = 2.4 lbs = 38.4 oz-in

    I am putting the oz-in on the end because the formula considers the distance from the center of the shaft to be one inch.

    Therefore, a 425 oz-in motor would be able to lift a 20.2 lb Router with its accompanying assembly. If the assembly and router is heavier, plug in the numbers and determine the effort required.

    With a bit of algebra, the formula can be rewritten to find the load:

    Load = (Effort - Sf) x (2 x pi x (R/p) x Se)

    Another formula that does not consider friction at all:

    Effort = (Load x p) / (2 x pi x R)

    Lets see if we get similar results:

    Effort = (20 lb x .08 inches) / (2 x 3.14 x 1)
    Effort = 1.6 / 6.28 = .255 lbs = 4.08 oz-in

    The results from both formulas appear to be very small because a 13 TPI screw will have enormous mechanical advantage.

    It is evident that the first formula that does consider friction that we are loosely estimating is far more conservative than the second formula. Either way, even the most conservative formula shows that the 425 oz-in motor will handle very large weights. If you are using a lead screw with only two turns per inch, .5 inch pitch, you can determine the requirements with the first formula.

    Example for a 10 TPI 5 start (2 turns per inch) lead screw:

    Load = 90 N (20.2 lbs)
    R = 1 inch since that is the length from the center of the shaft that the motor is rated
    p = 1 inch / 2 = .5 inches

    Effort = 5 N + (90 N / (2 x 3.14 x (1 / .5) x .2))
    Effort = 5 N + (90 N / (6.28 x 2 x .2))
    Effort = 5 N + (90 N / (2.512))
    Effort = 5 N + (35.83 N)
    Effort = 40.828 N = 9.18 lbs = 146.88 oz-in

    Customer Response:
    thank you so much

    Additional Information:


    Additional Information:


    Additional Information:
    how do i calculate torque of stepper motor if lead screw coupled to motor shaft and load applied by lead screw on plate is 100 kg by vertically

    Additional Information:
    Pls


    Additional Information:
    1m 16mmdiameter ball screws calculations


    Additional Information:
    What is the max load that 2 NEMA 17 stepper motors (spaced 2 feet apart, both will be pushing up on the same gantry) can lift while using a rod with the following specifications T8 OD 8mm Pitch 2mm Lead 4mm for each motor.

    Additional Information:


    Additional Information:
    1

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    I need the calculation to determine the stepper motor torque to find the load that it can lift using a lead screw at 1/2" diameter with 13 TPI.

  • How do I connect my motor wires to the driver?

    Use the datasheet associated to the motor that you purchased. Use the bipolar parallel configuration to optimum performance. The datasheets are located in their respective motor product pages. Just click on the motion electronics at the left and scroll down to the motor you have and click on the title, or datasheet link next to the motor. The datasheet will either be in the form of a pdf, or within the instructions on that product page.

    Additional Information:
    wiring diagram



    Additional Information:


    Additional Information:

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    How do I connect my motor wires to the driver?

  • How can I determine which wires on my stepper motor bellong to A+ A- B+ or B-?

    You can use a multimeter to determine the wires of the same coil (i.e A+ and A- belong to he same coil). The wires that are connected on the same coil will have relatively low resistance. A wire from one coil to another coil with have no continuity since the two coils are not touching each other.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    How can I determine which wires on my stepper motor bellong to A+ A- B+ or B-?

  • I recently had a mishap with one of my stepper drivers which resulted in a resistor being burned out. Would you be able to tell me what the resistance is for the R25 resistor inside the 6.0 amp driver?

    Currently we do not know the values of the electronic components inside our drivers, since these drivers are supplied by our manufacture and replaced by them if a manufacture defect is present.
    Please email us at customerservice@buildyourcnc.com for more information on possible replacements.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    I recently had a mishap with one of my stepper drivers which resulted in a resistor being burned out. Would you be able to tell me what the resistance is for the R25 resistor inside the 6.0 amp driver?

  • I'm going to use 2 stepper motors for my X-axis. Can I use the same connections on the B/O board to do this knowing I will need 2 separate driver boards.

    Yes, absolutely. If you need two motors for a single axis, you will want to use the same terminals for pulse and direction from the breakout board.

    More specifically, you will wire the step/pulse pin to both drivers, and the direction pin to both drivers. If the motors need to turn in different directions, simply swap the A and B coil connections on one of the motors.

    Additional Information:
    i have checked the cnc machine for any flex and there is none but i still cannot cut circles they end up square.have checked calibration and it is correct but if i run at 4000 mm feed all comes out correct but if i change feed to say 2000 mm it makes the part small, like in tiny.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    I'm going to use 2 stepper motors for my X-axis. Can I use the same connections on the B/O board to do this knowing I will need 2 separate driver boards.

  • What do I need to do to my breakout board to turn the router motor on at the beginning of the program and off at the end?

    The breakout board has a relay installed and uses the terminals labeled S, O and P. The following link explains the operation of this relay and how to connect the terminals:
    https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-parallel-breakout-relay#prettyPhoto/8/

    You will run your power cord (use an extension cord rather than the actual power cord of the router) through the relay using the S, O and P. The P is a general connection and the S is normally closed (S and P is connected when the relay is not engaged) and O is normally open (O and p are not connected until the relay is engaged).

    There are three wires in the power cord: neutral (white), live (black) and earth ground (green). You will run your neutral wire (white wire) through this terminal. At some point in the power cord, remove the outer insulator and expose the three wires within. Cut your neutral wire and strip both ends of the cut. Then insert one end in P and the other end in O (normally open), so Mach3 or other control software you are using will engage the relay and the router will turn on.

    You will need to setup your control software to turn on the relay using Pin #16 as this is the digital signal pin that controls the relay.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    What do I need to do to my breakout board to turn the router motor on at the beginning of the program and off at the end?

  • I have a KL23H2100-30-4B motor with a KL-4030 driver and my motor stalls if I set the rapid above 180 imp.

    What mechanical drive system are you using? If your mechanical drive system connected to the stepper motor causes the motor to spin too fast, then you will be reaching the torque limit of the motor under the load of your axis.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    I have a KL23H2100-30-4B motor with a KL-4030 driver and my motor stalls if I set the rapid above 180 imp.

  • When using shielded wire from driver to stepper motor, where should I connect the shielding? Should it be ground on transformer or something/somewhere else?

    If you are using shielded wire between the motor and driver, the shielded portion (the reflective jacket within the insulated portion of the wire) and any spare wires, or stranded wire should all be grounded and be inserted into the GND terminal on the driver.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    When using shielded wire from driver to stepper motor, where should I connect the shielding? Should it be ground on transformer or something/somewhere else?

  • Is the NEMA 11 Stepper Motor (16.7 oz-in .185" dual shaft) 0.67 Amps actually a dual shaft stepper motor? The drawings only show the shaft coming out one side.

    The NEMA 11 16.7 oz-in motor is a dual shaft motor and the rear shaft extend 15mm or .59 inches.

    I've added an image to the product page:
    https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-nema11-16!7ozin-NEWBIEHACK-motors-stepping_motor-16!7_ozin

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    Is the NEMA 11 Stepper Motor (16.7 oz-in .185" dual shaft) 0.67 Amps actually a dual shaft stepper motor? The drawings only show the shaft coming out one side.

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