Design
Microchip Releases Tools to Improve Efficiency and Reduce Development Time for Motor Control Designs
Microchip has announced the introduction of two new low-cost motor control development systems. Both development boards feature the flexible dsPIC33F “MC” DSC families, which integrate leading-edge motor control features. In addition, Microchip has produced five royalty- and license-free application notes, aiding engineers in creating motor applications that run at peak efficiency and generate maximum torque using the minimum amount of energy.
The The new dsPICDEM MCSM Development Board is the industry’s most cost-effective tool for creating unipolar and bipolar stepper motor applications. This board enables the rapid development of both open-loop and current-closed-loop microstepping routines using Microchip’s dsPIC33 Motor Control families. This development tool also provides engineers with a control GUI, which allows them to focus on integrating the other application features and fine-tuning the motor’s operation.
Along with related application notes and free source-code software, Microchip’s free MPLAB® IDE integrated development environment includes an application called the Data Monitoring and Control Interface (DMCI), which promotes rapid parameter tuning for different motors. Microchip’s free Field Oriented Control (FOC) software libraries and stepper motor control library further enable the development of green motor-based systems and high-speed stepper-motor control applications.