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.