Best cnc router controller unter 2K$

[stanglou]

With so many options out there I need some help. I am building a 4x8 gantry router out of 80/20 and pbc integral v-bearings for limited production use. There are so many controllers out there that i just dont know what to get so what are your suggestions for a setup under 2K$ that will hold up and include motors...

-should it have gecko drives?
-should i go servo or will dc be fine?
-should the x-axis be driven on both sides usint two motors or should i do a crossover?

Suggestions?

[adprinter]

With so many options out there I need some help. I am building a 4x8 gantry router out of 80/20 and pbc integral v-bearings for limited production use. There are so many controllers out there that i just dont know what to get so what are your suggestions for a setup under 2K$ that will hold up and include motors...

-should it have gecko drives?
-should i go servo or will dc be fine?
-should the x-axis be driven on both sides usint two motors or should i do a crossover?

Suggestions?

I experimented with some other cheap driver boards, used stepper motors, etc. before finally getting serious with a setup which works well. I used a Gecko G540 driver, 48VDC power supply, NEMA 34 motors 900 oz in, direct drive via Lovejoy couplings 1/2" 10 TPI acme lead screws. I purchased the Gecko directly from Gecko, and the power supply and motors from Keling Technologies. The lead screws, nut, and bearings were purchased from Precision Tech Machining in Florida. I used an old PC Tower case as the cabinet for the power supply, and G540. Have a look at my build here:
[url=http://www.cnczone.com/forums/attach...1&d=1330494126] Total cost at the time I built was less than $1000 for drive, power supply, motors, couplings, lead screws, motor mounts, and wiring. Although prices have gone up since then, I don't think it will be much more than that, even at today's prices. I am using a single motor for the X axis, with the lead screw mounted in the center of the table. Works fine, so that I was able to later add a 4th axis (and take advantage of the Gecko G540 to drive it, instead of using it to drive a second motor on the X axis). My table has been running without any major problems for over 3 years now. And it runs for days at a time (depending on the piece being carved).

[louieatienza]

With so many options out there I need some help. I am building a 4x8 gantry router out of 80/20 and pbc integral v-bearings for limited production use. There are so many controllers out there that i just dont know what to get so what are your suggestions for a setup under 2K$ that will hold up and include motors...

-should it have gecko drives?
-should i go servo or will dc be fine?
-should the x-axis be driven on both sides usint two motors or should i do a crossover?

Suggestions?

The Gecko 203V is probably as bullet-proof as you can get. I believe will work up to 80v power supply. If running 4 x 8 , are you using r&p? Then you'd probably be running two steppers for the long axis. Four of them, a BOB, power supply, wires, relays, limit switch, e-stop, enclosure should be well under $2000...

If you want to go servo check out DMM technologies. A few here use them with sucess, and even their 900W 4 axis kit is under $2000...

[crane550]

+1 for the Gecko drives. The G203-V has the "V" designated for "vampire" because they are un-killable.

It should come in under budget for you, and offer all the features you need.

[CarveOne]

+1 for the Gecko drives. The G203-V has the "V" designated for "vampire" because they are un-killable.

It should come in under budget for you, and offer all the features you need.

It must be true. I haven't killed any of my 4 drives yet. (Knock on wood)

CarveOne