Powerlolu - Powerful 10A Stepper Motor Driver

thingiverse

The Powerlolu board, based on the A4989 driver chip, is a step-up from regular Pololu boards found in most RepRap 3D printers. It can handle higher power stepper motors up to 500 watts and currents of up to 10 amps, making it suitable for driving the 2 Nema17 z-axis stepper motors in parallel without overheating. The Powerlolu's enhanced capabilities enable larger stepper motors for a variety of applications, such as converting manual milling machines into computer-controlled CNC machines using affordable electronics like Arduino and RAMPS. It also allows for the construction of 3D printers with increased print volume or larger extruders. A video demonstrating the board's performance can be found on YouTube, and its schematics are freely available on GitHub. The Powerlolu features a 3-wire control system (DIR, STEP, Enable), a supply voltage range of 12V to 50V for the stepper motor, adjustable stepping via SMD jumper (1/16 being the default), and a precision pot to adjust the current limiter. It does not require an extra heat sink due to passive cooling and can accommodate stepper motors up to NEMA 23 in size. The board connects to RAMPS using a Molex snap-on connector, but it's essential to note that when using larger stepper motors than NEMA 23, heat emission should be considered and a cooling system (e.g., heat sinks and a fan) may be necessary. Each Powerlolu should also have an appropriate fuse connected between VBB (X2) and the power source of the stepper motor for protection. Additional installation notes can be found on the German RepRap wiki, including wiring with RAMPS and current limiter adjustment. An adapter board is available on GitHub to facilitate connection between Powerlolu and RAMPS.