Recomendations on stepper controller!

[northernmach]

I am attempting to build a cnc router and need some recomendations on finding an inexpensive, but reliable stepper motor contorller. I am hoping to be able to do heavy cutting in wood and possibly light cutting in aluminum. Thanks for your response!

Chad
http://www.northernmachininginc.com

[project5k]

you could build your own, of find a kit.... the ones that i have designed and the one that i have build so far will provide 4 amps/phase, so it runs my 500oz motors just fine....

[txcowdog]

Hobbycnc.com has a great board at an incredible price if you are running unipolar motors. If you do not have your motors already, he has kits which include motors and controller. You will find many people on this board that are very happy with his products and a forum specific to Hobbycnc.com in the Electronics section of the forums.

[project5k]

i too have heard good things about thoes kits... but i still prefer a bipolar setup...

[northernmach]

Does hobbycnc have kits that are already put together or do you have to assemble the boards?

Chad

[Rance]

I believe just kits. I just put my hobbycnc bd. together last weekend. It was a breeze, but you do need to know how to solder. If you don't know how to solder I'd bet you could find someone in your area to help. Where in the US are you? If you cover the shipping, I'd do it myself for you.

[northernmach]

Rance I appreciate the offer! As long as it seems to be the best board to go with I most likely will try the hobbycnc board.

[project5k]

i would love to see one of these as it goes together... can you take some timelapse photos for me?

[beone]

the Xylotex 3 or 4r axis board with thier 269 or now i think they have 425 oz motors and powersupply is working quite well for me. single pass cuts thru 1/8 aircraft ply with an engraving bit come out great. I am using Homier $10 trim routers and don't thik I am even pushing them. I just reset my controller for 4 microsteps which put me up to 45 inches per minute very reliably. It might be worth getting the kit with the paralell cable and motor cables if you dont like that sort of thing. I couldn't find 4 lead 18 gage wire so had to tape up my own. Now Wally World has a 25 foot roll in the trailer section for 10 bucks. Do whatever to get yor machine working quickly- you won't regret it.

[dertsap]

you may want to decide if you plan in the future to expand on what you are currently building , if you plan to run larger than 2-3 amp motors the cheaper drivers won t push them , i tryed the budget drivers to start and 3/4 of a year later bought new drivers to run larger motors ,the old one is sitting on the shelf
i would highly recommend buying geckos ,they cost a little more ,but they are an incredible driver and leave tons of room for expansion to some decent size motors , sometimes if not most on these projects we are blowing the budget ,, geckos are by far worth the extra

[Rance]

Chad,

So how big do you plan on building your first machine? What are your expctations for a 2nd machine? What size table? What feed rate do you plan on having.

Rance

[northernmach]

I am planning on building a working area that is 12" x 24" x 4". Gecko versus cnchobby which is recomended. Also input on whether to have a moveable gantry or permanent gantry? Again thanks for the replies.