STMicroelectronics EVL6480

Overview

EVL6480 from STMicroelectronics is a stepper motor driver evaluation board based on the L6480 IC, designed for two-phase bipolar stepper motor control with true 1/128 microstepping, voltage-mode BEMF compensation, and integrated dual full-bridge gate drivers for N-channel MOSFETs in DPAK package. It supports SPI-based motion profile programming (acceleration, speed, target position) and features Power OK/fault LEDs, Arduino® UNO R3 connector compatibility, and multi-motor stacking capability.

For engineers reviewing the EVL6480 datasheet, EVL6480 pinout, EVL6480 application, or EVL6480 equivalent, key selection considerations include its 7.5–85 V input range, embedded non-dissipative overcurrent protection, thermal/low-Vbus/stall protections, and support for up to three stacked motors via CS_1/CS_2/CS_3 chip select lines.

Technical Context

The EVL6480 implements a digital motion controller core with register-based SPI interface (5 Mbit/s), enabling user-defined trapezoidal motion profiles including acceleration, deceleration, constant speed, and absolute positioning commands. Its analog mixed-signal architecture integrates ADCIN for current sensing, FLAG/BUSY_SYNC for real-time status reporting, and STBY_RES for standby/reset control.

Voltage-mode driving compensates for back-EMF, bus voltage fluctuations, and motor winding resistance variations to maintain precise microstepping fidelity. The board routes all L6480 power stage terminals (HVGA1/LVGA1/OUTA1 through HVGB2/LVGB2/OUTB2), supports external 100 µF/63 V bulk capacitance (C1), and provides test points (TP1–TP5) for VS, VDDIO, VREG, and signal monitoring.

Key Specifications

Availability

EVL6480 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial automation, CNC motion control, and laboratory prototyping requiring stable component supply, repeatable evaluation platform access, and scalable multi-axis development.

Supply support for EVL6480 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

STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor leader specializing in microcontrollers, power management, analog, and motor control ICs, with strong focus on industrial, automotive, and embedded systems.

The EVL6480 belongs to ST's motor control evaluation platform family, designed to accelerate development of precise, protected, and programmable stepper motor systems using their L6480 smart driver IC.

FAQ

What power supply requirements does the EVL6480 board have?

The EVL6480 requires a single DC input between 7.5 V and 85 V applied to the Vin terminal. It includes onboard LDOs generating VDDIO (3.3 V), VREG (5 V), and VSREG (12 V) for logic, interface, and gate drive. Bulk capacitance (C1 = 100 µF/63 V) is provided for input stability under high-current transients.

How many stepper motors can be controlled using one EVL6480 board?

The EVL6480 controls one two-phase bipolar stepper motor per board. However, it supports stacking up to three boards via Arduino UNO R3-compatible headers and dedicated chip select lines (CS_1, CS_2, CS_3), enabling coordinated control of up to three independent motors from a single host MCU.

Does the EVL6480 require external current sense resistors?

No. The L6480 IC uses internal current sensing via ADCIN and embedded analog circuitry; no external sense resistors are required. Current trip thresholds, dead time, and PWM frequency are configured via SPI-accessible registers, eliminating manual resistor selection and layout dependency.

Can the EVL6480 operate without an Arduino host?

Yes. While Arduino UNO R3 connector compatibility simplifies prototyping, the EVL6480 interfaces directly via standard SPI (CK/SDI/SDO/CS) and GPIOs (STBY_RES, FLAG, BUSY_SYNC). Any microcontroller with 5 Mbit/s SPI and compatible voltage levels (3.3 V logic) can fully control the board without Arduino hardware or software.