Quote Originally Posted by DaveB View Post
I've been wondering if a stepper driver vref config value of 127 is a tradeoff for increased stress on the stepper motor in favor of reduced power dissipation across the stepper driver output amp? (Note that's a total guess on how the driver amp circuit works.)
If you have a laser thermometer you could test this without to much trouble. Use stock vref and run it couple hours and measure heat at steppers and drivers. Then do it all again with the lower vref. If the drivers get hotter with the lower vref then your onto something.
Also may mean that turning down the vref to much may be as bad as leaving it to high.

Used to have a laser thermometer...haven't seen it in about 2 years though lol.