SparkFun Electronics Commentsurn:uuid:214d0e4e-f1b1-d287-ce26-ac5b4c9f82492024-03-28T12:22:30-06:00SparkFun ElectronicsCustomer #560536 on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldCustomer #560536urn:uuid:afa14348-384a-8618-e95a-0669b2f988c22015-05-02T16:51:36-06:00<p>This may sound foolish but the description says it can drive 4 unipolar stepper motors, does that mean that it could drive bipolar steppers? Would it be particularly hard to do?</p>
Customer #105831 on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldCustomer #105831urn:uuid:8991ccab-2225-89de-9bc8-a26da4f49d352013-11-05T16:19:49-07:00<p>Does anyone have any code for using it to PWM LEDs?</p>
WayneO on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldWayneOurn:uuid:3bce7dd7-6543-1d8f-2b69-516b188740e32013-08-21T13:08:47-06:00<p>It would be rather useless if thermal vias were used... The whole idea is to achieve performance
as close to a solid copper sheet as possible to conduct as much heat as possible from the switches...
Thermal vias would defeat that intent.</p>
Rocketgeek on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldRocketgeekurn:uuid:cb2b7055-d400-9b12-fa28-8eaa2b67082b2013-05-23T11:51:17-06:00<p>The shift registers work correctly with 3.3V inputs, so the same type works with both.</p>
Rocketgeek on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldRocketgeekurn:uuid:4e82e186-74ec-ce4f-8486-aa334e7e91ec2013-05-23T11:50:47-06:00<p>It fits a standard 8-pin IDC ribbon connector.</p>
Customer #392857 on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldCustomer #392857urn:uuid:71b67a08-ad09-14c3-12f0-6f97c82f5e2d2013-05-06T23:51:51-06:00<p>Actually, this is more than just a bit difficult. All the solder connections are easy to get right. Except for the connections made to planes. It's next to impossible to not have cold solder joints due to the lack of thermal vias. This is pretty important, especially for a $55 module.</p>
Customer #392857 on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldCustomer #392857urn:uuid:3c319ec2-79e4-8fd6-15ce-24671610517f2013-05-06T23:27:20-06:00<p>Thermal vias were not used to connect to ground planes, making soldering a bit difficult.</p>
Customer #429869 on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldCustomer #429869urn:uuid:d38f39ce-d32c-2129-a343-a2bd3ec4aa622013-04-17T08:17:19-06:00<p>looks like this uses 5V input from the arduino....is there a 3.3V version for the Due??</p>
Angel Say on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldAngel Sayurn:uuid:18ce896b-7aa2-73dc-3df7-57d477dffc6b2013-04-04T10:01:45-06:00<p>This might seem extremely basic, but what kind of connector is the 8 pin one that's included with the board? Can't seem to locate the female connector that goes into it.</p>
Customer #422485 on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldCustomer #422485urn:uuid:4d90da2b-16bf-ecc5-a2fb-047305d8fa142013-03-25T12:47:40-06:00<p>hey, i was wondering if anyone has used this shield to control 8 DC motors ( 4.2A, 12-18V) or even 1 DC motor. If anyone has, could they possibly help me. Thanks.</p>
Customer #412956 on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldCustomer #412956urn:uuid:563517aa-7cf4-6a29-7efa-bcf759769a552013-02-25T20:34:11-07:00<p>Has anyone used the Arduino Library link above to drive the shield? I have not had any luck yet. The example code is missing a few crucial details that I am unable to sort out.</p>
RossRobotics //codlink on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldRossRobotics //codlinkurn:uuid:67890b37-d701-c0ce-7453-a891e4c6619b2013-01-01T08:12:29-07:00<p>Your link to the Eagle files isn't Eagle files, there Gerber files...</p>
Customer #338627 on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldCustomer #338627urn:uuid:566df264-725b-0177-1db4-7134baee5a222012-12-08T15:05:32-07:00<p>hello,
can this driver be used with the GRBL 0.8a software ?
