Motor Driver Boards, Modules

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
MBDLT21SF Panasonic	SERVO DRIVE A6 RS485 12A 100V W/	16
2976 Pololu Corporation	A4988 STEPPER DRVR BLACK NO PIN	1000
2903922 Phoenix Contact	MOTOR STARTER REV 2.4A 42-550V	0
MN-SERVO-DAA-EC ICP DAS USA Inc.	DISTRIBUTED MOTIONNET SINGLE-AXI	30
MADLN05SE Panasonic	SERVO DRIVE A6N 200V 50W	4
VFD185C43A Delta Electronics	VFD-C2000, 25HP 460V, FOC & TRQ	1
MCDHT3520NA1 Panasonic	SERVO DRIVER 30A 240V LOAD	3
VFD9A0MS43ANSHA Delta Electronics	VFD-MS300, 5HP 3.7KW 480V 9.0A H	0
TMCM-1021 TRINAMIC Motion Control GmbH	STEPPER DRIVER 0.7A 9-28V LOAD	0
2985 Pololu Corporation	A4988 STEPPER DRIVER BULK W/PINS	1000
2877 Pololu Corporation	STSPIN220 LOW-VOLT STPR MTR DRVR	176
TMCM-1630-2C TRINAMIC Motion Control GmbH	BRUSHLESS DRIVER 10A 12-48V LOAD	4
R88D-KN01H-ECT Omron Automation & Safety Services	SERVO DRIVER 1.2A 240V LOAD	0
TMCM-1276-CANOPEN TRINAMIC Motion Control GmbH	STEPPER DRIVER 3A	2
DRMS48D93 Sensata Technologies – Crydom	HYBRID MOTOR STARTER SS/ST DIN	5
VZAB0P4BAA Omron Automation & Safety Services	VARI FREQ DRIVE 3.5A 240V LOAD	1
MCDHT3120B01 Panasonic	SERVO DRIVER 30A 120V LOAD	2
G201X STEP MOTOR CONTROL Geckodrive	80VDC 7A 10USTEP STP MTR CTRL	55
2909560 Phoenix Contact	MOTOR STARTER REVERSING 9A	5
3285 Pololu Corporation	ROBOCLAW 2X15A MOTOR CTRL (V5E)	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