what's a descent and cheap stepper controller?

[fyrebug]

I'm looking to build my first cnc machine using a fram from modularcnc.com, 225 or 325 seems like a great price to me. and I'll use a harbour freight router head.

for stepper motor I was thinking of the ones used in reprap or makerbot
http://store.makerbot.com/motors/ste...51-24-08b.html

it's a Nema 23 - Keling KL23H51-24-08B.

now, my issue is... how do I drive it?

as I'm on a budget I'm not really looking to buy a $200 controller.. I can see some on ebay for $50, though I have no idea if they're good or not. some list as being able to work with mach3 etc,

but what would all you pros here recommend?

(I should note, I'm perfectly ok with etching a board and programming pic's, atmel or arduino. so if there's an open source router, it might be a good idea)


Thanks everyone!!

[Hirudin]

Here's a similar thread over on the Benchtop Mills forum. IIRC it got a little derailed, but there's probably info in there that will help you in your search.

[dj-kenpo]

ya, not really any good info in there.

like you said it just gets off topic. chopper vs non chopper.... thanks though

[dj-kenpo]

looking at this one

http://www.cncgeeker.com/index.php?m...&products_id=1 59$ isn't bad, though there are users in this forum that have it and seem to of had hit and miss experiences.

I can't tell if I hook the stepper motors directly to it, or if I need seperate boards ontop of this one.....

can anyone tell?

[ger21]

Decent and cheap don't go too well together. But the HobbyCNC might work for you. www.hobbycnc.com

[dj-kenpo]

thanks gir21!

it looks almost exactly like the one I found, except that the hobbycnc one looks like it might have better support should I run into issues....

think I might grab that one then

[Crevice Reamer]

Originally Posted by fyrebug I'm looking to build my first cnc machine using a fram from modularcnc.com, 225 or 325 seems like a great price to me. and I'll use a harbour freight router head. for stepper motor I was thinking of the ones used in reprap or makerbot http://store.makerbot.com/motors/ste...51-24-08b.html it's a Nema 23 - Keling KL23H51-24-08B. now, my issue is... how do I drive it? as I'm on a budget I'm not really looking to buy a $200 controller.. I can see some on ebay for $50, though I have no idea if they're good or not. some list as being able to work with mach3 etc, but what would all you pros here recommend? (I should note, I'm perfectly ok with etching a board and programming pic's, atmel or arduino. so if there's an open source router, it might be a good idea) Thanks everyone!!

I don't know what you are going to be driving with them, but those are fairly tiny motors. And running them Unipolar with HobbyCNC board will lower torque further from 156 down to 113 oz.

CR.

[BobF]

get one of the hobbyCNC kits. Motors and driver for one price.
If you can spend more get a Gecko 540 and motors to suit.

[Crevice Reamer]

Many try to save money with cheap drivers. Well, definitely after your first several cheap drivers don't work out--Get the G540. If you are lucky, you'll only have spent twice the G540 cost by then.

CR.

[dertsap]

a lot of guys here have had great success with the hobbycnc boards ,a few years back there were always posts in regard to those boards it seems its polularity has slid a bit over the last while , at $25 per axis for a 4 axis driver it's a great deal , and if need be fixes are cheap

[dj-kenpo]

ya the hobbycnc boards seem to be the way to go. searching this forum there seem to be pretty good comments from everyone on it. vs something like the univelop which sounds terrible.

gecko, I'm not sure what the cost is but probably more than I want to spend on my first starter cnc.

as for motors, hobby cnc sells them in the kit, as mentioned here, and I think I'll do that.

does anyone have a suggestion? other than knowing I need nema23 size, I have no clue what 'oz' weight I should be aiming for.

they come as 130, 205, and 305 oz
http://www.hobbycnc.com/products/hob...oard-packages/

I'm not looking to be cutting metal, just wood, plastic, plaster, but who knows. if 305oz 4.2v will do metal, why not spend the extra little bit

[Crevice Reamer]

Choosing motors depends on a lot of factors. Bigger is not always better, and in MOST cases is slower. Maybe some of this info will be helpful to you:

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76865.#3

CR.