jwahawis

I could write the last state to a file, but long term I plan on adding an encoder to the output shaft. The motors are intentionally not locked to limit power draw and allow manual adjustment.

No problem! The NEMA 17 form factor is quite ubiquitous so it's easy to find cheap hardware and compatible drivers. Be mindful that the same form factor has different windings and therefore different stall currents.

Thanks!

You can follow Adafruit's guide[1] to get started. I think on this project the software requires more experience to get setup, especially if you are working with a headless Raspberry Pi.

[1] https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-dc-and-stepper-motor-hat...