4x4 Steel Router

[CarveOne]

sounds great, Maybe you could help me set up my controller box ?
like i say I'm not that great with this sort of thing!
did a little more on the table today...pfff this thing is heavy, Will add pictures when its finished.

The electrical wiring is no problem for me once I get it all figured out. If I get to it before you do, you can follow along in CarveOne's Worktable CNC Router build log and figure out your own wiring from what I do (that actually works). Your breakout board is a little different model from mine but they should be very similar in wiring. Your G203v drives will need a heatsink. There are files on the Gecko site that show how to wire the drives and mount them on a heat sink. You'll need to get the proper current set resistor for each drive. Check out these Geckodrive.com pages:

FAQ
Stepper drive HowTo
Driver Cooling

There are other articles on the Geckodrive site worth reading.

Pminmo has a lot of very useful information on his site for limit and home switch wiring and other things CNC related.

CarveOne

[markraws]

hmmm interesting read, But i really don't understand much of this
anyways I'm sure we all can make progress here on this site.Pictures of the heat sinks and fans ( perfect size for the drives) i have 2 more somewhere in my treasure box!
any help on pointing me in the right direction to buying the 4 current set resistor ?
also sorry i cant seem to find you build log i would love to see this.

[CarveOne]

hmmm interesting read, But i really don't understand much of this
anyways I'm sure we all can make progress here on this site.Pictures of the heat sinks and fans ( perfect size for the drives) i have 2 more somewhere in my treasure box!
any help on pointing me in the right direction to buying the 4 current set resistor ?
also sorry i cant seem to find you build log i would love to see this.

Radio Shack has them, as well as Mouser, Allied, and others. The geckoddrive.com FAQ link I posted should show you how to determine the value needed. Others have said that they come three in a pack at Radio Shack but I haven't looked for mine yet. They are 1/4 watt 5% and you need to determine the motor current for your motors. Buy the nearest standard value to the value you need from the list below. You can also use 2% or 1% standard values. My motors are rated 3A, so I would need 35.25K Ohms and the nearest standard value is 36K Ohms.

In 1/2 amp increments (0.5A) they are:

AMPS RESISTANCE (Ohms)

1A = 7.8k
1.5A = 12.8K
2A = 18.8K
2.5A = 26.1K
3A = 35.25K
3.5A = 47K
4A = 62.67K
4.5A = 84.6K
5A = 117.5K
5.5A = 172.33K
6A = 282K
6.5A = 611K
7A = OPEN (no resistor)

A Standard Values chart is here.

My build log is in the same forum directory as yours. I just added some better photos a few minutes ago. I see that you just found it.

CarveOne

[Switcher]

Nice looking start on your build, any links to the place you got the U bearings?

[markraws]

hi switcher, Sure no problem...ebay! item no 130261726085
hope its ok to do this

[markraws]

Ok table done! Hurray... going to try and mount the rails this weekend will post more pic

[Hdale85]

Do you use some kind of corner clamps to hold that while you tack it? Or do you just tack and adjust as you go? I'd love to build a steel machine but I'm not sure I would have the tools needed to cut a lot of the gantry parts and what not.

[markraws]

hi

sash clamps! i would not be without them!

building out of steel is cheaper than aluminium, but aluminium look just fine
my next machine is all aluminium which all the parts (90%) will be machined on this one!
fingers crossed

[markraws]

Just a few pics of the idea of the set up!

starting work on alignment and fixing over the next week

[Switcher]

Will you add another set of bearings to keep the carriage/router from lift-off on the material?

I see a hole drilled, already.

[markraws]

yes theres another set of bearings to fix yet, These will sit same as the top rail with another set of bearing for the bottom to stop lift.Also going to cut the supports out of the two side beams so my ball screws will fit just nice, This will also give me more room to fix ball screw fixing blocks!

[Switcher]

Your machine build is looking great, keep up the good work!

I'm following along.