A4988 Stepper Motor Driver

The A4988 Stepper Motor Driver Modules are popular, compact driver boards used for controlling bipolar stepper motors with precision and efficiency. Both are widely supported in maker and robotics communities — especially with Arduino, ESP32, ESP8266, and Raspberry Pi projects — and are commonly found in 3D printers, CNC machines, and motion control systems.

These driver modules use simple STEP and DIR digital inputs from your microcontroller and include features like adjustable current limiting and microstepping to achieve smooth, controlled motion.

🔹 Key Features (Common to Both)

1. Controls bipolar stepper motors
2. Simple STEP (step pulse) and DIR (direction) inputs
3. Adjustable current limiting via onboard potentiometer to protect motors
4. Compact modules easy to integrate into PCBs or breadboards
5. Works with Arduino, ESP32, ESP8266, Raspberry Pi

🔹 A4988 Specifics

1. Microstepping support: full, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16
2. Slightly lower current capability (~1 A–2 A with cooling)
3. Very common in older 3D printers and hobby projects

🔹 Applications

1. 3D printers (X/Y/Z/Extruder axes)
2. CNC routers, laser cutters
3. Robotic arms and positioning systems
4. Automated pan/tilt mechanisms
5. Precise motion control in DIY and embedded systems