Stepper Noise and Hot Drivers

It really depends on the drivers you’re using, and in the case of A4988’s (or clones thereof), the value of the sensing resister the particular manufacturer chose to use. I was running my 3d printer on a “rule of thumb” I read somewhere that the measured vRef should be about half the current you wanted, so .7V measured for 1.4-1.5 amps at the motor. This “rule” was for DRV8835’s but that wasn’t listed in the article I read (or I missed it) so I was running my A4988 clones way too high.

As I noted above, this article got me on the right track to dialing in the proper current for my specific drivers and resisters. Things ran quieter, smoother, and cooler after I turned things down.

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