Newbie- Please recommend driver board

[PCcruncher]

I am trying to find a board to control a 3 axis cnc router.
Would something like this work? http://www.virtualvillage.com/Items/...20%26%20Driver

Could I hook 3 of them together, or would it be better to have it all in one board?
I don't want to spend more than $100 if possible, and I don't want to solder the components to the board like some kits I found.

So if any of you could give some advise it would be great! Thanks!

[TOTALLYRC]

[QUOTE=PCcruncher;530024]I am trying to find a board to control a 3 axis cnc router.
Would something like this work? http://www.virtualvillage.com/Items/...20%26%20Driver

Could I hook 3 of them together, or would it be better to have it all in one board?
I don't want to spend more than $100 if possible, and I don't want to solder the components to the board like some kits I found.

So if any of you could give some advise it would be great! Thanks![/QUOTE

How big of a router are you trying to control?
what motors do you have?

$100 for three axis of control is asking alot. Don't forget to use a breakout board to isolate the pport from the rest of the stuff.

Three seperate boards, one for each axis is OK. It makes it easier to repair when something goes wrong.

[PCcruncher]

Originally Posted by TOTALLYRC How big of a router are you trying to control? what motors do you have? $100 for three axis of control is asking alot. Don't forget to use a breakout board to isolate the pport from the rest of the stuff. Three seperate boards, one for each axis is OK. It makes it easier to repair when something goes wrong.

Well, I am still trying to find my way here, I have a rotozip and a 1/2-1 Hp palm router that I can use.

I don't have any steppers yet, but I know a guy who works on copiers, and I think I could get some decent steppers from him.

Are you saying that a 3 axis board for under 100 is not a reality?

And what is the pport?

Thanks for your time!

[TOTALLYRC]

Originally Posted by PCcruncher Well, I am still trying to find my way here, I have a rotozip and a 1/2-1 Hp palm router that I can use. I don't have any steppers yet, but I know a guy who works on copiers, and I think I could get some decent steppers from him. Are you saying that a 3 axis board for under 100 is not a reality? And what is the pport? Thanks for your time!

Pport is parallel port but I get tired of all the letters so I abreviate some times.

Copier steppers and inexpensive boa rds get you a cheap machine that may or may not do what you want.

Even the xylotex which is good quality, but older technology is several hundred dollars.
I have no experience with what you linked to but $20/axis sounds to good to be true.

1. How big of a machine are you trying to build?
2. WHat kinds of material do you want to cut?
3. What is you total budget for the machine?

Mike

[PCcruncher]

I think a 24in x 24in would do for a while, but I think eventually I would make a 36 x 48 cutting table. I am thinking of making basically one of those mobile gantry, mdf machines that you have probably seen pictures of.

As for materials, mostly wood, (hard + soft) probably not thicker than 1" and "possibly" some 1/8" aluminum.

Total budget not set yet, trying to get a feel for what is required. Definantly not over $1000 though.

[TOTALLYRC]

Originally Posted by PCcruncher I think a 24in x 24in would do for a while, but I think eventually I would make a 36 x 48 cutting table. I am thinking of making basically one of those mobile gantry, mdf machines that you have probably seen pictures of. As for materials, mostly wood, (hard + soft) probably not thicker than 1" and "possibly" some 1/8" aluminum. Total budget not set yet, trying to get a feel for what is required. Definantly not over $1000 though.

Search for jrgo, I think that it is the free plan set here on the zone.
I am not sure that you can cut alum with it?

Look around at what others are building, $1k will get you a running machine but not a good solid machine that you will keep a long time.

Depending on what you are looking to build long term and what your budget is, I would spend the "big" money up front on the electronics. The can move to the next machine or run more than one machine with some creative wiring.

Mike

[PCcruncher]

Ok, thanks for the advise. that is kind of what I wanted to know.

What would you suggest as a good board, able to control the bigger motors if I use them on the larger machine?

If I can get the copier motors for free, I think I would still try them first as I can always add bigger ones as needed right?

[TOTALLYRC]

Originally Posted by PCcruncher Ok, thanks for the advise. that is kind of what I wanted to know. What would you suggest as a good board, able to control the bigger motors if I use them on the larger machine? If I can get the copier motors for free, I think I would still try them first as I can always add bigger ones as needed right?

Gecko G540 www.geckodrive.com
It is by far the best product in its price range and will do what you want for this machine and the next.

www.kelinginc.net has a nice package or you can buy it direct from gecko and work on getting the motors and power supplies yourself.

Mike

[PCcruncher]

But it is a 4 axis one, Is there a better one with 3 that would be cheaper?

[TOTALLYRC]

Originally Posted by PCcruncher But it is a 4 axis one, Is there a better one with 3 that would be cheaper?

There are 4 g250's inside the g540. You could in theory buy three g251's and a breakout board, but it will cost almost the same and the g540 has the ability to drive a vfd or dc motor control if they take 0-10v analog input. I realise it is a bit pricey, but it super high quality and will run your steppers like nobodies buisness. Since you will have 4 axis in the box, you will probably find a reason to use it in the future, such as gear cutting and other wonderful stuff you can do with it.

The other nice thing is that you have a spare driver on hand. If by some strange event you actually manage to kill a drive, just open the box and switch out the spare drive. They are just plugged into the mother board and this can be done in 10 minutes including drinking the beer in your other hand.

Mike

[PCcruncher]

HI I was wondering what difference is there REALLY in the hardware? I know the circuit is different, but I found this board on ebay 4 axis driver
It looks pretty good, it doesn't have a case like the other one (doesn't matter), and it does not have the plug for the stepper cable, but I am fine with it hard wired. So I wondered what thoughts you would have on it.

If I get the above board and these stepper motors it would be about $220 which I wouldn't mind paying.

I appreciate your input here!

[TOTALLYRC]

The only real difference is that the Gecko drive will run your motors like they should run this won't. I would still tell you to go Gecko even if they were identical because of the unmatched customer support, which is worth it's weight in "silicon". LOL

I have seen multiple threads where somebody bought something like this only to be very dissappointed because of it lousy performance and poor documenation.

I have a xylotex on my Taig and I have gecko's on my router, unfortunatley I was spoiled buy the gecko's and when I got the Taig, not knowing any better, I expected the same performance out of the Xylotex.

There is an old adage that comes to mind, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

Mike