# https://tscircuit.com/techmannih/NEMA-34 Channel: #designreview Source: https://discord.com/channels/1233487248129921135/1557090857981706364 Started: 2026-10-06T18:03:39.848000+00:00 Last activity: 2026-10-18T19:07:18.556000+00:00 ## techmannih — 2026-10-06T18:03:09.892000+00:00 https://tscircuit.com/techmannih/NEMA-34-Smart-Motor-Mounted-Stepper-Controller#files ## techmannih — 2026-10-06T18:03:41.606000+00:00 <@809856037376491570> can you check it why build is failing ## techmannih — 2026-10-06T18:03:58.184000+00:00 [attachment] Attachment: Screenshot_2026-10-06_at_23.32.51.png — https://community.tscircuit.com/media/1557091059970871456 ## Rishabh — 2026-10-06T18:08:02.635000+00:00 The last build timeout due to the worker, the autorouting took too long. Also, I see a lot of the files are unecessary in your package like the docs/* or the scripts/*. Can you get rid of that, increase the workerTimeout and run it again ## Rishabh — 2026-10-06T18:11:40.115000+00:00 These are quite expensive motors cc <@757706909351411845> Attachment: image.png — https://community.tscircuit.com/media/1557092996778827846 ## Seve — 2026-10-06T19:45:56.295000+00:00 is that as cheap as they go? ## Seve — 2026-10-06T19:47:19.827000+00:00 $45 dollars here https://www.amazon.com/STEPPERONLINE-Stepper-Motor-679-87oz-Key-Way/dp/B091C83HWF/ref=sr_1_4?crid=6AT565TLFI7H&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ozzBixJ1TwDGdJHtWZtIPrTnaldulwhCd00t6G-bZo1ux0I9bzUheRaiUt4N59zrWcaEghPxu3x9ph6aL9whYk_Bmfd3R34LmV7ObeTFRM1rS-pJVck-DAf3zOcpP2FLD9or-TZ_fSiSXZWeSL3OIGhuGL84RvF_8TmkSKJbCQw1W3R0P64nTxI00rx6Y-2C3uEibj91bXdE3nT6-NIDEPiNKJP34zd8MQguxSosAu8.SPFK083w7Z2_p6TA5OS9Gf13Xxc7pPpHsTrF604pbR8&dib_tag=se&keywords=nema+34+stepper+motor&qid=1791315965&sprefix=nema+34+stepper+motor%2Caps%2C167&sr=8-4 ## Seve — 2026-10-06T19:47:26.158000+00:00 <@1067854999889137715> super super high current ## Seve — 2026-10-06T19:47:47.228000+00:00 <@1067854999889137715> i've ordered this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B091C83HWF/ref=sw_img_1?smid=&psc=1 ## Seve — 2026-10-06T19:53:15.326000+00:00 <@1067854999889137715> i was excited to look at your board but what is happening? There are a million connectors ## Seve — 2026-10-06T19:53:23.008000+00:00 [attachment] Attachment: CleanShot_2026-10-06_at_12.53.162x.png — https://community.tscircuit.com/media/1557118594322792568 ## Seve — 2026-10-06T19:53:41.797000+00:00 get your shit together! Not reviewing something that is clearly totally wrong! ## Seve — 2026-10-06T19:54:03.156000+00:00 there's not even USB-PD on this! ## Seve — 2026-10-06T19:54:28.656000+00:00 you have a single usb port, not the USB PD and USB DATA convention we've been using ## Seve — 2026-10-06T19:54:47.738000+00:00 there's also manuyal bridges ## Seve — 2026-10-06T19:54:54.679000+00:00 you gotta figure out how motor drivers work man ## Seve — 2026-10-06T19:54:58.432000+00:00 watch videos learn ## techmannih — 2026-10-09T14:37:41.397000+00:00 yea updated. using manual MOSFET bridges are retained because the TMC5160A requires them, allowing the power stage to be sized for the 48 V, 5.5 A RMS-per-phase target. you can review now https://tscircuit.com/techmannih/NEMA-34-Smart-Motor-Mounted-Stepper-Controller#files ## Rishabh — 2026-10-09T14:48:21.040000+00:00 Did you take a look at the other NEMA boards which we have ordered? ## Rishabh — 2026-10-09T14:49:34.888000+00:00 Reference those boards, I am sure you will spot issues with your board ## techmannih — 2026-10-09T14:57:10.996000+00:00 No, are you referring to the NEMA 23 ? https://tscircuit.com/imrishabh18/nema-23-stepper-controller#3d ## Rishabh — 2026-10-09T15:00:12.970000+00:00 reference both nema 17 as well as nema 23 ## techmannih — 2026-10-09T15:00:51.470000+00:00 sure ## techmannih — 2026-10-09T15:02:10.667000+00:00 which one sorry there are three nema17 Attachment: Screenshot_2026-10-09_at_20.31.33.png — https://community.tscircuit.com/media/1558132474238738522 ## Rishabh — 2026-10-09T15:02:42.808000+00:00 https://tscircuit.com/imrishabh18/rp2040-motor-controller#pcb ## techmannih — 2026-10-10T09:20:57.919000+00:00 <@809856037376491570> <@757706909351411845> These changes are implemented, Separate USB-PD power and USB-DATA ports. USB-powered setup/diagnostics without motor power. TMP102 temperature monitoring and thermal protection. INA240 per-phase current sensing. Tighter gate/bootstrap layout, local decoupling and dedicated Kelvin sense routing. ## techmannih — 2026-10-10T09:24:10.935000+00:00 can you check it https://tscircuit.com/techmannih/nema34-mounted-stepper-controller ## Seve — 2026-10-10T19:10:55.673000+00:00 can you do the assembly, this doesn't look like it'll fit to me ## Seve — 2026-10-10T19:11:04.455000+00:00 looks like the holes are in the wrong places ## Seve — 2026-10-10T19:11:21.338000+00:00 i could be wrong ## techmannih — 2026-10-11T02:37:56.869000+00:00 size and hole looks right now Attachment: Recording_2026-10-11_at_07-39-31.mp4 — https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1557090857981706364/1558669957880090664/Recording_2026-10-11_at_07-39-31.mp4?ex=6ad62b44&is=6ad4d9c4&hm=bfb173693679ec820ddd8591798a9e75eba6acfd5cd01569c89f41b4a7c3a01b& ## Seve — 2026-10-11T02:38:12.027000+00:00 nice ## Seve — 2026-10-11T02:38:19.960000+00:00 <@809856037376491570> can you give this a review when you get a chance ## Seve — 2026-10-11T02:41:10.557000+00:00 you need to add a small encoder to the bottom marked doNotPlace ## Seve — 2026-10-11T02:41:18.911000+00:00 you can see Rishabh's design for a reference ## Seve — 2026-10-11T02:41:36.124000+00:00 it has to be perfectly centered, look at how people add encoders to nema17 motors for references on where it goes ## Seve — 2026-10-11T02:42:02.495000+00:00 what is J7 and J2? If you have any additional connectors you have to justify them ## Seve — 2026-10-11T02:42:13.351000+00:00 only put on the specified interfaces ## Seve — 2026-10-11T02:43:12.154000+00:00 <@1067854999889137715> it seems like you still need to do more assembly and review your board, there is no way to connect the motor and there are other issues that i've found that i expect you to discover ## Seve — 2026-10-11T02:43:24.157000+00:00 please review this carefully, you should have realized you couldn't connect to the motor ## Seve — 2026-10-11T02:44:03.268000+00:00 i'm pausing my review, this board has issues that you should be discovering ## techmannih — 2026-10-11T23:24:33.881000+00:00 Updated using both NEMA17/NEMA23 references Centered bottom encoder marked doNotPlace. J2: JST VH motor connector with matching harness modeled. J7: consolidated required industrial/control interfaces. J3: external braking resistor connection. Added motor, adapter and mating connectors to the assembly. Added RGB/power indicators, buzzer and programming/test access. ## techmannih — 2026-10-11T23:25:10.229000+00:00 https://tscircuit.com/techmannih/nema34-mounted-stepper-controller ## Seve — 2026-10-11T23:26:21.476000+00:00 only add jumpers we actually care about ## Seve — 2026-10-11T23:26:39.846000+00:00 (this should be obvious-) ## techmannih — 2026-10-11T23:37:16.526000+00:00 J2 connects the motor’s two windings. J3 connects the external resistor for regenerative braking. J7 carries STEP/DIR/ENABLE, home/limits, and the specified CAN/RS485/RS232 interfaces. so IN0/IN1 and OUT0/OUT1 have no defined application, so those can be removed and J7 reduced accordingly. Motor control, limits and the required communication interfaces would remain. ## Seve — 2026-10-11T23:38:56.218000+00:00 it's obvious you're just copy and pasting from ai i.e. FAKE ENGINEERING When did we ask for CAN/RS485/RS232? ## Seve — 2026-10-11T23:39:27.928000+00:00 what does that connect to? ## Seve — 2026-10-11T23:39:41.934000+00:00 btw don't answer that hypothetical question, make your board actually decent ## Seve — 