Build a Real Magnetic Compass Pointer That Moves — Arduino Uno & MPU6050 Stepper Kit

Every part needed, pre-tested for compatibility, with an AI build companion trained on this exact project. Shipped from Bengaluru in 3-5 days.

Turn a NEMA 17 stepper into a compass that physically tracks magnetic north using the MPU6050 magnetometer. The stepper rotates a pointer, making Earth’s field visible. Perfect for young makers, the breadboard build takes an afternoon, and the OLED shows live heading angles.

What You'll Build

You’ll wire up a magnetometer sensor, Arduino Uno, and stepper motor driver to spin a physical pointer card that always points north. Turn the compass in any direction and watch the needle smoothly respond. The OLED displays the current heading in degrees, so your project doubles as a digital compass you can mount on a wall or incorporate into a larger robotics setup.

What You'll Learn

• Interpret magnetometer data from the MPU6050 to calculate absolute heading relative to magnetic north
• Drive a NEMA 17 stepper motor precisely using an A4988 driver with microstepping
• Integrate an I2C OLED display for real-time sensor feedback in your embedded projects
• Debug sensor noise and calibration techniques that are essential for real-world magnetometer applications

Kit Contents

MPU6050 magnetometer drives stepper to always point physical needle at magnetic north.

What's in this kit

• Arduino Uno R3
• MPU6050
• NEMA 17 Stepper
• A4988 Driver
• 0.96in OLED
• 4.7kΩ Resistors x5
• 100nF Caps x5
• 400-pt Breadboard
• M-M Wires x20
• 12V 1A PSU