Tic T249 USB Multi-Interface Stepper Motor Controller - Pololu

The Tic T249 USB Multi-Interface Stepper Motor Controller makes basic control of a stepper motor easy, with quick configuration over USB using software. The controller supports six control interfaces: USB, TTL serial, I²C, analog voltage (potentiometer), quadrature encoder, and hobby radio control (RC). This version incorporates a Toshiba TB67S249FTG driver with innovative and unique features that include Automatic Gain Control, and it's with soldered header pins and terminal blocks. It can operate from 10 V to 47 V and can deliver up to approximately 1.8 A per phase without a heat sink or forced air flow (or 4.5 A max with sufficient additional cooling).

The Tic family of stepper motor controllers makes it easy to add basic control of a bipolar stepper motor to a variety of projects. These versatile, general-purpose modules support six different control interfaces: USB for direct connection to a computer, TTL serial and I²C for use with a microcontroller, RC hobby servo pulses for use in an RC system, analog voltages for use with a potentiometer or analog joystick, and quadrature encoder for use with a rotary encoder dial.It also offer many settings that can be configured using configuration utility (for Windows, Linux, and macOS). This software simplifies initial setup of the device and allows for in-system testing and monitoring of the controller via USB (a micro-B USB cable is required to connect the Tic to a computer).

The Tic T249 is based on the TB67S249FTG IC from Toshiba, which allows the Tic T249 to offer several unique and innovative features. One of these is Toshiba’s Active Gain Control (AGC), which automatically reduces the stepper motor current below the set limit based on the actual load on the motor, allowing for reduced unnecessary heat generation and higher peak power when the motor actually needs it. Another is Toshiba’s Advanced Dynamic Mixed Decay (ADMD) technology, which dynamically switches between slow and fast decay modes based on the actual motor current, providing higher efficiency and smoother steps at high speed than get with traditional timing-based mixed decay.

The Tic T249 can operate from 10 V to 47 V and can deliver up to approximately 1.8 A continuous per phase without a heat sink or forced air flow (the peak current per phase is 4.5 A). This version is sold with connectors soldered so no soldering is necessary to use it.

Features of Tic T249 USB Multi-Interface Stepper Motor Controller:

 

• Open-loop speed or position control of one bipolar stepper motor
• A variety of control interfaces:
  • USB for direct connection to a computer
  • TTL serial operating at 5 V for use with a microcontroller
  • I²C for use with a microcontroller
  • RC hobby servo pulses for use in an RC system
  • Analog voltage for use with a potentiometer or analog joystick
  • Quadrature encoder input for use with a rotary encoder dial, allowing full rotation without limits (not for position feedback)
  • STEP/DIR inputs for compatibility with existing stepper motor control firmware
• Acceleration and deceleration limiting
• Maximum stepper speed: 50,000 steps per second
• Very slow speeds down to 1 step every 200 seconds (or 1 step every 1428 seconds with reduced resolution).
• Digitally adjustable current limit
• Optional safety controls to avoid unexpectedly powering the motor
• Input calibration (learning) and adjustable scaling degree for analog and RC signals
• 5 V regulator (no external logic voltage supply needed)
• Optional limit switch inputs with homing capabilities
• Optional kill switch inputs
• STEP/DIR outputs for controlling external stepper motor drivers
• Connects to a computer through USB via a USB A to Micro-B cable (not included)
• Free configuration software available for Windows, Linux, and macOS

Specifications of Tic T249 USB Multi-Interface Stepper Motor Controller:
 

• Model: Tic T249
• Motor driver: TB67S249FTG
• Control interface: USB, non-inverted TTL serial, I²C, RC servo pulses, analog voltage,  quadrature encoder
• Minimum operating voltage: 10 V
• Maximum operating voltage: 47 V1
• Continuous current per phase: 1.8 A2
• Maximum current per phase: 4.5 A3
• Maximum step rate: 50000 PPS
• Microstep resolutions: full, non-circular 1/2, circular 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, and 1/32

Package includes:
 

• 1X  Tic T249 USB Multi-Interface Stepper Motor Controller

Development Resources:
 

• Product Page
• MPS MP6500 stepper motor driver datasheet (1MB pdf)                             
• Texas Instruments DRV8825 stepper motor driver datasheet (1MB pdf)                                          
• TB67S249FTG datasheet (533k pdf)