If all you are driving is logic, there's virtually no static current off of a hypothetical 5V supply. The regulator would not need to be very hefty. If you want to handle servos and other bits of this and that, you'll need something bigger than a 78L05.
Of course if you *do* have a 7805 in there, that will make driving opto isolated stepper controllers a bit easier .... (yes that's a turn into the ditch and over into a whole other design). My only real point begin that extra +5 current can be handy to have.
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Did the Microchip TC4426/7/8A's get looked at as drivers? You could run them off of +5 to +18V and still drive them (barely) with 3.3V logic (0.8 to 2.4V switch). They are reasonably cheap for driving a couple of FET's (70 cents for a dual). They are legit FET drivers with massive output capability. You would loose the built in "kill" capability that the tri-state buffer gives you with the duals in 8 pin dip packs. There's only so much they cram into them ....
[www.microchip.com]
Of course if you *do* have a 7805 in there, that will make driving opto isolated stepper controllers a bit easier .... (yes that's a turn into the ditch and over into a whole other design). My only real point begin that extra +5 current can be handy to have.
---------
Did the Microchip TC4426/7/8A's get looked at as drivers? You could run them off of +5 to +18V and still drive them (barely) with 3.3V logic (0.8 to 2.4V switch). They are reasonably cheap for driving a couple of FET's (70 cents for a dual). They are legit FET drivers with massive output capability. You would loose the built in "kill" capability that the tri-state buffer gives you with the duals in 8 pin dip packs. There's only so much they cram into them ....
[www.microchip.com]