I'll have to do some more homework and mull over "recycling" my AA drive pack and half stepping. I don't really understand what the difference is between unipolar and bipolar, nor between bilevel and chopper drives.
So I'm wondering if I could source stepper motors that would work with this AA drive, and then, if the resolution or resonance became an issue, could be set up to run off of a micro stepping drive like the Geckos. Assuming I didn't miswire and fry the motors, I could at least test out the AA drive pack that way.
I still like idea of setting up for dual use (CNC/manual) on both X and Y. Perhaps I could rig up the hand wheels in such a way that they could be quickly removed/installed.
Any body out there able to shed a little light on the topic of encoders? Specifically, are they expensive? Do most BOBs have hook ups for them? Do they mount on the back shaft? and if so, would I still have room left ot mount the hand wheels.
I do have quite a bit of experience jogging around on a CNC table router, as well as writing G-codes on the fly and entering them in at the command line. I find it to be a royal pain in the neck and that's why I'm so interested in setting up for "dual use".
I am going to punt the idea of keeping the Z linkage to the hand screw in tact.
Is it an expensive proposition to wire up a touch off? and do the populare apps like Mach 3 provide for that input? If I could easilly get my exact tool height entered after a tool change, then jogging or tapping in G codes to position Z would be a breeze.
Also, are there any big advantages or disadvantages to driving z from up top? There's obvioulsy going to be some drilling of good size holes involved, and you lose the ability to get any mechanical advantage via. the motor connection. Any others that I'm missing.
Any comments on mounting the X & Y steppers directly to the factory bearing seat?
Any one out there ever use the dumpsterCNC AB nuts?
thanks again,
I sure do appreciate your responses.  |