Microstepping
Microstepping allows the stepper drivers to position the stepper motor shaft in between full steps, which can allow for smoother and quieter movements. The RAMPS shield, Farmduino, and A4988 stepper drivers that come with FarmBot Genesis v1.2, v1.3, and v1.4 kits allow for full-step, 1/2 step, 1/4 step, 1/8 step, and 1/16 step settings. The microstepping setting for each stepper driver is set with jumper pins or DIP switches.
On Farmduino boards, microstepping is controlled by the MS1, MS2, and MS3 DIP switches located just above the A4988 stepper drivers.
Stock FarmBots are set to use full-steps by default (no microstepping), which means that one step pulse from the microcontroller will move the motor shaft one full step. With the stock 200 step/revolution motors, this equates to 1/200th of a rotation. If you set the drivers to 1/2 step microstepping, then each step pulse from the microcontroller will move the motor 1/2 of a step, or 1/400th of a revolution. This means that a full motor step would require two step pulses from the Arduino.
If you use microstepping, you will need to make changes in the hardware settings section of the web app match the hardware DIP switch positions.
When you change the MICROSTEPS PER STEP settings, STEPS PER MM will automatically be adjusted to compensate.
The tables below show the available microstepping settings for both the A4988 and DRV8825 stepper drivers.
A4988 stepper drivers
| MS1 | MS2 | MS3 | Microstepping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low (no jumper) | Low (no jumper) | Low (no jumper) | Full step |
| High (jumper) | Low (no jumper) | Low (no jumper) | 1/2 step |
| Low (no jumper) | High (jumper) | Low (no jumper) | 1/4 step |
| High (jumper) | High (jumper) | Low (no jumper) | 1/8 step |
| High (jumper) | High (jumper) | High (jumper) | 1/16 step |
DRV8825 stepper drivers
| MODE 0 | MODE 1 | MODE 2 | Microstepping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low (no jumper) | Low (no jumper) | Low (no jumper) | Full step |
| High (jumper) | Low (no jumper) | Low (no jumper) | 1/2 step |
| Low (no jumper) | High (jumper) | Low (no jumper) | 1/4 step |
| High (jumper) | High (jumper) | Low (no jumper) | 1/8 step |
| Low (no jumper) | Low (no jumper) | High (jumper) | 1/16 step |
| High (jumper) | Low (no jumper) | High (jumper) | 1/32 step |
| Low (no jumper) | High (jumper) | High (jumper) | 1/32 step |
| High (jumper) | High (jumper) | High (jumper) | 1/32 step |