Velleman VMM403 Motor Driver Breakout Board for micro:bit

1. Introduction

Important environmental information about this product:

♻️ This symbol on the device or package indicates that disposal after its lifecycle could harm the environment. Do not dispose of the unit as unsorted municipal waste; take it to a specialized recycling company. Return the device to your distributor or a local recycling service. Respect local environmental rules. If in doubt, contact local waste disposal authorities.

Thank you for choosing Velleman! Please read this manual thoroughly before bringing this device into service. If the device was damaged in transit, do not install or use it and contact your dealer.

2. Safety Instructions

Read and understand this manual and all safety signs before using this appliance.

? Indoor use only.

This device can be used by children aged from 8 years and above, and persons with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities or lack of experience and knowledge if they have been given supervision or instruction concerning the use of the device in a safe way and understand the hazards involved. Children shall not play with the device. Cleaning and user maintenance shall not be made by children without supervision.

3. General Guidelines

• Refer to the Velleman® Service and Quality Warranty on the last pages of this manual.
• All modifications of the device are forbidden for safety reasons. Damage caused by user modifications is not covered by the warranty.
• Only use the device for its intended purpose. Unauthorized use will void the warranty.
• Damage caused by disregard of these guidelines is not covered by the warranty, and the dealer will not accept responsibility for any ensuing defects or problems.
• Neither Velleman nv nor its dealers can be held responsible for any damage (extraordinary, incidental, or indirect) – of any nature (financial, physical...) arising from the possession, use, or failure of this product.
• Keep this manual for future reference.

4. Overview

General

The VMM403 motor driver breakout board integrates the TB6612FNG chip and enables your micro:bit to drive two DC motors. Each channel can output up to 1.2 A continuously with a peak current of up to 2 A. It supports 4 motor control modes: forward, reverse, brake, and stop. The PWM supporting frequency is up to 100 kHz. The micro:bit pins are broken out into 3-pin headers for easy access, and the integrated voltage regulator provides 3.3 V and 5 V power output. This breakout board is ideal for starting robot projects!

Specifications

Overview Diagram

Image of the VMM403 board with numbered callouts:

• 1: 6-12 V power input terminal block
• 2: Serial port pins
• 3: micro:bit connector
• 4: Motor interface terminal blocks

5. Connection

Connect the VMM403 to your micro:bit:

• A1 + A2 → + and - of DC motor 1
• B1 + B2 → + and - of DC motor 2
• G + VM → 6-12 VDC power supply

Connect the micro:bit-VMM403 assembly to your computer (USB).

6. Test

Open MakeCode for micro:bit or go to https://microbit.org/code/. The following example code will make both motors run forward for 3 seconds, then backward for 3 seconds, and repeat.

Code Example

led.enable(false)
pins.digitalWritePin(DigitalPin.P14, 1)
basic.forever(function () {
    // Motor 1 Forward
    pins.analogWritePin(AnalogPin.P1, 900)
    pins.digitalWritePin(DigitalPin.P13, 1)
    pins.digitalWritePin(DigitalPin.P12, 0)
    // Motor 2 Forward
    pins.analogWritePin(AnalogPin.P2, 900)
    pins.digitalWritePin(DigitalPin.P15, 1)
    pins.digitalWritePin(DigitalPin.P16, 0)
    basic.pause(3000)
    // Motor 1 Backward
    pins.analogWritePin(AnalogPin.P1, 500)
    pins.digitalWritePin(DigitalPin.P13, 0)
    pins.digitalWritePin(DigitalPin.P12, 1)
    // Motor 2 Backward
    pins.analogWritePin(AnalogPin.P2, 500)
    pins.digitalWritePin(DigitalPin.P15, 0)
    pins.digitalWritePin(DigitalPin.P16, 1)
    basic.pause(3000)
})
            

Explanation

Motor 1 Control

• Forward: P13 = HIGH, P12 = LOW. Speed controlled by P1 (PWM).
• Backward: P13 = LOW, P12 = HIGH. Speed controlled by P1 (PWM).

Motor 2 Control

• Forward: P15 = HIGH, P16 = LOW. Speed controlled by P2 (PWM).
• Backward: P15 = LOW, P16 = HIGH. Speed controlled by P2 (PWM).

Velleman® Service and Quality Warranty

Since its foundation in 1972, Velleman® has acquired extensive experience in the electronics world and currently distributes its products in over 85 countries. All Velleman products fulfil strict quality requirements and legal stipulations in the EU. Products regularly undergo an extra quality check by an internal quality department and specialized external organizations. If problems occur despite precautionary measures, please appeal to the warranty (see guarantee conditions).

General Warranty Conditions Concerning Consumer Products (for EU):

• All consumer products are subject to a 24-month warranty on production flaws and defective material from the original date of purchase.
• Velleman® may decide to replace an article with an equivalent article, or to refund the retail value totally or partially when the complaint is valid and a free repair or replacement is impossible, or if the expenses are out of proportion. A replacing article or a refund at 100% of the purchase price will be provided for flaws occurred in the first year after purchase. For flaws in the second year, a replacing article at 50% of the purchase price or a refund at 50% of the retail value will be provided.
• Not covered by warranty:
  • Direct or indirect damage caused after delivery (e.g., by oxidation, shocks, falls, dust, dirt, humidity...), and damage to the article's contents (e.g., data loss), compensation for loss of profits.
  • Consumable goods, parts, or accessories subject to aging during normal use, such as batteries, lamps, rubber parts, drive belts (this list is not exhaustive).
  • Flaws resulting from fire, water damage, lightning, accident, natural disaster, etc.
  • Flaws caused deliberately, negligently, or resulting from improper handling, negligent maintenance, abusive use, or use contrary to manufacturer's instructions.
  • Damage caused by commercial, professional, or collective use (warranty validity reduced to six (6) months for professional use).
  • Damage resulting from inappropriate packing and shipping.
  • Damage caused by modification, repair, or alteration performed by a third party without written permission by Velleman®.
• Articles to be repaired must be delivered to your Velleman® dealer, solidly packed (preferably in original packaging), with the original receipt of purchase and a clear flaw description.
• Hint: To save cost and time, reread the manual and check for obvious causes before presenting the article for repair. Returning a non-defective article may involve handling costs.
• Repairs after warranty expiration are subject to shipping costs.
• These conditions are without prejudice to all commercial warranties. The enumeration is subject to modification according to the article (see article's manual).

Disclaimer: Use this device with original accessories only. Velleman nv cannot be held responsible for damage or injury resulting from incorrect use of this device. For more information concerning this product and the latest version of this manual, please visit the Velleman website: www.velleman.eu. The information in this manual is subject to change without prior notice.

Copyright Notice: The copyright to this manual is owned by Velleman nv. All worldwide rights reserved. No part of this manual may be copied, reproduced, translated, or reduced to any electronic medium or otherwise without the prior written consent of the copyright holder.

Made in PRC. Imported by Velleman nv, Legen Heirweg 33, 9890 Gavere, Belgium.