MDrive / Stepper Motors - Use QuadBox, Not Direct Ulti Breakout¶

CONFIRMED QUADBOX / STEPPER BOTH

Summary¶

The chat distinguishes simple trigger outputs from controlled motor axes. MDrive/stepper motors should be run through a QuadBox/OctoBox/UltiBox step-and-direction workflow with the correct stepper driver and cabling, not directly from a trigger output. If the task is a controlled pour rig or model mover, use a stepper/servo driver plus QuadBox-style axis control; if it is a simple pneumatic/electrical event, use the Trigger Box.

Symptoms¶

You need to connect an MDrive stepper motor to Flair and are unsure whether to use the Ulti breakout or a QuadBox.
You are setting up a pour rig or model mover and need to choose between a stepper/QuadBox workflow and a Trigger Box relay.
You need MDrive stepper-configured external axes in Flair and need step/direction signals plus up to 48 V supply.
You want to confirm whether a pneumatic or non-motorized rig should use the Trigger Box rather than a stepper controller.
QuadBox node loads but stays blue / Not Required.
You are deciding between third-party servo-driver EtherCAT and step/direction through QuadBox.
Stepper motor is moving too fast and you need to reduce maximum speed, redo Calculate Scale, or check step pulse length.
You are unsure whether UltiBox servo motor voltage and encoder compatibility allow a custom motor.

Stable ID¶

ISSUE-IO-001

First Reported¶

2022-12-16 - MDrive stepper connection question.

Additional Reports¶

2023-04-12 - pour rig products / stepper vs trigger box.
2025-04-12 - QuadBox passes step/direction and provides power up to 48 V.

Software Environment¶

Both.

Hardware¶

MDrive stepper motors
QuadBox / OctoBox
UltiBox
Trigger Box for non-motorized outputs

Community Solutions¶

[CONFIRMED] 2022-12-16 - Community thread¶

MDrive steppers should be connected through a QuadBox rather than directly to the Ulti breakout.

confidence_score: 0.74

[CONFIRMED] 2023-04-12 - User: Timothy Smith¶

Stepper pour rigs should use a stepper motor and QuadBox. Pneumatic or non-motorized rigs can use the Trigger Box.

confidence_score: 0.80

[LIKELY] 2025-04-12 - User: Timothy Smith¶

If QuadBoxes are already set up for stepper rigs/turntables, the setup can pass step/direction and provide needed power up to 48 V. Flair still needs a QuadBox setup.

confidence_score: 0.72

[CONFIRMED] Trigger Box Is Not A Motor Controller¶

The Trigger Box only handles on/off relay-style signals. For a controlled motor axis, use QuadBox / OctoBox / UltiBox stepper output, a stepper breakout cable, or a supported motor controller path.

confidence_score: 0.84

[FIELD GUIDANCE] Use Focused Motor Pages For Specific Failure Modes¶

Blue / Not Required node: QuadBox Node Blue / Not Required - Stepper Axis Not Assigned
Third-party servo drivers: Servo Drivers To Flair - Step/Direction Via QuadBox vs EtherCAT
Stepper speed / pulse length: Stepper Moving Too Fast - Calculate Scale, Max Speed, Pulse Length
UltiBox servo voltage / encoder compatibility: UltiBox Servo Motor Voltage / Encoder Compatibility

WhatsApp Excerpts¶

2022-11-17 01:37 - ~ Dan Gottesman: your best bet is to do what a few other folks have already mentioned - get the step & direction data out of Flair using an MRMC box. the QuadBox, OctoBox and UltiBox can all do this; it’s just a matter of having the correct cables (wired correctly). we’ve got a set up with the quadbox, with 6-pin Hirose to RJ-45 cables, which then connect to stepper drivers (either Geckos or Leadshine), and it’s pretty straightforward.
2022-11-18 02:14 - ~ Der Mo: You need a stepper driver
2022-11-18 02:16 - ~ Dan Gottesman: yeah, the triggers box doesn’t work with motors; it just handles “on/off” sorts of signals. you’d need something like a quad/octo box, or the stepper breakout cable for the ulti box i order to work with a motor.
2022-11-18 02:16 - ~ Der Mo: TopDirect Verbessert TB6600 Stepper Driver 4A 9-42V Schrittmotor Treiber Controller 2/4 Phasen Hybrid Schrittmotor Treiber Fahrer für 3D Printer Drucker / CNC https://amzn.eu/d/caSetse https://amzn.eu/d/caSetse
2022-11-18 04:54 - ~ Justin Mahood: Is there a way to lock the camera path, so you can slide the base to a different position along the track and have the camera path remain the same? So far the only way I have been able to achieve this is by using the track goto position command to send the robot say -40cm down the track, then use “adjust move” to move the path + 40cm to compensate for the base. I’m curious if there is a command or shortcut for this type of adjustment in Flair 7?
2022-11-18 04:57 - ~ Dan Gottesman: If your kinematics are set to "track master", you can switch your job type to "cartesian" (from axis priority), and then you should be able to key in whatever track values you want, and the track base will move accordingly without affecting the camera's position (within the limits of the rig, obviously). I think that sounds like what you're trying to do....
2022-11-18 05:10 - ~ Justin Mahood: Oh sorry I meant for an entire move. Let’s say you have a multi waypoint move programmed, but need to add a prop or a light and the base is in the way. Where you could slide the base (like in carts mode) to find the ideal new position, and have flair do all the math to update the waypoints, so the camera path doesn’t change