Newbie- Choice of Stepper Motors/Drives

[ianadan]

Guys,

I am about to start a build of a Solsylva 24 x 24 (although I'll probably start with the 13 x 13).

I am looking at http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...fvi%3D1&_rdc=1 for the Driver board and the motors, but was wondering if anyone has any experience of the board and/or the build quality of the motors?

Any advise appreciated.

Thanks
ian

[hemsworthlad]

Hi,

Dont have any experience with this board or motors but heres my miss givings for this board.
Because it's an all-in-one board all your egg's are in one basket and if one part of the board goes faulty then it takes the other functions with it.
Probably no option to isolate the drivers from BOB side and vice versa so if Bob goes faulty you have lost the drivers as well.!

Chances are because it's cheap it will use cheap and slow components like opto isolaters for I/O which can cause troubles on some setup's.

It has very limited input/outputs which you'll likely want at a later date so would mean still buying another bob or I/O card.

Limted to small motors below 3A and 36v.

Personally I wouldn't bother and spend a little more and either buy separate drivers & bob or better still go for a Gecko G540 that use's top quality components with replacable drivers. Plus you get 4 axis not 3 all in one neat little box which is light years better than this board.

Separate higher powered drivers are better if you plan on upgrading and give you much more scope for larger motors with higher speeds because of higher voltage capability's (Voltage relates to speed with steppers).

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Dean.

[hemsworthlad]

One other thing i've just noticed at 36v the max voltage this board can go it would be running approx 24v below optimum performance for these motors.?

Or put another way the max speed would be nearly half the motors capabilty.?