sendkeys,
I think as many people do this as much for the I did this, rather than saving a buch of bucks, but.... I just did a cost on the 3 axis discrete board. Round numbers $18 from Digikey, no board. If you are already setup to do toner traqnsfer pcb's, maybe another $2 for a board. $20 bucks or so for a 3 axis controller that doesn't need a breakout board. The modular way is more expensive, no doubt. The l297/l298 around $20 per axis $60, add another $18 if you want the interface board and cables, plus another $10 for the interface board, plus about $5 for cables, your at $75 and you have to do the work, yes there are as good of solutions for the same price. Three axis of gecko's $360. I think for most hobbiest's that might be a little hard to swallow. I guess I would say, my target wasn't an identical unit, just possibly more current and higher suply voltage than we can put together now in a bipolar chopper. Plus throw in opto isolation for step, direction and enable.
Phil |