Tiny Controls · Own design
Tstep-087X Stepper Driver
Two-phase stepper drive for 18-80 V DC supplies, with output current jumper-selectable from 1.2 A to 7.0 A.
Overview
The Tstep-087X is the smallest of the Tstep-X stepper drives and the right choice for the majority of small and mid-sized machines.
It runs from 18-80 V DC, which suits the 48 V and 60 V supplies most router and engraver builds use. Output current is jumper-selectable from 1.2 A to 7.0 A, covering NEMA 17 through NEMA 23 and many NEMA 34 motors. Microstepping is selectable across seven settings - 4, 5, 8, 10, 16, 20 and 32.
The STEP and DIR inputs are optically isolated. That is worth more than it sounds on a machine that also carries a VFD and a spindle: isolation keeps the controller's ground out of the motor power loop, which is the usual path by which electrical noise turns into false steps and lost position.
Idle current reduction lowers the standing current when an axis is stationary, keeping both motor and drive cooler. Short-circuit protection covers a shorted or mis-wired motor lead.
If your machine needs more supply voltage to hold torque at higher speeds, the Tstep-117X and Tstep-168X are the same drive family at 110 V and 160 V.
Designed and built by Tiny Controls in India.
Specifications
| Supply voltage | 18 - 80 V DC |
|---|---|
| Output current | 1.2 - 7.0 A |
| Microstepping | 4, 5, 8, 10, 16, 20, 32, 40 |
| Current setting | DIP switch (S2-S5) |
| Idle current reduction | Yes |
| Short-circuit protection | Yes |
| STEP / DIR inputs | High Speed Optically Isolated |
Downloads
Questions
Will the Tstep-087X drive a NEMA 34 motor?
Many of them, yes - anything rated at 7.0 A per phase or below. Check the motor's rated phase current first, and remember that a large motor on 80 V will lose torque at high step rates sooner than it would on a 160 V drive.
What supply voltage should I use?
Anything from 18 to 80 V DC. Higher within that range gives better torque at speed; 48 V or 60 V suits most router and engraver builds.
How is this different from the Tstep-087 and Tstep-087-485?
The 087X takes STEP and DIR pulses from a controller. The Tstep-087-485 is a different product with an integrated motion controller that takes commands over Modbus RTU on RS-485 instead.