Stepper Motors

[Moe2255]

Q. Why make two different types of stepper motors? Whats the advange of using one over the other (Bipolar vs. Unipolar) :? ?

Seems to me that Bipolar would be more beneficial (ie less wires).

Also, do you know of any other driver IC's besides 3479 and e-labs 1200 & 1204 IC's?

Thanks

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

Q. Why make two different types of stepper motors? Whats the advange of using one over the other (Bipolar vs. Unipolar) :? ?

Seems to me that Bipolar would be more beneficial (ie less wires).

It's only one less wire (four rather than five), but it's far more complicated to drive, needing two h-bridges, as opposed to just four single ended drivers for a unipolar.