working on making an CNC platform.....</p>
Customer #197750 on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldCustomer #197750urn:uuid:3980103c-20f6-a1ef-b165-9592552a11a42012-11-05T20:35:07-07:00<p>"switch DC loads up to 5A at up to 30V" Ipso facto, yes it can, but its hella pricy, might be overkill. Snag two 12v MOSFETS and a perfboard and Bob's your uncle for under $20, and probably under $10 if you aren't paying shipping.</p>
Customer #376372 on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldCustomer #376372urn:uuid:1800dae9-3367-f715-3425-f301b97f234b2012-11-05T16:03:17-07:00<p>Hi,<p>I'm new to arduino/electronics I'm wondering if anyone thinks this might be suitable for use with some 12V LED strips? I have around 7 sections of single-color 12V LED strip (non-addressable), most of which will be around 0.5A. I just want them to switch on and off in sequence at max of maybe 5Hz. I wasn't planning to do any PWM but looks like this wouldn't be possible using these pins and the shiftOut() method anyway?</p><p>It's for a wearable project so liked the idea of this small self contained shield that doesn't require me to build a PCB with mosfets.</p><p>Any thoughts appreciated.</p></p>
Rocketgeek on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldRocketgeekurn:uuid:c2600098-2a63-5e31-6f1a-d030ba0c41852012-10-12T16:04:10-06:00<p>The shift registers are 74LS595s, according to the schematic. The datasheet for these shift registers says they are capable of handling a 20 MHz clock (http://datasheet.octopart.com/SN74LS595D-Texas-Instruments-datasheet-151133.pdf).<p>The limiting factor is likely to be the Arduino. The shield is designed to use the hardware SPI bus, which can run up to 8 MHz. For 64 outputs, you should be able to push a new sequence out in ~8 microseconds.</p><p>However, if you just want to light up a single output in sequence over the 64. That's even faster. You push all zeros, then you push a single one. You can push that one down the stack by setting the data line low then strobing the clock and the latch lines (in that order). The new zero will push your one down the line when you strobe the clock and strobing the latch will push the new value to the outputs. You can see how this works by playing with the interactive 595 simulator at http://conductiveresistance.com/interactive-595-shift-register-simulator/</p></p>
Rocketgeek on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldRocketgeekurn:uuid:20610e24-c74b-d893-850b-9b6b826904072012-10-12T15:56:09-06:00<p>According to the schematic, DATPIN is now pin 11 and SCLPIN is now pin 13, in order to enable the user to write to it using the SPI hardware.<p>PS -- where did you find that code snippet?</p></p>
Customer #368755 on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldCustomer #368755urn:uuid:0d0ee0d7-49fc-0565-9034-ff68555fc3372012-10-11T01:13:03-06:00<p>Questions:
--> How quickly can the shift registers operate? I need approximately 10,000Hz sequencing operation for a special application. Basically, I need one output to power-off while the next output immediately power-on, at approximately 100 microsecond interval, in a high speed sequence, over up to 64 outputs. This is for a very special application.</p>
wareck on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver Shieldwareckurn:uuid:a156aed7-5d12-f7b2-3fb4-020fa1f4df992012-10-09T10:38:55-06:00<p>new board seems to have different pin from arduino.
Can some one give me the right define condition I try with with:
#define DATPIN 13<br>
#define SCLPIN 12
#define LATPIN 7
#define MRPIN 8<br>
#define INDPIN 2<p>but doesn't work.</p><p>I search a little exemple to test all output, thanks in advance</p></p>
Customer #236148 on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldCustomer #236148urn:uuid:dbfd8915-0bd7-7598-5e85-113a214deb622012-09-14T15:27:35-06:00<p>Do you carry the right size ribbon connectors for the 4 x 2 connector on this board ?</p>
Paddypaddy on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldPaddypaddyurn:uuid:c12a32b0-cf68-6553-20f0-e940114bc3782012-08-31T01:20:37-06:00<p>Dont think so, it is not very usefull for controlling stepper motors and if I see this correctly it can control DC motors only in 1 direction - see documentation.</p>
Customer #139664 on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldCustomer #139664urn:uuid:f2dc12fd-4787-7552-ab2a-f8ff8b43646d2012-08-30T12:43:24-06:00<p>Nice looking board, it seems feasible to use this as a grblshield.</p>
Myself on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldMyselfurn:uuid:ad4ffae9-efed-ac2b-7b91-ce69d28c58272012-08-28T09:06:13-06:00<p>Soldering wires directly to the shield is probably safest, if you're running any kind of current. When you're playing at 5A, 28AWG ribbon cable is known as a "fusible link". ;)<p>Even the D-sub's per-pin max current of 5A strikes me as a bit optimistic. If I was running that continuously, I'd be making really sure my connector was name-brand and had some airflow to keep cool. No cheapies!</p></p>
russpatterson on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver Shieldrusspattersonurn:uuid:69c7bb5d-184d-145a-b547-ccac5ff44c422012-08-27T14:18:34-06:00<p>The schematic link doesn't open the pdf file.</p>
MikeGrusin on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldMikeGrusinurn:uuid:f2d49cc5-1934-0e80-cf49-0d7f3bff226a2012-08-27T12:03:55-06:00<p>That's a great suggestion for a future revision, and would make stacking multiple boards much easier. In the meantime, you might consider using <a href="http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/1658614-2/AFS25B-ND/825365" rel="nofollow">DB25 IDC</a> (Insulation Displacement Connectors) that crimp onto a ribbon cable; you could then fold the ribbon cable out the front or back of the stack, though you might still need an extra set of headers to add some airspace between this and the next shield. And you can always solder wires directly to DB25 footprint.</p>
Qetuoo10 on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldQetuoo10urn:uuid:f8f37471-19a7-29e5-35d5-45eac6c6eede2012-08-26T18:45:37-06:00<p>It can be funny to see a couple of these shield stacked and not be able to connect a DB25 except for the topmost one :) May be in a future revision, a right angle DB25 connector at the end side of the board can help. Or are you aware of a very very low profile DB25 connector ?</p>
RobertC. on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver ShieldRobertC.urn:uuid:a357fec0-9bb8-072c-9f5a-51ae7d9b0f322012-08-24T10:24:05-06:00<p>not sure, but you can check the schematic above.</p>
jkm on DEV-11352 - 4x4 Driver Shieldjkmurn:uuid:4d665f22-ebde-620e-d083-8f2f7abb0ef32012-08-24T08:32:37-06:00<p>Any chance of a breakout for the IPS6044/CDBU0240? With the DGx pins also routed to the header?</p>