Monolithic Power Systems Inc. EV6500-F-01A

Overview

EV6500-F-01A from Monolithic Power Systems is an evaluation board for the MP6500GF stepper motor driver IC, supporting bipolar stepper motors up to 35V supply and 2.5A phase current, with on-board microstepping translator enabling full/half/quarter/eighth-step operation via MS1/MS2 logic inputs.

For engineers reviewing the EV6500-F-01A datasheet, EV6500-F-01A pinout, EV6500-F-01A application, or EV6500-F-01A equivalent, this board provides validated hardware for rapid prototyping of motion control systems using external MCU step/dir signals or manual switch-based control, with configurable VCC (3.3V/5V), fault monitoring, and current-setting potentiometers.

Technical Context

The EV6500-F-01A implements the MP6500GF's integrated microstepping translator and dual H-bridge power stage, accepting standard STEP/DIR inputs and translating them into precise phase currents across AOUT1/AOUT2/BOUT1/BOUT2 outputs. It supports sleep mode (NSLEEP), enable/disable (NENBL), and fault reporting (NFAULT) via dedicated terminals.

Board-level design includes input filtering (C1–C8), current-sense resistor (R1), adjustable current limit (RV1), step signal routing (SW2, EXT_STEP/INT_STEP), and logic-level configuration (SW1 for MS1/MS2/DIR/NENBL). All critical power and signal paths are routed with thermal relief and ground plane integrity per MPS layout guidelines.

Key Specifications

Availability

EV6500-F-01A is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial automation prototyping, laboratory motion control validation, and embedded robotics development requiring stable component supply and reference-grade hardware fidelity.

Supply support for EV6500-F-01A includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Monolithic Power Systems (MPS) is a fabless semiconductor company specializing in high-performance power management ICs, with core expertise in DC/DC converters, motor drivers, and battery management solutions.

The MP6500 product line delivers integrated stepper motor drivers with on-chip translators and robust gate drivers, designed specifically for cost-sensitive, space-constrained motion control applications in printers, scanners, and automated equipment.

FAQ

What is the purpose of the RV1 and RV2 potentiometers on the EV6500-F-01A?

RV1 (100 kΩ) adjusts the ISET current limit threshold for the MP6500GF, setting peak phase current up to 2.5 A. RV2 (500 kΩ) fine-tunes the internal VREF reference used for current regulation accuracy and thermal stability during extended operation.

Can the EV6500-F-01A operate without an external microcontroller?

Yes - SW1 provides manual logic-level control of DIR, MS1, MS2, and NENBL, while SW2 selects between external step pulses (EXT_STEP) or internal oscillator (INT_STEP) mode, enabling standalone functional verification without MCU firmware.

Which connectors are used for motor and power connections?

Motor outputs (AOUT1, AOUT2, BOUT1, BOUT2) and power inputs (VIN, VIN_GND) use 2 mm pitch screw terminals. Logic and auxiliary signals (STEP, DIR, NFAULT, VCC, GND) are accessible via 1 mm pitch headers for oscilloscope probing or MCU interfacing.

Does the board include protection against back-EMF or voltage spikes?

Yes - the MP6500GF IC integrates internal flyback diodes across each H-bridge leg, and the board adds ceramic (C7, C8) and electrolytic (C1) bulk capacitance at VIN to suppress switching transients and absorb regenerated energy during deceleration.

Is thermal management provided for sustained 2.5A operation?

The TSSOP-28EP package of U1 (MP6500GF) is mounted over an exposed copper pad tied to internal ground planes, and the board layout includes thermal vias under the IC footprint. No heatsink is required for ≤2.5 A at ambient ≤50°C with natural convection.

How is microstepping mode selected on this evaluation board?

Microstepping mode is selected by setting MS1 and MS2 logic levels via SW1 positions 3 and 4 (labeled MS1/MS2), corresponding to full (00), half (01), quarter (10), or eighth (11) step modes as defined in the MP6500GF datasheet timing tables.