BTT TMC2100 V1.0 Stepper Motor Driver - UltraQuiet, High Performance

When first getting into the 3D Printing game with our In-House Prusa i3, the TEVO Tarantula, and a few other fantastic models, we used to absolutely love hearing all of the strange and unique sounds that all of the motors and other components produce. Within these various 3D Printer sounds, one set of sounds that really stands out is the “Song of the Stepper Drivers”, comprised of all kinds of futuristic squeaks and squeals that can almost sound melodic at times, and this really added to the overall excitement of getting involved in a fresh new industry. However, as the novelty of these sounds have worn off, we aren’t quite as fond of them as we used to be, and this is why we like to stock handy Silent Stepper Drivers like these UltraQuiet, High Performance TMC2100 Stepper Motor Drivers.

These TMC2100 drivers are designed as replacements or upgrades to the ever-common A4988 Stepper Drivers and DRV8825 Stepper Drivers, and are built to offer the same power and performance you love from those. However, these have been specially equipped with clever features that give it a bit of an edge over standard Stepper Drivers, and these not only help to reduce the overall audible noise produced, but also offer some extra perks like reduced EMF, a better accuracy repeatability rating, as well as a longer lifespan for the motors they are driving.

The Key Features of TMC2100 Stepper Motor Drivers:

If you have been using the classic A4988 or DRV8825 drivers for 3D Printing, then these stepper drivers are incredible upgrades that are not only more reliable and predictable, but also far more silent, with drastically reduced “chirping” or whining as the electrons are pumped through the circuit. However, over and above the silent operations, these awesome little TMC2100 Drivers also offer the following Trinamic TMC-specific benefits as well:

• MicroPlyer: One of best factors about dealing with stepper motors is the fact that they can be controlled to a high level of precision, with each full rotation being made up of many small steps called “Microsteps”. However, some of you astute Makers will have noticed that stepper drivers often only offer up to 1/32 microsteps, and this is simply not enough if you are wanting to control micrometers of motion, and this is where interpolation comes in to play. This is the primary benefit of the MicroPlyer technology, as it is capable of extending between 1 and 32 (16 for this module) microsteps into 256 or fewer Microsteps, which of course allows for even more precision control, but also smoother motion as the motions between steps are smaller. Additionally, on top of this benefit, the MicroPlyer technology also attempts to predict the next step so as to offer more responsiveness, leading to smoother rotational motion and more predictable results from each command.
   
• SpreadCycle: For anyone who has dived deep into the world of stepper motors and drivers, you will understand that stepping can often produce wild amounts of EMF and current build-up that can easily cause disruptions and problems like missed steps or delayed responses. This is what SpreadCycle aims to remedy, as it is a dynamic Cycle-By-Cycle Chopper that “chops” power and intelligently dumps it, so as to smoothen out signals, improving response times and reducing resonance over a wide range of speeds and loads. However, it must be noted that StealthChop can be seen a better version of SpreadCycle, although you have the freedom to test out various configurations yourself to see which is most suited to your setup.
   
• StealthChop: This third factor that makes the TMC2100 drivers so great is called StealthChop, and it’s a relatively simple technology that utilises voltage chopping so as to drastically reduce all of the noises, whining and squeaks that stepper drivers make. It is particularly beneficial when the motors are energised but at a standstill, or just moving really slowly, as the phenomenon known as “magnetostriction” acts against the motor, increasing motor stress unnecessarily and causing all sorts of strange and wonderful sounds. As mentioned above, StealthChop is often seen as a better version of SpreadCycle, but it must be noted that StealthChop can’t be used in conjunction with StallGuard, which means you typically have to choose between StealthChop alone, or a combination of SpreadCycle & StallGuard – depending on what you want from your particular 3D Printer setup.

Additional Resources:

• If you’re looking for more basic information, check out this Trinamic SilentStepStick Drivers Page, where the most popular driver boards are compared against each other, listing some of the cool features that each offers.
  
  
• If you’re struggling to figure out how to install or operate these drivers, or are simply eager to find out more about the ever-awesome Trinamic brand, be sure to check out the Trinamic YouTube Channel, where they feature instructional, informational and also fun videos regarding all of the projects they’re involved in.
  
  
• Finally, although the models features on this site aren’t exactly the same as what we have in stock, this FYSETC Stepper Drivers Wiki Page offers a wealth of great information and insight into these TMC2100 stepper drivers, as well as many other popular drivers and breakout boards.

As one of the rising stars in the world of 3D Printer Component Research and Development, BigTreeTech have certainly hit the ground running, entering the market in 2015 and spending their early stages primarily learning, researching, testing and developing, before producing some truly impressive results. From simple but effective upgrades to standard parts, all the way through to completely custom parts that no other brand offered at the time, BigTreeTech now have an incredibly diverse range, with almost no area of 3D Printing being left out.

Some of BigTreeTech’s most notable additions to the world of 3D Printing include the SKR Motherboard Range for numerous different 3D Printer models, the awesome TFT Touch Display Range with fancy features like dual-mode operation, as well as their very impressive Stepper Driver Range that cater to all tastes and preferences under the sun. And of course, to top it all off, BigTreeTech also have a sister company named BIQU, and we must admit that they have been producing some pretty impressive (and low price) 3D Printers, with the BIQU B1 possibly becoming a new rival to the Ender 3.

Of course, it’s easy to see that BigTreeTech are modern masters of 3D Printing R&D, and while we do still have a lot of different parts that we want to test out from them, so far we’ve been extremely happy with what they’re capable of producing – all while fitting into same kind of hobbyist budget that they used to operate on as Makers and Tinkerers themselves.