Two of the most commonly used control modes in stepper and servo motor drives are STEP/DIR and CW/CCW control modes.
STEP/DIR control
In this control mode, two signals are used to operate the stepper motor: STEP and DIR. The STEP signal is a pulse that indicates how much the motor should move, while the DIR signal determines the direction of the motor movement. When a pulse is sent to the STEP input, the motor moves one step in the direction determined by the DIR signal. This mode is sometimes also referred to as “1-pulse output”, or “clock and direction”.
CW/CCW control
In this control mode, two signals are also used: CW (Clockwise) and CCW (Counter-Clockwise). The CW signal is used to rotate the motor in a clockwise direction, while the CCW signal rotates it in the opposite direction. This control mode is commonly used in applications such as conveyor belts, where the motor needs to rotate in both directions. This mode is sometimes also referred to as “2-pulse output”.
Overall, both control modes are effective in controlling stepper and servo motors, but the choice of control mode depends on the specific application requirements, and what the stepper or servo motor drive can support.