DRV8825 Stepper Motor Driver Module with Heatsink for CNC / 3D Printer

The DRV8825 Stepper Motor Driver Module is a compact StepStick-format board built around Texas Instruments' DRV8825 bipolar stepper driver. It controls one NEMA 17 or small NEMA 23 stepper using just two signals, STEP and DIR, with microstepping down to 1/32-step for smooth, quiet motion. It runs from 8.2V to 45V and comes with a heatsink for higher-current use.

Because it shares the 16-pin footprint of the A4988 StepStick driver, it slots straight into the same sockets on a CNC Shield V3, RAMPS board or 3D printer mainboard. Compared with the A4988, you get finer 1/32 microstepping, a higher voltage ceiling and more current headroom.

Features

• Simple STEP and DIR control, works with GRBL, Marlin, AccelStepper and similar
• Six step modes: full, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 and 1/32, selected with the M0, M1 and M2 pins
• Adjustable current limit via onboard potentiometer, so you can run motors above their rated voltage for faster stepping without overheating them
• Onboard logic regulator, no separate logic supply needed
• Works directly with 3.3V and 5V microcontrollers (Arduino, ESP32, Raspberry Pi Pico and more)
• Thermal shutdown, overcurrent shutdown, under-voltage lockout and short circuit protection
• FAULT output to signal overcurrent or overtemperature events
• Heatsink included for higher-current operation

Specifications

• Driver IC: Texas Instruments DRV8825
• Motor supply (VMOT): 8.2V to 45V
• Logic level: 3.3V or 5V compatible
• Current per coil: approx. 1.5A without additional cooling, up to approx. 2.2A with heatsink and airflow (2.5A IC maximum)
• Microstepping: full, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32
• Current limit formula: Current limit = Vref x 2
• Form factor: 16-pin StepStick, A4988 compatible
• Size: approx. 20 x 15mm

Setup Tips

• Set the current limit before connecting your motor. Measure Vref between the potentiometer and GND, then adjust to half your motor's rated coil current (for a 1.5A motor, set Vref to 0.75V)
• Pull SLP and RST high (connect both to your logic supply) or the driver will not enable. CNC shields and printer boards already do this for you
• Fit a 47µF to 100µF electrolytic capacitor across VMOT and GND, close to the driver, to absorb voltage spikes that can destroy the chip
• Never connect or disconnect the motor while the driver is powered
• When fitting into a shield, line up the board by its pin labels (GND and EN) rather than the potentiometer position. The DRV8825 potentiometer sits at the opposite end to most A4988 boards
• Attach the heatsink when running above about 1A per coil, and make sure it does not touch any pins

Compatible Boards

• CNC Shield V3 Expansion Board for Arduino: holds up to four drivers for a GRBL-powered CNC router, laser engraver or plotter
• A4988 & DRV8825 Stepper Motor Control Expansion Board: single-driver carrier with screw terminals and microstep switches, ideal for testing or standalone projects

Other Stepper Drivers

• A4988 StepStick Stepper Motor Driver: lower-cost option for lighter loads, up to 1/16 microstepping
• TB6600 CNC Stepper Motor Driver 4A: enclosed driver for larger NEMA 23 motors and heavier CNC machines
• HRB8825 Stepper Motor HAT for Raspberry Pi: dual-motor driver that plugs straight onto a Raspberry Pi

Applications

• 3D printers (RAMPS, CNC shield and StepStick-socket mainboards)
• DIY CNC routers, mills and laser engravers
• Pen plotters and camera sliders
• Robotics and automated positioning systems

Documentation

• DRV8825 Datasheet (PDF)

Package Contents

• 1 x DRV8825 Stepper Motor Driver Module
• 1 x Heatsink