Monolithic Power Systems Inc. MEZS6-35V2ASTEPPERDRIVER

Overview

MEZS6-35V2ASTEPPERDRIVER from Monolithic Power Systems is a fully integrated stepper motor controller/driver solution kit built around the MP6501AGF bipolar stepper driver IC and CY7C68013A USB microcontroller. It delivers up to 2.5A output current at 8–35V input, supports full/half/quarter/eighth-step microstepping, and enables PC-based control via Windows GUI over USB. Used for precision motion control in compact industrial actuators.

For engineers reviewing the MEZS6-35V2ASTEPPERDRIVER datasheet, MEZS6-35V2ASTEPPERDRIVER pinout, MEZS6-35V2ASTEPPERDRIVER application, or MEZS6-35V2ASTEPPERDRIVER equivalent, this board provides validated firmware, on-board DAC-controlled VREF/MDS, mixed-decay tuning, and real-time fault monitoring (OCP/OVP/OTP) - all accessible without external logic or programming hardware.

Technical Context

The kit implements a complete closed-loop stepper interface: the CY7C68013A handles USB enumeration and command parsing, then generates STEP/DIR/EN signals and configures MP6501AGF registers via I²C (U4 EEPROM stores defaults) and analog DAC outputs (U3). Motor phase currents are sensed using dual 100mΩ resistors (R18/R19) with VREF scaling.

MP6501AGF operates in constant-current chopper mode with programmable off-time (via R17 or JP2-adjustable trim pot), selectable decay modes (automatic or mixed with user-defined fast-decay ratio), and internal thermal shutdown. All control paths - DIP-switch manual mode or GUI-driven MCU mode - converge at the same MP6501AGF pins (STEP, DIR, EN, MS1–MS3, VREF, MDS).

Key Specifications

Availability

MEZS6-35V2ASTEPPERDRIVER is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for printer mechanisms, lab automation stages, CNC tool changers, and medical fluid dispensers requiring stable component supply, rapid prototyping validation, and production-ready firmware integration.

Supply support for MEZS6-35V2ASTEPPERDRIVER 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, including DC/DC converters, motor drivers, and battery management solutions for industrial, computing, and automotive markets.

This kit belongs to MPS's Application Solution Kit product line, designed to accelerate evaluation and system integration of their power ICs - specifically enabling immediate validation of MP6501AGF's microstepping, current regulation, and protection features in real-world motion systems.

FAQ

What power supply requirements must be met to operate the MEZS6-35V2ASTEPPERDRIVER?

The board requires a DC input between 8V and 35V applied to TS2 or P3 terminals, with sufficient current capability for the motor load (≥2.5A continuous per phase plus logic overhead). The onboard MP2013GQ-33 LDO supplies 3.3V to the microcontroller and peripherals; no separate logic rail is needed.

How is motor current calibrated on this board?

Peak phase current is set by the voltage applied to the MP6501AGF's VREF pin. With the default 100mΩ sense resistors (R18/R19), current = VREF × 5 A/V. The GUI controls VREF via an LTC2632ACTS8 DAC; manual mode uses fixed resistor dividers selected by SW4.

Can the MEZS6-35V2ASTEPPERDRIVER drive unipolar stepper motors?

No. The MP6501AGF is a dual-H-bridge driver designed exclusively for bipolar stepper motors. It connects directly to both ends of each coil (AOUT1/AOUT2, BOUT1/BOUT2) and cannot interface with center-tapped unipolar configurations.

What happens when a fault condition occurs during operation?

Upon OCP, OVP, or OTP detection, MP6501AGF asserts nFAULT low, which illuminates LED D5 and disables motor outputs. The GUI displays "Fault" and halts motion; recovery requires clicking "Reset" in the Monitor page or cycling power after correcting the root cause (e.g., overheating, shorted winding, overvoltage).

Is external programming hardware required to use the on-board microcontroller?

No. The CY7C68013A ships with pre-flashed firmware supporting HID-class USB communication. No JTAG programmer, IDE, or code compilation is needed - the Windows GUI communicates directly with the device using standard USB HID reports.

Does the board support encoder feedback or closed-loop stall detection?

No. This is an open-loop stepper driver kit. MP6501AGF does not include stall detection circuitry or encoder interface logic. Position verification or torque-based error correction requires external sensors and host-level processing.

How is step timing controlled - by the microcontroller or the MP6501AGF?

Step timing is generated entirely by the CY7C68013A microcontroller, which outputs STEP pulses to MP6501AGF. The MP6501AGF only executes current chopping and decay control; all motion profiles (ramp rates, dwell times, step counts) are computed and scheduled by the GUI-hosted algorithm and sent to the MCU over USB.