SparkFun Brushless Motor Driver - 3-Phase (TMC6300)

The SparkFun 3-Phase Brushless Motor Driver is a high-performance tool equipped with the TMC6300 from ADI + Trinamic, designed to control the Brushless Gimbal Motor. It is capable of controlling any 3-phase BLDC or PMSM motor with a total drive current of up to 2A (1.4ARMS). It offers separate high-side and low-side control of the three half-bridges for precise control over each phase of the motor commutation. The driver also includes temperature and short circuit protections, along with a diagnostic output to indicate system faults. With a 1.8V regulated power output and an operating voltage down to 2V, the TMC6300 is ideal for low-power microcontroller and battery-powered designs.

The board layout is designed thoughtfully with the LEDs and labels facing up, and the IC facing down. This arrangement allows easy access to the thermal pad on the board for cooling if required. Moreover, the breakout pins are aligned to fit perfectly onto a breadboard, holding the headers more perpendicular to facilitate assembly.

Controlling 3-phase motors can be complex, and this board requires six PWM signals to fully control one motor. The Arduino Simple Field Oriented Control library has been found to work well with the board, although there are certain hardware limitations, such as supported microcontrollers for 6PWM Mode. Additional considerations are required for integrating position sensors into the feedback control loop.

The TMC6300 Motor Driver IC comes with a voltage range of 2-11V, maximum current of 2A (1.4ARMS), operating current of 7mA, and standby current of less than 50nA. It includes 3 half-bridges, current sense, diagnostic indicator, regulated 1.8V power, and a charge pump. It also offers protections like thermal shutdown at 150°C and short circuit shutdown.

The SparkFun 3-Phase Brushless Motor Driver is a highly versatile tool that can be used in various applications and projects. It provides exceptional control over 3-phase motors and ensures optimal performance. Whether you're a hobbyist or a professional, this motor driver is a reliable choice for your motor control needs.