2026-10-11T23:39:54.570000+00:00 do not do fake engineering ## Seve — 2026-10-11T23:41:03.974000+00:00 hint: if you have a wire that's not connected to anything, then you better be able to explain exactly what product it connects to and have it sourced ## techmannih — 2026-10-11T23:41:46.954000+00:00 sure i am checking them ## techmannih — 2026-10-14T14:57:13.757000+00:00 updated https://tscircuit.com/techmannih/nema34-mounted-stepper-controller J2 is JST4 VH connector that connects directly to the motor. J3 is JST2 VH connector for an external braking resistor. It absorbs energy returned by the motor when slowing down or stopping, preventing the bus voltage from getting too high. ## techmannih — 2026-10-14T14:59:45.625000+00:00 <@809856037376491570> can you check it ## Rishabh — 2026-10-14T15:01:53.157000+00:00 Place the usb on the edge, how will you connect this otherwise? Attachment: image.png — https://community.tscircuit.com/media/1559944340296441916 ## Rishabh — 2026-10-14T15:02:51.546000+00:00 this is not a pinheader? Attachment: image.png — https://community.tscircuit.com/media/1559944584547803156 ## techmannih — 2026-10-14T15:07:51.639000+00:00 yea, it is a jst2 VH connector, It mates with a VHR-2N cable housing connected to the external braking resistor ## techmannih — 2026-10-14T18:03:24.893000+00:00 done updated ## techmannih — 2026-10-14T20:08:08.295000+00:00 <@809856037376491570> can you check it now ## techmannih — 2026-10-15T09:41:51.279000+00:00 https://tscircuit.com/techmannih/nema34-mounted-stepper-controller ## techmannih — 2026-10-15T15:35:08.306000+00:00 <@809856037376491570> ## techmannih — 2026-10-15T21:35:49.185000+00:00 <@757706909351411845> can you check it now https://tscircuit.com/techmannih/nema34-mounted-stepper-controller J2 is JST4 VH connector that connects directly to the motor. J3 is JST2 VH connector for an external braking resistor. It absorbs energy returned by the motor when slowing down or stopping, preventing the bus voltage from getting too high. ## Seve — 2026-10-15T21:46:45.645000+00:00 put them in the assembly if they're necessary ## Seve — 2026-10-15T21:47:29.203000+00:00 only the encoder is allowed on the back Attachment: CleanShot_2026-10-15_at_14.47.172x.png — https://community.tscircuit.com/media/1560408800933183552 ## techmannih — 2026-10-16T00:08:11.235000+00:00 <@757706909351411845> updated, can you check it https://tscircuit.com/techmannih/nema34-mounted-stepper-controller ## Rishabh — 2026-10-16T09:42:17.725000+00:00 The traces have sharp edges, is this even valid? Attachment: image.png — https://community.tscircuit.com/media/1560588688361136198 ## Rishabh — 2026-10-16T09:43:38.800000+00:00 wait that's not even trace, it's copper pour ## Rishabh — 2026-10-16T09:43:46.455000+00:00 I don't think it's valid ## techmannih — 2026-10-16T10:26:46.113000+00:00 <@809856037376491570> connectivity and different-net clearance checks pass, idk sharp corners make a copper pour invalid. ## techmannih — 2026-10-17T03:27:46.523000+00:00 <@757706909351411845> I checked the nema34 power requirements. We need a USB-C PD EPR adapter that can provide 48 V / 5 A (240 W) from a single port, along with a compatible 240 W USB-C cable ## Sapphire — 2026-10-17T03:29:35.860000+00:00 <:warning:892823499205406760> Please avoid using excessive mentions, as it creates unnecessary notifications and disrupts others — use mentions only when truly needed to keep the discussion focused and respectful; repeated misuse may lead to moderation action. ## Seve — 2026-10-17T04:01:20.484000+00:00 yep you should select one ## techmannih — 2026-10-17T14:19:35.299000+00:00 that one? https://frame.work/products/power-adapter-240w ## techmannih — 2026-10-18T01:18:35.298000+00:00 <@757706909351411845> <@809856037376491570> can I order nema34 now ? ## Rishabh — 2026-10-18T19:07:18.556000+00:00 Idk, I am not confident with that board. I have never seen copper pours with that shape tbh