Stepper Motor HELP

[maha1984]

I need help...

I am working on a project that includes unipolar stepper motor with 5 wires, 48 steps,7.5 degree/step.I have L293D motor driver and a spartan 3E starter kit to control the stepper motor.

the main problem that i want to know the exact current position to rotate it toward the north pole. I know that i need a compass to do that.

But i have no idea how to do that..

what i need:
How could i know the current position of the shaft?
How could i rotate it towards the north?

thanx...

 

[hjames]

Look up "home switch" - either a mechanical switch or an optical slot type switch that flags the orientation of the motor. When the system powers up, swing the motor around until it hits the home switch, and do everything relative to that.

Do you know what compass sensor you'll be using?