Wanting to build a CNC

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11 Nov 2010 02:50 #5206 by tlhiv
Replied by tlhiv on topic Re:Wanting to build a CNC
Any thoughts on this driver board?

cgi.ebay.com/3-Axis-CNC-Stepper-Motor-Dr...&hash=item4cf30c72bf

We're planning to use an Oxygen/Acetylene torch for now, and so motor speed (and thus maybe a large power supply) is not needed. If we find that the Oxygen/Acetylene torch turns out to be insufficient, then we will likely go for the plasma cutter (and maybe then we would need better drivers).

Thoughts?

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11 Nov 2010 10:55 #5220 by andypugh
Replied by andypugh on topic Re:Wanting to build a CNC
That does seem to address most of the problems I had with my drives. I finally gave up on mine when I had destroyed too many vias when desoldering.

That board has opto-isolators and plug-in power ICs, which will make things much easier to fix if something does go wrong. I found a similar (possibly identical) driver from Allegro in the PLCC package for $8.

The manual is excellent (which makes a huge difference).

Going by the advert and manual, that actually looks like it is probably a good choice. The pictures show a much higher quality board than the one I had my indifferent experience with.

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11 Nov 2010 13:28 #5232 by BigJohnT
Replied by BigJohnT on topic Re:Wanting to build a CNC
It does seem to be a step or three above other drivers on flea bay. The seller has 100% positive feedback which I find comforting when buying on flea bay.

I'm guessing you could "make things move" with an old PC power supply to start and keep your start up costs down.

John

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12 Nov 2010 19:31 #5273 by tlhiv
Replied by tlhiv on topic Re:Wanting to build a CNC
BigJohnT wrote:

The steppers from Automation Direct was the lowest cost item of the build at about $30 each. Looks like they are $39 now for a Nema 23 triple stack 276 oz-in holding torque stepper.


I noticed that the current per phase is 2.8 Amps on these motors. Won't this mean that my driver must be able to handle 2.8Amps. The driver that I posted off of eBay yesterday said 6Amps maximum (3 drivers one the one board), so it's possible that 3 of these motors could exceed the ampacity of the board, right?

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12 Nov 2010 19:36 #5274 by tlhiv
Replied by tlhiv on topic Re:Wanting to build a CNC
I apologize that my previous post is not quite correct. The manual on the aforementioned 3 axis driver says 2.5 Amps/phase per axis. This is quite close to the 2.8 Amps/phase, but I'm assuming it's not a good idea cut it that close.

What are the advantages/disadvantages to getting the Nema 17 version (which pulls only 2.0 Amps/phase) with about 1/2 the holding torque?

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12 Nov 2010 19:53 #5276 by andypugh
Replied by andypugh on topic Re:Wanting to build a CNC
tlhiv wrote:

I apologize that my previous post is not quite correct. The manual on the aforementioned 3 axis driver says 2.5 Amps/phase per axis. This is quite close to the 2.8 Amps/phase, but I'm assuming it's not a good idea cut it that close.


No, cutting it that close is fine.

In fact the drive will always attempt to pass the rated current through the motor. If you put that size drive on a smaller motor it will overheat the motor.
A 2.5A drive on a 2.8A motor is the conservative way round.

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12 Nov 2010 22:05 #5278 by tlhiv
Replied by tlhiv on topic Re:Wanting to build a CNC
Thank you. I just noticed also that the drive has a potentiometer that allows me to control the current going to the motor. It can be adjusted from 0 Amps to 2.5 Amps. So, it looks like this drive should be fine.

Also, I'm contemplating using 2 computer power supplies in series to get my 24V power. I have quite a few of these at my disposal. I have read that I need to disconnect the grounding screw (to the chasis) on the "high side" supply. I'll probably disconnect them on both just to be safe. Any experience doing this?

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12 Nov 2010 22:24 #5279 by andypugh
Replied by andypugh on topic Re:Wanting to build a CNC
tlhiv wrote:

Also, I'm contemplating using 2 computer power supplies in series to get my 24V power. I have quite a few of these at my disposal. I have read that I need to disconnect the grounding screw (to the chasis) on the "high side" supply. I'll probably disconnect them on both just to be safe. Any experience doing this?


Yes. It wasn't very effective. My PSU wouldn't stay powered up (even with dummy loads on all outputs).
The best PSU is probably something really simple consisting of little more than a transformer, rectifier and big capacitors.

However, if you have the PSUs, try it.

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12 Nov 2010 22:28 #5280 by tlhiv
Replied by tlhiv on topic Re:Wanting to build a CNC
andypugh wrote:

Yes. It wasn't very effective. My PSU wouldn't stay powered up (even with dummy loads on all outputs).

Were your PSU's AT or ATX power supplies? If they were ATX, you know you have to jumper two wires (I would have to look up which ones they are) to turn them on. This is not the case for the older AT power supplies.

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12 Nov 2010 23:12 #5281 by andypugh
Replied by andypugh on topic Re:Wanting to build a CNC
ATX, and I did jumper the wires.

Many PC PSUs will shut down if there is not enough load on the 5V line. Some require load on the 12V line too. I ended up with dummy loads on all my outputs and the PSU still faulted out after a minute or so every time.

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