Motor Driver Boards, Modules

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
GR214V HIGH RESOLUTION STEP MOTOR CONTROL Geckodrive	80VDC 7A HIGH RES STP MTR CTRL	97
TMCM-1633-CANOPEN TRINAMIC Motion Control GmbH	BOARD CONTROLLER DRIVER BLDC CAN	23
2906060 Phoenix Contact	MOTOR START REV 9A 42-550V LOAD	26
2900569 Phoenix Contact	MOTOR START REV 9A 42-550V LOAD	218
RSWT4090F0V111 Carlo Gavazzi	3PH SSR 220-400V 90A I/P+O/L	2
TMCM-142-IF-CANOPEN TRINAMIC Motion Control GmbH	STEPPER DRIVER 5A 7A 18-78.5V	0
OMDE2 OMS Motion	CONTROLLER/STEP DRIVE W/ ENCODER	5
VFD015E23A Delta Electronics	VFD-E, 2HP 230V, MICRO VECTOR DR	1
RSGD4025E0VX210 Carlo Gavazzi	2PH S/ST 220-400V 25A I/P + O/L	4
3G3MX2-A4004-V1 Omron Automation & Safety Services	VARI FREQ DRIVE 1.8A 480V LOAD	2
ECAT-2091S ICP DAS USA Inc.	ETHERCAT SINGLE AXIS STEPPER MOT	30
VFD11AMS21ANSAA Delta Electronics	VFD-MS300, 3HP 2.2KW 230V 11A HD	1
R7D-BP02L Omron Automation & Safety Services	SERVO DRIVER 2.5A 100V LOAD	2
3586 Pololu Corporation	MCP236 DUAL 30A 60VDC MTR CTRL	3
R88D-GN04H-ML2 Omron Automation & Safety Services	SERVO DRIVER 2.7A 240V LOAD	1
2966 Pololu Corporation	MP6500 STPPR DRVR W/CURRENT CTRL	141
TMCM-1140-TMCL TRINAMIC Motion Control GmbH	STEPPER DRIVER 2.8A 9-28V LOAD	0
MMP742038-24-C MPS (Monolithic Power Systems)	EMOTION SYSTEMTM SMART MOTOR CON	3
MADHT1107E Panasonic	SERVO DRIVER 10A 120V LOAD	0
CMMO-ST-C5-1-LKP Festo	MOTOR CONTROLLER	0

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