Product Description:

The 6415-001-C-M-K is a microstep drive produced by Pacific Scientific as part of the 6415 Microstep Drives series. The unit translates step and direction commands or an analog reference into finely controlled phase currents for two-phase stepper motors, allowing precise position and velocity control in automated indexers, material handling axes, and small machine tools. By managing motor excitation electronically, the drive eliminates mechanical gearing stages and improves repeatability in motion sequences used in industrial automation.

The drive’s chopper regulator operates at 20 kHz, a frequency high enough to shift switching noise above the audible range while maintaining current linearity. It accepts a differential analog command of ±10 Vdc, and the associated input presents 20 kΩ of impedance so that typical motion controllers can source the signal without loading. Peak acceleration torque is supported by a phase current of 7.1 A, while continuous moves are limited to 5 A rms to contain motor heating. Resolution can be programmed to 51200 steps/rev, allowing finer positioning increments when paired with fine-pitch lead screws. Command pulses are accepted up to 500 kHz, and a direction line needs only 50 µs of setup before the first step, allowing high-speed reversals without data skew.

A two-phase bipolar chopper circuit dynamically controls each winding, and optically isolated TTL control inputs protect upstream logic from ground shifts. Idle power dissipation is reduced by 50% through an automatic current fold-back that engages after motion stops. For reference distribution, the drive supplies +8 Vdc, and a 100 kΩ monitor node lets a host read the internal VCO without disturbing its scaling. All control and monitor connections are routed through a 25-contact D-Sub connector, simplifying panel wiring. The housing weighs 1.0 lb, keeping enclosure loads low while still providing enough mass to absorb switching heat during peak duty cycles.