Phidgets adds a $75.00 stepper controller to its line of motor controllers
The 1062 — PhidgetStepper Unipolar 4-motor, can control up to 4 stepper
motors.
CALGARY, Alberta, April 29, 2008 =C5\ Phidgets Inc. today announced the
addition of a new product to its family of motor controllers. The 1062
Stepper controller controls the position, velocity and acceleration of up
to 4 unipolar stepper motors. Applications that require precise positioning
are well suited for this device. The stepper controller can also run the
motor in continuous rotation mode by giving it a large position address.
Using the upper position limit as an address would, for example, rotate the
motor for 45 years.
The 1062 plugs directly into the computer’s USB port and comes with a USB
cable. Like all Phidgets, application programs can be written using the
Phidgets API. “The 1062 Product Manual’s Technical Section contains
valuable information and programming tips on how to use the API functions
to drive stepper motors,” said Bernard Rousseau, Phidgets Director of
Marketing. “We continuously update our documentation in an effort to make
it as easy as possible for our users to get their projects going”, added
Rousseau.
“We already offer Servo controllers, and a variety of DC motor controllers.
The arrival of a stepper controller fills a void in our family of motor
controllers. ” says Chester Fitchett, CEO of Phidgets. “We have paid close
attention to costs in order to give our customers the value/price ratio
they are expecting from Phidgets.” added Fitchett.
Product Specifications
Position Resolution: 1=8E2 step (40-bit signed)
Upper Position Limit: 239 — 1 1=8E2 steps
Lower Position Limit: -(239 – 1) 1=8E2 steps
Velocity Resolution: 0.75 1=8E2 steps/second (9-bit)
Velocity Limit: 383.25 1=8E2 steps/second
Acceleration Resolution: 140.625 1=8E2 steps/second2 (6-bit)
Acceleration Limit: 8859.375 1=8E2 steps/second2
Minimum Power Supply Voltage: 5V
Maximum Power Supply Voltage: 12V
Max Current Per Coil: 1A
USB-Power Current Specification: 100mA max
Device Quiescent Current Consumption: 23mA
Device Active Current Consumption: 23mA max
Software Environment
“Unlike a lot of our competitor’s products that require their users to
write some firmware code in order to use their sensor, we are completely
“Plug and Play” says Bernard Rousseau, Director of Marketing. “With
Phidgets, you plug it in and start using it and when it comes to
programming, the user, not us, decides which operating system and which
computer language he wants to use”, added Rousseau.
Users can program Phidgets using a simple yet powerful and well documented
Application Programming Interfade (API) that is supported under Mac OS X.
Users can write programs in C, Java, ActionScript 3.0, and Cocoa.
Phidgets also provides programming examples for all its products to help
programmers write their own programs. The API Libraries as well as the
examples and the documentation are available at no charge on
(http://www.phidgets.com/).
Pricing and Availability
The 1062 — PhidgetsStepper Unipolar 4-motor is available now. The
suggested resale price is $75.00 Canadian.
About Phidgets
Phidgets, Inc. is a technology leader in the design and manufacture of
low-cost control and sensing modules connected to personal computers
through the USB port. Phidgets products are ideally suited for fast
prototyping and light, non-critical commercial applications. The privately
held company is based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.