This might be a really neive question, but I want to control 2 bipolar (4-wire) stepper motors using a picaxe 18x and still have some output pins left for something else, so I would like to be able to control each stepper with 2 pins rather than 4.
The stepping sequence on the datasheet of my motors is:
(A-NotA-B-NotB)
1-1-0-0
0-1-1-0
0-0-1-1
1-0-0-1
It seems to me that there are only 2 inputs needed here. I was thinking of using an L293D H bridge to drive each motor, in which case would it be feasible to take a 2-bit output for each motor from the picaxe (a and b), run them through a 4049 NOT gate to get the NotA and NotB and then use these 4 signals as the inputs to each L293D? I don't know if that would cause timing problems or anything like that (I did an electronics degree but I have forgotten most of it!)
I think it's a similar idea to that described in manual3 on Pages 14 and 15, but that is for a unipolar motor. I don't know if this is a sensible idea or if I would be reinventing the wheel or anything. Anyone have any suggestions?
The stepping sequence on the datasheet of my motors is:
(A-NotA-B-NotB)
1-1-0-0
0-1-1-0
0-0-1-1
1-0-0-1
It seems to me that there are only 2 inputs needed here. I was thinking of using an L293D H bridge to drive each motor, in which case would it be feasible to take a 2-bit output for each motor from the picaxe (a and b), run them through a 4049 NOT gate to get the NotA and NotB and then use these 4 signals as the inputs to each L293D? I don't know if that would cause timing problems or anything like that (I did an electronics degree but I have forgotten most of it!)
I think it's a similar idea to that described in manual3 on Pages 14 and 15, but that is for a unipolar motor. I don't know if this is a sensible idea or if I would be reinventing the wheel or anything. Anyone have any suggestions?