PCB_Driver_Stepper
🌀 PCB_Driver_Stepper
General Stepper Motor Driver Board
🎬 Demo Video
Demo NEMA Stepper
📘 Overview
PCB_Driver_Stepper is a general-purpose stepper motor driver board designed in KiCad 9.
This project was created to explore stepper motor control concepts, test design ideas from friends, and gain real experience with PCB design and STM32 microcontroller integration.
It also represents my first complete project combining hardware and STM32 firmware using STM32CubeIDE.
3D render of the finished PCB_Driver_Stepper board
⚙️ General Information
- First real KiCad 9 project.
- Implemented to test and validate several design ideas.
- Tested multiple implementations, including ULN2002 and different power dissipation techniques.
- Designed with 4 layers, though a 2-layer version could be achieved.
- Typical FR4 PCB, 1.6 mm thickness, standard prepreg stackup.
- Serves as my first practical integration within STM32CubeIDE, using STM32F030K6T6 as the MCU.
Schematic, Block diagram (KiCad 9)
🔧 Characteristics
- Fully functional, fabricated and tested successfully.
- Tested with STEPPERONLINE NEMA 17 (2A, 59 N·cm) — achieves over 300 RPM without load.
- Capable of controlling two stepper motors simultaneously.
- Supports up to 2 A per motor, limited by drivers and onboard potentiometers.
- Operating voltage: 12 VDC to 24 VDC (ideal at 24 V).
- Requires external cooling (top and bottom) for continuous operation (Alimunium or Copper Radiators used in real test).
- Integrated with ULN2002A as input mode (tested and working).
- Uses pin connectors under driver GND pads to allow hand-soldering.
- Optional Schottky diodes for additional protection and power isolation.
PCB layout design
⚠️ Known Issues / Notes
- Thermal pads on the Rsense GND pads restrict efficient heat dissipation.
- Ideally should maintain a 4-layer design to ensure proper driver thermal management (as recommended in datasheets).
- Too many bypass Capacitors on the MCU.
- No status LEDs (e.g., Power or Fault indicators) currently included — consider adding in future revisions.
🧩 Files and Structure
