Zaber's T-MCA stepper motor controller is a microstep driver offering microstepping down to 128 microsteps per step. With a typical stepper motor having 200 steps per revolution, the T-MCA stepper motor controller allows microstepping down to to 25600 microsteps per revolution. The T-MCA stepper controller can be used to control any 2 phase stepper motor with continuous current draw up to 2.5A per phase. The T-MCA controller can be used for stepper motor control of the following products which can be purchased separately:

• Stepper Linear Actuators - NA Series
• Stepper Motors - NM Series
• Motorized Linear Stages - LML Series
• Motorized Goniometers - LMG Series

T-MCA stepper motor controllers can be daisy-chained with any T-Series products to a single serial or USB port. RoHS Status: Compliant.

A chopper drive is one method of driving a stepper motor with constant current rather than constant voltage. This reduces the effects of counter EMF and inductance, increasing torque at higher speeds.

One or more of Zaber's T-MCA chopper drives can be daisy-chained to a single RS-232 serial port or USB port on any computer. They can also be daisy-chained with any other T-Series products. Convenient 6-pin mini din cables on the unit allow for direct interconnection between units in close proximity. For longer distances, standard cable extension can be used. To control motor position, simply transmit on the serial port the unit number of the device you want to move, a simple move command and the position desired. After the move, the T-MCA will report the final position.

Changing device settings, such as resolution or current limit, is as easy as issuing a command: there are no dipswitches, jumpers or trim-pots to set. You can set the resolution to full stepping, half stepping or microstepping at 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 or 128 microsteps per step. You can set the running current and hold current independently, with values ranging from 0 to 2.5A in 25mA increments.

Another handy feature that sets the T-MCA apart from other chopper drives is the built-in manual control knob. The knob controls motor speed from maximum reverse to maximum forward. A centre detent provides tactile feedback for the stopped position. During a manual move the T-MCA can constantly transmit its position so the controlling computer can track and display it.