This stepper motor kit worth the money?

[neoinnj]

eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

Saw this stepper motor kit with board and all. Is it worth the money. Just got done making all the components to mount them...just need the electronics. Money is VERY tight..but...don't want to throw cash away either. Is it worth it?

I have an X2 mill with a fignoggle conversion

[ger21]

I don't know how to answer this?? Is it worth the money? hmmm. Usually, someone asks that when they're going to spend a bit more on something to get more.

But those are the cheapest kits you can buy. You can read many posts here about all the problems people have with them.
I've never used them, but I certainly can't recommend them. Also realize that you're paying $100 for shipping. That doesn't make sense to me if money is really tight.

If you don't mind soldering, the HobbyCNC should give you much better performance, for a bit more money. You can save some money by just buying the drive from them and shopping around fr the motors and power supply, but It'll probably still cost around $350, or $100 more.

[hoss2006]

You will be very disappointed with the performance from those drivers.
They will make the machine move but like molasses.
a better choice here.
Shop Info
Hoss

[HorridHenry]

don't want to throw cash away either. Is it worth it?

This particular driver board.....I've noticed it come down in price in the last 6 months and those that are selling it are coming up with attracive pricing for a kit like a magnet....the kits are the N and the poor unsuspecting sods are the S.

[HorridHenry]

Email the seller and ask him how much he will do this kit without the power supply,most will do this and then you can buy a decent power supply around 50v

Nema 23 Stepper Motor 287oz-in & Driver DM542A CNC Kit | eBay

[jerbro]

I have that board. Works great for my 3D Printer. The only real issue with it is the opto-couplers are slow, so your print will be skewed a bit. In my case, along the y-axis. You can bypass the octo-couplers to remove the issue (I use staples). For about $20, you can get a 4th axis DRO that plugs in too.

My steppers don't run like molasses either - they run so fast, in fact, that you need to be careful when moving axises manually lest you crash them into one of the ends.

If you're getting started, it's a decent low-cost way to get in. I believe the 4-axis board can be had by itself for $85 or less, shipped. It's not small though - compared to the little ramps kits, this thing is a monster, size-wise. 'Course, this is only relevant if you're talking 3D Printer...

If I were building a mill though, and I will be, I wouldn't go this way.

Luck!
Jeremy

[hoss2006]

They run fast jeremy running little nema 17 steppers on a machine that has little resistance to motion.
Printers and small routers are about all i'd recommend using it for.
Pushing around a cast iron machine with the bigger motors is where they fail to achieve.
I've read many complaints about these drivers on a machine this size or smaller and have used one myself,
money is better spent elsewhere on this sized machine.
Hoss

[neoinnj]

Now how does the Hobbycnc boards rate compared to the other drivers like Hoss has mentioned( KL-4030 package from Keling). I can solder well and the cost is really affordable. I have pretty much already been talked out of the "Ebay specials" already LOL Damn why are all my hobbies so expensive LOL

[jerbro]

We're not in disagreement Hoss, that's why I called out they work find - but for a 3D Printer - and that I wouldn't use them for a mill.

My refined wishlist for my future mill has the DMM Tech solution, in fact. : )

Jeremy

[hoss2006]

I agree, I just needed to clarify that my molasses comment didn't apply to everything.
I should have specified the X2.
They can certainly run other things pretty well and the H1 is proof of that.
Have fun,
Hoss