Product Overview
The Stepper Motor Smoother (often known as a TL-Smoother) is a high-performance add-on module designed to eliminate “salmon skin” or vertical fine artifacts (VFA) on your 3D prints. By suppressing the electrical oscillations and current spikes generated by stepper motor drivers, this module ensures smoother motor movement and superior print surface quality.
Key Features
- Vibration Reduction: Effectively dampens stepper motor vibrations that lead to surface imperfections.
- Improved Print Quality: Helps achieve smoother walls and finer details, particularly when using budget-friendly driver chips.
- Compact Design: Designed for easy installation directly between your mainboard’s driver output and the stepper motor.
Important Compatibility Note
Use with Trinamic (TMC) Drivers: If you are already using high-end “silent” drivers—such as the TMC2100, TMC2208, TMC2209, or TMC5160—this module is generally not required. These advanced drivers feature internal current control technologies (like StealthChop™) that already provide smooth operation far superior to what an external smoother can offer. Adding this module to TMC-series drivers can be redundant and may potentially interfere with advanced current-sensing features.
This module is most effective when paired with older, standard driver chips like the A4988 or DRV8825.
Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Item Type | Stepper Motor Driver Filter (Smoother) |
| Compatible Drivers | A4988, DRV8825 (Recommended) |
| Operating Voltage | 5V to 46V |
| Current Rating | 0A to 1A (0.5A recommended for best performance) |
| Material | PCB with Diodes |
| Shipping Weight | 0.005 kg |
| Shipping Dimensions | 8 × 6 × 1 cm |
