The Tic T249 USB Multi-Interface Stepper Motor Controller makes basic control of a stepper motor easy, with quick configuration over USB using our free software. The controller supports six control interfaces: USB, TTL serial, I²C, analog voltage (potentiometer), quadrature encoder, and hobby radio control (RC). This version incorporates a Toshiba TB67S249FTG driver with innovative and unique features that include Automatic Gain Control, and it ships with soldered header pins and terminal blocks. It can operate from 10 V to 47 V and can deliver up to approximately 1.8 A per phase without a heat sink or forced air flow (or 4.5 A max with sufficient additional cooling).

Overview:

The Tic family of stepper motor controllers makes it easy to add basic control of a bipolar stepper motor to a variety of projects. These versatile, general-purpose modules support six different control interfaces: USB for direct connection to a computer, TTL serial and I²C for use with a microcontroller, RC hobby servo pulses for use in an RC system, analog voltages for use with a potentiometer or analog joystick, and quadrature encoder for use with a rotary encoder dial. They also offer many settings that can be configured using our free configuration utility (for Windows, Linux, and macOS). This software simplifies initial setup of the device and allows for in-system testing and monitoring of the controller via USB (a micro-B USB cable is required to connect the Tic to a computer).

The table below lists the members of the Tic family and shows the key differences among them.

Tic T500

Tic T834

Tic T825

Tic T249

Operating voltage range:	4.5 V to 35 V⁽¹⁾	2.5 V to 10.8 V	8.5 V to 45 V⁽¹⁾	10 V to 47 V⁽¹⁾
Max continuous current per phase (no additional cooling):	1.5 A	1.5 A	1.5 A	1.8 A
Peak current per phase (additional cooling required):	2.5 A	2 A	2.5 A	4.5 A
Microstep resolutions:	full half 1/4 1/8	full half 1/4 1/8 1/16 1/32	full half 1/4 1/8 1/16 1/32	full half 1/4 1/8 1/16 1/32
Automatic decay selection:
Automatic gain control (AGC):
Driver IC:	MP6500	DRV8834	DRV8825	TB67S249FTG
Price (connectors not soldered):	$19.95	$29.95	$29.95	$39.95
Price (connectors soldered):	$21.95	$31.95	$31.95	$41.95

Open-loop speed or position control of one bipolar stepper motor

Features and Specifications:

USB for direct connection to a computer
TTL serial operating at 5 V for use with a microcontroller
I²C for use with a microcontroller
RC hobby servo pulses for use in an RC system
Analog voltage for use with a potentiometer or analog joystick
Quadrature encoder input for use with a rotary encoder dial, allowing full rotation without limits (not for position feedback)
STEP/DIR inputs for compatibility with existing stepper motor control firmware
Acceleration and deceleration limiting
Maximum stepper speed: 50,000 steps per second
Very slow speeds down to 1 step every 200 seconds (or 1 step every 1428 seconds with reduced resolution).
Up to six different microstep resolutions:
The Tic T825, Tic T834, and T249 support full step, half step, 1/4 step, 1/8 step, 1/16 step, and 1/32 step
The Tic T500 supports full step, half step, 1/4 step, 1/8 step
Digitally adjustable current limit
Optional safety controls to avoid unexpectedly powering the motor
Input calibration (learning) and adjustable scaling degree for analog and RC signals
5 V regulator (no external logic voltage supply needed)
Optional limit switch inputs with homing capabilities
Optional kill switch inputs
STEP/DIR outputs for controlling external stepper motor drivers
Connects to a computer through USB via a USB A to Micro-B cable (not included)
Free configuration software available for Windows, Linux, and macOS
Arduino library makes it easy to get started using these controllers with an Arduino or compatible board

Details for Item #3138:

A variety of control interfaces:

The Tic T249 is based on the TB67S249FTG IC from Toshiba, which allows the Tic T249 to offer several unique and innovative features. One of these is Toshiba’s Active Gain Control (AGC), which automatically reduces the stepper motor current below the set limit based on the actual load on the motor, allowing for reduced unnecessary heat generation and higher peak power when the motor actually needs it. Another is Toshiba’s Advanced Dynamic Mixed Decay (ADMD) technology, which dynamically switches between slow and fast decay modes based on the actual motor current, providing higher efficiency and smoother steps at high speed than you get with traditional timing-based mixed decay.

The Tic T249 can operate from 10 V to 47 V and can deliver up to approximately 1.8 A continuous per phase without a heat sink or forced air flow (the peak current per phase is 4.5 A). This version is sold with connectors soldered so no soldering is necessary to use it.