TMC2208 vs TMC2209: What Are Differences?

Are you planning to buy stepper motor drivers? There is a high probability that you have two options in mind. These are TMC2208 and TMC2209 and both are manufactured by the Trinamic Motion Control. Their differences are just in their numbers, right? Probably this is what you may assume.

In reality, it goes deeper than the “08” and “09” As long as you intend to use the motor drive for a serious application, it is important to get the details of their differences. The good news is we are here for you. In this article, we are going to discuss the key differences between the TMC2208  vs TMC2209 stepper motor drivers

Once you understand these differences, you will be in a perfect position to make a smart decision on which one to purchase.  Furthermore, I will give you smart tips on choosing the right motor driver to meet your 3D printing application needs.

Overview of TMC2208

A TMC2208 is one of the most advanced stepper motor drivers that is designed to control the motion of stepper motors. It is widely considered a replacement for the TMC2100 since it is packaged with better features to do the same job. It is widely used in 3D printing, advanced robots, camera scanners, and many other applications that entail motions.

TMC2208  comes in the form of an integrated circuit and is packaged with a microstepping indexer that operates with minimum noise. It also comes with a premium current control mode StealthChop2 that has the full capacity to control the bipolar stepper motor. The ability to operate silently is one of the top reasons why this motor driver is quite popular.

With the capacity to supply a current of up to 2.0A coil current at its peak, TMC2208 is considered among the most powerful stepper motor drivers in the market. It gives users a chance to get maximum power without having to endure any noise. The supply voltage of this stepper motor driver ranges between 5V to 36V. The output driver block features a low RDSon that is designed to drive the motor windings.

Features of TMC2208

Some of the key features that define TMC2208 stepper motor drivers include:

· 2A peak current

· Supply voltage of between 4.75 volts to 36 volts

· Has interface for the 2,4,6,8,12, and 32 micro-step pin settings

· Has an internal sense resistor hence does not need a sense resistor for power regulation

· Has an optional automatic standby current  reduction

· Integrated with the passive braking  system

· Supports freewheeling

· Comes with a single-wire UART for advanced configuration options

· A built-in 256 microstep interpolation guarantees smooth running and  noiseless operation

· Has full protection and elf diagnostics features

Overview of TMC 2209

TMC2209 is a super-silent stepper motor driver chip that is widely used for controlling the movement of two-phase stepper motors. It has numerous similarities to the 2209 driver though it is packaged with a good number of extra features that are designed to enhance its performance in different application areas. For example, the driver has a sophisticated StealthChop2 chopper from Trinamic that delivers maximum torque and power efficiency without producing noise.

TMC2209 uses the SpreadCycle? technology that delivers fast current regulation while at the same time giving allowance for dynamic motion. It uses the StailGuard4 technology for the execution of sensor-less homing.

With the capacity to handle peak current of up to 2A, TMC2209 has the full capacity to deliver desirable performance when it comes to regulating motions on stepper motors. This is boosted by the self-protection and diagnostic features for not only performance but also reliability.

The stepper motor driver uses a UART interface for tuning and control functions. This makes it possible for users to regulate the operation and performance of the motor driver. It is always considered an upgrade to most stepper driver motors in the industry thanks to its array of superior features.

Features of TMC2209

Key features of TMC2209 include:

·  Can handle up to 2.8A  peak coil current

· The voltage capacity ranges between 4.75 to 29 volts

· The microstep pin setting has 8,16,32, and 64 configurations

· Uses MicroPlyer? interpolation that guarantees the smooth running of the motor

· Has a Coolstep? current control mechanism which helps to achieve maximum energy efficiency

· Packaged with a passive braking system that is backed with automatic power down and freewheeling features

· Comes with full protection and diagnostics that give the driver high-reliability ratings

· Uses single-wire UART and OTP that support advanced configurations

· The driver is integrated with a pulse generator that provides standalone motion

· Features a StealthChop2? technology that eliminates the generation of noise in the system

Differences between TMC2208 vs TMC2209

Now let’s look at the key differences between these two stepper motor drivers. For clarity, we will highlight key performance areas in which the two tend to differ.

Current capacity

From the features, we have seen that the TMC2209 motor driver has a peak coil current of 2.8A while the TMC2208 has a peak coil current of 2.0 A. This implies that the TMC2209 has a slighter higher current carrying capacity than the TMC2208. Even though the difference may be small, it has a direct impact on the performance. For instance, the TMC2209 will be able to handle higher loads than the TMC2209.

Voltage rating

TMC2209 has a maximum voltage rating of 45V while TMC2208 has a maximum voltage rating of 36V. This tells you that the TMC2209 is more suitable for applications that have high-voltage sources. This in turn translates to superior performance in real-world applications.

Step Intervals

Having higher current and voltage ratings, the TMC2209 has a larger step interval range than the TMC2208 motor driver. This means that the previous has the full capacity to accommodate a broad range of microstepping solutions. This feature is important in applications where you need to achieve maximum accuracy when controlling the rotation of the motor.  With a broader range, you will be able to select configurations that you want with high levels of preciseness.

Braking mechanism

Both the motors have a similar braking system. They use passive braking that is backed with a freewheeling system. In this system, the current supply is reduced when the motor is not rotating. This means that the rotation wheel is freewheeling. However, based on the differences in the power ratings, the brake system in TMC2209 is more powerful and efficient than that of TMC2208.

Physical dimensions

Both the motor drivers come in the form of integrated circuits. This means that they are laid in semiconductor wafers. However, they come in different dimensions. TMC2209 has a bigger frame than the TMC2208. It measures 11.5mm x 11.5mm while the 2208 measures 9.7mm x 9.7mm. You should pay full attention to the dimensions as they will determine the space in which you will embed the IC into the application.

QNF Packages

Both the motor drivers come with QNF packages. However, they have different modes of packaging. TMC2209 packaging features a large heat sink while the TMC2208 packaging features a wettable package

FAQ

Here are some of the questions that most people ask whenever they want to find out the differences between TMC2208 or TMC2209 stepper motor drivers:

What is a stepper motor driver?

A stepper is a special type of integrated circuit, or electronic module that is designed to control the motions of a stepper motor. Unlike other types of electric motors, stepper motors are designed to rotate in well-defined steps. It is the purpose of the drivers to ensure that these steps are followed in a coordinated sequence. Most stepper motor drivers such as TMC2208 or TMC2209   come in the form of integrated circuits. This means that they comprise small electronic components that are interconnected to form complete electric circuits.

What are the applications of stepper motor drivers

Stepper motor drivers have a wide range of applications. As long as a device or an application has a stepper motor, you should expect to find a stepper motor driver in it. Some of the application areas include:

· 3D printers

· Robotics to determine the movement of arms and actuators on robots

· Medical Industry

· Photography and camera platforms

· Laboratory and automation devices

Conclusion

So, which one should I choose between TMC2208 and TMC2209?  From the differences that we have discussed, you can easily tell which one is the right one for you. Several factors will determine the exact type of moto driver for 3D printing that you should get. Compare those factors and at the end of it all you will know of the two which one is more suitable.

Once you make the final choice, the next step is to find out where to buy the either TMC2208 or TMC2209  stepper motor drivers. Buying from the right place will ensure that not only will you end up with genuine motor drivers but also it is of high quality. You should limit your choices to the best stepper motor driver distributors. This is where Rantle East Electronic comes in. We are a reputable distributor that stocks both TMC2208 and TMC2209 motor drives. You should contact us directly in case you need either of them