It’s fair to say that building electronic gadgets is easier now than it ever has been in the past. With low-cost modular components, there’s often just a couple dozen lines of code and a few jumper ...

Stepper motors produce accurate, computer-controlled motion for applications such as robotic arms and paper-feed mechanisms for printers. They require current pulses delivered through a special ...

Find a downloadable version of this story in pdf format at the end of the story. A new controller IC, the L6470 for stepper motors, integrates the power stage along with a digital control core on a ...

Bipolar stepper motors are used in many applications, from driving paper through a printer to moving an XY stage in industrial equipment. Typically, the motors are driven and controlled by inexpensive ...

There are a surprising wealth of parts inside of old laptops that can be easily scavenged, but often these proprietary tidbits of electronics will need a substantial amount of work to make them useful ...

The amount of noise in a motor depends on the type of motor, environmental conditions, and the specific application. Permanent magnet and hybrid stepper motors are generally quieter, as they have a ...

The Arduino Opta micro programmable logic controller (PLC) provides a unique entry point into the automation field. Automation fields like smart homes, process controls, and robotics are project areas ...