BTT TMC2209 V1.2 Stepper Motor Driver – Ultraquiet, UART Enabled

The words “Silent 3D Printing” is music to any Maker’s ears and that’s just what TMC drivers are best known for. A 3D Printer is constantly in linear or rotationally motion through the use of its stepper motors. Any Maker who owns an older-fashioned 3D Printer will tell you how much the noisy movement affects our levels of sanity. This is why we’re always excited when we can bring these kinds of stepper drivers to SA, so that 3D Makers who already have a 3D Printer but don’t yet enjoy the near-silent operations of silent stepper drivers can upgrade their machines and step into the new world of near-silent 3D Printing.

The BTT TMC2209 V1.2 Stepper Motor Driver offers a slew of awesome benefits that really take Hobbyist 3D Printing to a new level, featuring not only near-silent operations (which TMC drivers have become famous for), but also for some of the incredible technologies that Trinamic have been able to create and refine. These TMC2209 Stepper Drivers are Trinamic Drivers which are built to attach directly to a 3D Printer Controller Board. Once there, the BTT TMC2209 Stepper Driver utilises a multitude of fun features such as StallGuard4 and StealthChop2 to ensure smooth quiet running.

The Key Features of TMC2209 V1.2 Stepper Motor Drivers:

Now, while you may have already heard of Trinamic Drivers before, and may have even considered getting some already, it can be difficult to decipher the jargon and decide which is actually the right fit for what you want from your 3D Printer, but fortunately, we are right here to help you understand some of the jargon that gets thrown about in the world of stepper motors, as well as what kinds of actual benefits you can expect when upgrading to the more modern TMC Stepper Drivers.

This TMC2209 V1.2 is very similar to the TMC2209 V2.0 Stepper Motor we also supply, sharing mostly the same features except for a slight difference in voltages. That being said, we believe it is still worth diving into the key features that differentiate these TMC2209 drivers from others:

• UART Interfacing: While many of the Stepper Motor Drivers from the past few years have been quite complex to set up, due to the fact that they weren’t originally designed for 3D Printing, one of the more recent improvements to the industry is in the way we interface with stepper drivers. This is why we’re so eager about the UART Interfacing that these TMC2209 drivers offer, as it allows for far more control than the old Step/Dir method, allowing users to control all of the control lines (EN / DIAG / INDEX / MS1 / MS2 / Analog Current / VRef) via a single line of code. Additionally, UART Interfacing also allows for quick and easy configuration without having to rewire pins, with the actual software being able to define motor current, Microsteps, Chopper Modes and more – all while sitting at your computer or laptop. Additionally, as if the above wasn’t enough, UART Interfacing also greatly reduces current consumption when the motors are in standby mode, helping to extend the lifespan of the motors and save electricity at the same time.
• StallGuard4: This awesome upgrade from the previous StallGuard2 technology is a BIG improvement, as it is capable of performing all of the same functions of the previous edition (including sensorless homing, stall detection and variable feedback from the motors), but also adds the extra benefit of being able to work in conjunction with StealthChop. This is something that was quite the frustration with the previous StallGuard2, which only worked in conjunction with SpreadCycle, and now Makers have a real option to choose between SpreadCycle and StealthChop, without having to sacrifice all of the cool benefits that StallGuard can offer.
• StealthChop2: If you already know what the original StealthChop is, and the awesome benefits that it offers, then you will hopefully be just as excited as we are with the new StealthChop2, which is similar to original, but integrates a current pre-regulator to avoid overcompensation of step prediction, while allowing for more torque during acceleration phases. And while this may sound complicated at first, what it translates to is fewer missed steps or overshot steps, as well as a higher level of power even when motors are caught in an odd rotor position. This means more reliability and more predictability for your motors, and of course the awesome near-silent operations that both StealthChop and SpreadCycle are well-known for.

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.
• If you’re at all confused about the complex art of UART Interfacing, we’ve found this UART Serial Driver Control Instructable to be a great help in figuring out the fine details. Just be aware, however, that the tutorial is a bit old, so it’s a good idea to cross-reference information just to be safe.

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.