Parrallel steppers

[4lowie]

Hi all
I want to run two steppers on the one axis, is it a simple matter of wiring each phase together colour for colour? If so is the current rating doubled or is it like resistors where we need to do a bit more maths? Does the inductance of the motors matter? Motors or .65amp per phase, 22mH per phase.

Thanks

[jharvey407]

Hi all
I want to run two steppers on the one axis, is it a simple matter of wiring each phase together colour for colour? If so is the current rating doubled or is it like resistors where we need to do a bit more maths? Does the inductance of the motors matter? Motors or .65amp per phase, 22mH per phase.

Thanks

Can you elaborate? From your description it sounds like you are trying to run two motors from the same driver.

[4lowie]

Yes I want to run two motors off the one drive, it's a Gecko 540. One motor each side of the gantry.


Thanks

[jharvey407]

Yes I want to run two motors off the one drive, it's a Gecko 540. One motor each side of the gantry.


Thanks

The proper way to do this is to use 2 motors and 2 drivers, and then slave them together with your control program.

I did the exact same thing on my router.

J

[4lowie]

Ok then... how do i do this with the Gecko 540 and Mach3???

[jharvey407]

Ok then... how do i do this with the Gecko 540 and Mach3???

The G540 has 4 drivers, X, Y, Z, A. Use the X for one side of the gantry, and the A for the other. You can also use Y and A depending on which axis has the gantry on it.

In the Mach3 configuration menu there is a choice called [I]Slaving[I] it allows you to slave two axis together. Check the Mach3 manual - 5.6.4 Configure Slaving.

You will also need a second homing switch on the slaved axis so there is a homing switch on each side of the gantry. This way when you home the machine, each side of the gantry will home to it's own switch to square the gantry.

I hope this helps.

[4lowie]

Thank you.
That was exactly the information I needed!

Cheers

[jharvey407]

Thank you.
That was exactly the information I needed!

Cheers

I'm gald I could help. I posted the exact same question about 6 months ago during my build.

Learn as much as you can here on the Zone, and then pass it on.

Please post pics of your build so that we can all learn from your experience.

J.