Marlin: Supported Stepper driver ICs

[mamama1]

Hi

where do I get information on what stepper driver ICs are supported/tested by the current Marlin AVR 8 Bit branch or which requirements they have to meet to work?

Thanks

[psavva]

What drivers are you targeting?
Provide the list you're interested in, and we should be able to tell you if that chipset is supported.

I know TMC2130, TMC2100, DRV8825, A4988 are supported.

Also depends on your control board. Example the TMC2130 is not yet supported on the Re-Arm (LPC) chipset yet...

Provide details on your setup and I'm sure you'll get a more useful response.

[mikko70]

from code:

  // Init TMC Steppers
  #if ENABLED(HAVE_TMCDRIVER)
    tmc_init();
  #endif

  // Init TMC2130 Steppers
  #if ENABLED(HAVE_TMC2130)
    tmc2130_init();
  #endif

  // Init L6470 Steppers
  #if ENABLED(HAVE_L6470DRIVER)
    L6470_init();
  #endif

[teemuatlut]

I guess it's not listed anywhere but the ones that require configuration are listed in configuration_adv.h.
I think currently it's L6470, TMC26X, TMC2130. Then on the way are TMC2208, TMC2224, TMC5130 and TMC2660. In addition you could drive anything that uses STEP/DIR pulses (TMC2100, DRV8825, A4988, etc).

[mamama1]

Thanks! I do not have any preference at all, at the moment.
i wanted to choose the "best" drivers for home budget 3D printers like Anet A8, CR-10, Tevo Tornado, and so on. But I wanted to choose better steppers than the ones which are usually delivered with those printers.

They are intended for 8 Bit AVR so too much microsteps wouldn't make any sense if I recall correctly, because the 8 Bit AVRs don't have enough power to utilize them anyway, correct?

[mamama1]

asking the other way round... which features does marlin for the 8 bit AVR platform currently support, which make sense to make use of and which steppers would be good to choose therefore?

[teemuatlut]

I know I _may_ be slightly biased but I'd say the TMC2130.
With them you'll get

• Current adjustment through software. So no more fiddling with the current pots
• Ultra quiet motion with stealthChop
• Stepping interpolation to 256
• and if you need more speed than what is suitable for that mode, you can use the hybrid mode
• Sensorless homing for X and Y. No need for limit switches.
• Z axis calibration similar to how Prusa Research printers do it
• Advanced debugging capabilities

Some of this stuff is not yet pushed to upstream but all of it I've already implemented.

[mamama1]

i like very much :-) thanks!

[psavva]

I suggest you get originals from http://www.watterott.com/en/SilentStepStick-TMC2130

[mamama1]

sure, digikey has them too...