Computerized system for sample displacement with stepper motor using the L298: application in the Z-scan technique

Abstract In this work, we show up a new technology of low-cost stepper motor control via computer, that can be used for moving samples. More specifically, we developed a control system using the commercial electronic module L298, which avoids the use of a complex traditional electronic circuit of multiple discrete components. In addition, we used a stepper motor coupled in a translation stage for a nonlinear optics experiment, Z-scan, in which the precise displacement of samples is required. For both the stepper motor control and data acquisition we used the myDAQ device, which is manufactured by National Instruments and, it is a versatile multifunction and not-so-high cost device that can be connected to the computer via USB communication port. In this work we are using the visual programming language LabVIEW and we are making available for download the necessary programs for the movement of the stepper motor. The circuits described are simple and easy to assemble and may be useful for students, undergrad researchers, laboratory technicians and even for trained researchers.

摘要 本研究提出一种基于计算机的低成本步进电机（stepper motor）控制新技术，可用于样品位移操控。具体而言，我们采用商用电子模块L298搭建控制系统，规避了传统由多个分立元件组成的复杂电子电路。此外，我们将步进电机与平移台耦合，应用于对样品位移精度有严苛要求的非线性光学Z扫描（Z-scan）实验中。步进电机控制与数据采集环节均采用美国国家仪器（National Instruments, NI）生产的myDAQ设备，该设备兼具多功能性与成本优势，可通过USB通信端口与计算机相连。本研究采用可视化编程语言LabVIEW进行开发，并公开了步进电机运动所需的全套程序供下载使用。本文所述电路结构简单、易于组装，可面向在校学生、本科生研究人员、实验室技术员乃至资深科研人员提供助力。