The STEVAL-IHM004V1 is a compact and easy-to-use evaluation board designed to help engineers get started with motor control applications quickly and easily. This board, developed by STMicroelectronics, is based on the STSPIN820 stepper motor driver and is ideal for driving both unipolar and bipolar stepper motors, as well as DC motors.

In this guide, we will take a closer look at the STEVAL-IHM004V1 evaluation board and explore its features and capabilities. We will also walk you through the process of setting up and using the board to control a stepper motor.

STEVAL-IHM004V1 Overview

The STEVAL-IHM004V1 evaluation board is designed to work with the STSPIN820 stepper motor driver. The board features a powerful STM32 microcontroller and can drive either unipolar or bipolar stepper motors, as well as DC motors, with high accuracy and efficiency.

The board comes with an on-board current sense resistor that allows you to measure the current being supplied to the motor for better control and safety. In addition, there are several jumpers on the board that can be used to set different operating modes and motor configurations.

Setting Up the STEVAL-IHM004V1

Before you can start using the STEVAL-IHM004V1, you will need to set it up properly. Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Power the board: Connect a 12V power supply to the board through the DC jack.

2. Connect the motor: Connect your stepper motor or DC motor to the screw terminals on the board.

3. Set the jumpers: Depending on the type of motor you are using, you will need to set the appropriate jumpers on the board. Refer to the board's user manual for the proper configurations.

4. Connect to your microcontroller: Connect the board to your microcontroller using the SPI interface. You will need to write code to send commands to the board to control the motor.

Controlling a Stepper Motor with the STEVAL-IHM004V1

Now that you have set up the STEVAL-IHM004V1, it's time to control a stepper motor. Here's how to do it:

1. Initialize the driver: Send the initialization commands to the driver to set the operating mode and other configurations.

2. Set the speed and direction: Use the appropriate commands to set the speed and direction of the motor.

3. Start the motor: Send the command to start the motor and it will start rotating at the specified speed and direction.

4. Stop the motor: To stop the motor, simply send the stop command.

Conclusion

The STEVAL-IHM004V1 evaluation board is a powerful and versatile tool for motor control applications. With its STM32 microcontroller and STSPIN820 stepper motor driver, it makes it easy to get started with motor control projects and experiments. We hope this guide has helped you understand the features and capabilities of this board and how to use it to control a stepper motor. With a bit of creativity and imagination, you can use the STEVAL-IHM004V1 to control a wide range of motor-driven applications.