Reddit reviews BIQU A4988 Compatible StepStick Stepper Motor Diver Module with Heat Sink for 3D Printer Controller Ramps 1.4(Pack of 5pcs)
We found 2 Reddit comments about BIQU A4988 Compatible StepStick Stepper Motor Diver Module with Heat Sink for 3D Printer Controller Ramps 1.4(Pack of 5pcs). Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
A4988 driver board widely used in 3D printers and small CNC machinesSimple step and direction control interfaceThermal protection, over-current protection, ground fault protectionFive different step resolutions: full-step, half-step, quarter-step, eighth-step, and sixteenth-stepAdjustable current control lets you set the maximum current output with a potentiometer, which lets you use voltages above your stepper motor’s rated voltage toachieve higher step rates
Allegro A4988 are the cheapest, whiniest drivers.
TI DRV8825 are a step up in quality.
TMC2130 are usually considered the best.
While you can DIY it with some FETS or a monolithic H-bridge, it's much simpler to use a stepper driver. The popularity of 3D printing has produced a gazillion driver daughter boards intended to be plugged into a printer motherboard. There are also stand-alone boards like this one from Pololu or this one from Sparkfun. A dedicated driver board will let you run the stepper at a much higher voltage (to overcome coil inductance) while limiting the current with a chopper so the motor stays happy. Not to mention the addition of microstepping.