Where do I get cheap stepper drivers?

[jaru-eri]

I recently blew a cnc-box 3977 driver and need to know where I can get a new one. Is it possible to get disconnection-safe drivers?

[mishal]

Hobby CNC
XYlotex

[CarveOne]

Originally Posted by jaru-eri I recently blew a cnc-box 3977 driver and need to know where I can get a new one. Is it possible to get disconnection-safe drivers?

http://www.geckodrive.com makes the only "disconnection-safe" stepper drivers that I know of. Take a look at their G540 and G203V models. Although they are not considered cheap, you get what you pay for.

CarveOne

[TOTALLYRC]

Originally Posted by CarveOne http://www.geckodrive.com makes the only "disconnection-safe" stepper drivers that I know of. Take a look at their G540 and G203V models. Although they are not considered cheap, you get what you pay for. CarveOne

They are inexpensive compared to the cost of replacing a driver board when one driver gets disconnected accidently. Cheap is just that, cheap. Cost effective is more of what needs to be discussed/considered.


Mike

[Crevice Reamer]

In addition to increased performance, plug & play convenience, unkillable features and idle current limiting, the fact that the G540 can use up to 50V power supplies and a REAL 3.5A per motor, then if you factor in the VALUE that comes with the G540, it does not cost much at all:

Four Axis unkillable and plug & play G540: $299
Built in breakout board, with connections for home/limit switches and outputs for relays: $80 that you don't need to spend.
Built in Speed controller: $40 that you don't need to spend.
Built in 5V Logic power supply: $20 that you don't need to spend.
Provided DB9 connectors: $12 that you don't need to spend.


$299 minus $152 = actual cost of just $147 for a VERY sophisticated 4 axis drive.

CR.

[TOTALLYRC]

Originally Posted by Crevice Reamer In addition to increased performance, plug & play convenience, unkillable features and idle current limiting, the fact that the G540 can use up to 50V power supplies and a REAL 3.5A per motor, then if you factor in the VALUE that comes with the G540, it does not cost much at all: Four Axis unkillable and plug & play G540: $299 Built in breakout board, with connections for home/limit switches and outputs for relays: $80 that you don't need to spend. Built in Speed controller: $40 that you don't need to spend. Built in 5V Logic power supply: $20 that you don't need to spend. Provided DB9 connectors: $12 that you don't need to spend. $299 minus $152 = actual cost of just $147 for a VERY sophisticated 4 axis drive. CR.

Well said

Mike

[CarveOne]

I agree completely.

The G540 not cheaply made or designed. You get what you pay for. There is no better deal anywhere for the money.

Crevice Reamer added all the details that I didn't add in my too quick reply to point jaru-eri toward the Gecko web site where the technical details can be found.

CarveOne

[Crevice Reamer]

Thanks guys! It's easy to praise the G540 though--It's a fantastic deal. I only barely scratched the surface of it's features--And even Gecko forgot to mention the microstep to full step morphing that allows motors to run much faster:

G540
The G540 is a complete 4-axis system which plugs directly into your computer via the parallel port and to your motors through DB9 connectors. It contains four of our G250 drives, our own breakout board and a hard anodized aluminum case.

G540 Specifications:

- Four 10-Microstep motor drives
- 0 to 3.5A rated phase current
- 18VDC to 50VDC supply voltage
- Mid-band resonance compensation
- Auto standby current (70% current)
- Short-circuit protected
- Optoisolation on all LPT signal pins
- Two 1A at 0 to 50VDC rated outputs
- Four SPST to GND inputs (TTL)
- FAULT indicator LED,signal to PC
- POWER indicator LED
- I-SET resistor on motor connector
- TRIM adjust for motor smoothness
- Panel mount (5.7” by2.4” hole dim.)
- Anodized aluminum package
- No heatsink needed below 40C ambient
- Easy to service, removable drives
- Modular PCB design with no internal wires
- 10kHz watchdog timer (charge pump)
- Optoisolated analog output for a VFD drive
- Conservative ratings, premium components
- Comes with four backshells and four DB9 solder cup connectors

NOTHING else comes close to the value of a G540--And as I have shown, the TRUE COST is about what ONE 203V drive costs.

AND--it is so tiny that you could mount the whole thing INSIDE the case with the computer.

CR.

[CarveOne]

Well, I got a good deal too. Four G203v arrived last month. What I saved at the sale price will pay for a BOB for them.

CarveOne

[johnt]

I am looking at this gecko 540 4 axis system.
Do I make my own cables to connect to the DB9 connectors?
Also, I can't picture in my head how the current set resistors hook in.
Thanks, JOhn

[Crevice Reamer]

Originally Posted by johnt I am looking at this gecko 540 4 axis system. Do I make my own cables to connect to the DB9 connectors? Also, I can't picture in my head how the current set resistors hook in. Thanks, JOhn

Hi John. Yes, you have to make your own cables. Shielded twisted pair wire is best, but not required. This wire is good and also inexpensive:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Servo-Motor-Wire...3286.m20.l1116

When you make up the cables using the connectors that come with the G540, you just solder the 1/4 Watt resistor between pins 1 and 5 and the wires into pins 6,7,8,9. Then you slide a piece of heat shrink tubing (which you have previously slid onto the wire) down onto the connector and heat shrink it.

http://geckodrive.com/upload/G540%20REV3%20MANUAL.pdf

You can get the resistors here:

http://digikey.com/

Do the MOTOR end of the cable this way:

http://cnczone.com/forums/showthread...651#post545651

CR.

[flyboy1015]

Just my 2 cents here. I bought the Linistepper controls. These have worked great for me. I used some molex connectors on the ends of my cables where they plug into the power supply/driver control box. In the plugs, I wired a loop so that the power has to go through the loop to get to the driver. If I unplug a motor, the power connection is cut to that axis driver. Works great as a safety.

The red loops in the photo is the loopback power wire.