Motor Driver Boards, Modules

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
MCDJT3230 Panasonic	SERVO DRIVER 30A 240V LOAD	2
MADLT05SF Panasonic	SERVO DRIVE A6 RS485 6A 200V W/	2
DRA4D250D6 Sensata Technologies – Crydom	RELAY CONT H-BRG 250VDC 6A	5
2906062 Phoenix Contact	MOTOR STARTER REV 2.4A 42-550V	53
105990007 Seeed	STEPPER DRIVER 2A 7V LOAD	13
VFD25AMS43ANSHA Delta Electronics	VFD-MS300, 15HP 11KW 480V 25A HD	0
RSBT4870CVC Carlo Gavazzi	3PH COMP S/ST 220-480V 3P MODBUS	2
3592 Pololu Corporation	MCP2166 DUAL 160A 60VDC MTR CTRL	0
ROB-12779 SparkFun	STEPPER DRIVER 0.75A 30V LOAD	75
VFD5A5MS43ANSAA Delta Electronics	VFD-MS300, 3HP 2.2KW 480V 5.5A H	8
2909563 Phoenix Contact	MOTOR STARTER 3A	2
MCDKT3520 Panasonic	SERVO DRIVER 30A 240V LOAD	0
VFD004EL23A Delta Electronics	VFD-EL, 1/2HP 230V, MICRO DRIVE	5
2756 Pololu Corporation	RAS PI DUAL MC33926 MTR DRVR	41
RSGD4045E0VX210 Carlo Gavazzi	2PH S/ST 220-400V 45A I/P + O/L	2
OMD35 OMS Motion	CONTROLLER/STEP DRIVE 7A, 1/256	5
TMCM-1241-TMCL TRINAMIC Motion Control GmbH	STEPPER DRIVER 3A 10-30V	40
ECAT-M801-16AX/S ICP DAS USA Inc.	ETHERCAT MASTER, MAX. 16-AXIS SY	30
TMCM-6213 TRINAMIC Motion Control GmbH	STEPPER DRIVER 1.1A 11V-35V	3
R208 Lin Engineering	STEPPER DRIVE	78

Motor Driver Boards, Modules

1. Overview

Motor driver boards/modules are electronic devices that act as intermediaries between control systems (e.g., microcontrollers) and motors. They convert low-power control signals into high-power electrical currents to drive motors efficiently. These components enable precise regulation of motor speed, direction, torque, and position. Their importance spans across automation, robotics, industrial machinery, and consumer electronics, where accurate motion control is critical for system performance.

2. Main Types & Functional Classification

Type	Functional Features	Application Examples
H-Bridge Drivers	Bi-directional control using transistor bridges, basic speed regulation	DC motor direction control in robotic arms
Stepper Motor Drivers	Microstepping, position accuracy, torque control	3D printers, CNC machines
Servo Controllers	Feedback loop integration, precise angular positioning	RC vehicles, industrial automation
Brushless DC (BLDC) Drivers	Electronic commutation, high efficiency, variable speed	Drones, HVAC systems
Integrated Smart Modules	Embedded control logic, thermal protection, communication interfaces	Autonomous vehicles, medical pumps

3. Structure & Components

A typical motor driver contains:

Power Transistors: MOSFETs or IGBTs for switching high currents
Control IC: Processes PWM signals and manages commutation
Heat Sink: Aluminum-based PCB or external fins for thermal management
Protection Circuits: Overcurrent, overtemperature, and voltage spike suppression
Connectors: Screw terminals for motor wiring and control interfaces (UART/SPI)

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Importance
Max Continuous Current	Determines motor power capacity (e.g., 5A for NEMA 23 stepper)
Voltage Range	Must match motor supply (e.g., 8-45V for industrial BLDC drivers)
Efficiency (Typical >90%)	Impacts thermal performance and energy consumption
Control Resolution	Microstepping levels (e.g., 1/16-step for precision engravers)
Protection Features	Overcurrent/voltage, thermal shutdown (critical for reliability)
Communication Protocols	CAN, Modbus support for industrial IoT integration

5. Application Fields

Industrial: CNC machining centers, conveyor belt systems
Consumer: Smart home appliances, gaming consoles
Medical: MRI scanner positioning, insulin pumps
Automotive: Electric vehicle powertrains, EPS systems
Robotics: Collaborative robot joint control

6. Leading Manufacturers & Products

Manufacturer	Representative Product	Key Specifications
TI (Texas Instruments)	DRV8825	2.5A RMS, 1/32 microstepping, thermal shutdown
STMicroelectronics	L6470	3.0A peak, SPI interface, stall detection
ON Semiconductor	MC33926	3.0A continuous, bidirectional control
Maxon Motor	EPOS4 Compact	50A peak, EtherCAT interface, encoder feedback

7. Selection Guidelines

Match driver current/voltage ratings to motor specifications
Select control mode (PWM, analog, digital) based on system requirements
Consider environmental factors (temperature, vibration)
Verify required protection features (IP rating for harsh environments)
Evaluate integration needs (footprint, communication protocols)
Balance cost vs. performance for volume production

8. Industry Trends

Emerging trends include:

Integration: System-on-Chip (SoC) drivers combining control and power stages
Smart Diagnostics: Built-in current sensing and predictive maintenance algorithms
Wide Bandgap Semiconductors: SiC/GaN transistors enabling higher switching frequencies
Wireless Control: Bluetooth/Wi-Fi-enabled drivers for IoT applications
Miniaturization: Chip-scale packaging for space-constrained applications