New Build Needed

[Sky-high-11]

I am looking for suggestions concerning the:
MDFLY Electronics
Model No.: MD3AXIS8435
3-AXIS Stepping Motor Driver Board

I want to use this board on a CNC Router with approximate dimensions of 24"x36".
What size Stepper Motors will work when using THK slides and 1/2"-10 acme screws on all axis’s?

What amperage will the Power Supply need to power the motors, board and limit switches?

Control Board Manual is minimal with theses Specs called for:

1 Connect the DB25 parallel cable from your computer’s LPT1 port to the DB25 connector on the 3-axis stepping motor driver board.

2 Attach a 24V DC (12V-32V) power supply to the P3 connector on the board. Please make sure the positive position and negative position. Power LED (LED3) will be lit.

3 Attach the stepping motor to each axis (X-axis: 1P2 connector, Y-axis: 2P2 connector,
Z-axis: 3P2 connector). Warning: 2.5A@32V DC Max

Go easy on this newbie, please.
Thanks for any suggestions,
Rick

[ger21]

If you can afford it, the Gecko G540 can deliver at least double the performance of that drive. It's currently on sale for $210 (regular $299). It offers many features that the cheaper drives don't. Most important is mid band resonance compensation, which most of the cheaper drives suffer from.

If you go with the MDFLY board, about 5-6 amps is all you need. With the 1/2-10 screws, about 270 oz motors will give more speed than larger motors. HOwever, 1/2-10 acme will limit you're speed. A better choice is 1/2-8 2 start or 1/2-10 5 start, and 300+ oz motors. You'll get double the speed of the 1/2-10 single start.

[Sky-high-11]

Thanks for the reply and advice.
I started looking at 300+ motors and noticed they fluctuate wildly with different voltage and amperage. can you suggest a range for what volt/amp motor I should use.
I picked up a 24v 8.5amp power supply for my MDfly board.

I wish I had looked at the Gecko you suggested before buying mdfly, it looks good.

Thanks again, Rick

[ger21]

Get motors rated as close to the max amps your drive can supply. Current is proportional to torque, but you can't exceed the motors rating. So, to get the full torque, you need to supply the full current. To get the highest speed, choose a motor with the lowest inductance.

[Jack000]

oh wow, didn't realize the geckos were on sale again. How much longer will the sale last? need to round up some cash..

[FandZ]

oh wow, didn't realize the geckos were on sale again. How much longer will the sale last? need to round up some cash..

I'm wondering if they are coming out with a replacement that you won't have to use resisters on. I think I remember reading a thread asking about it. But yea, big savings.

[ger21]

I'm wondering if they are coming out with a replacement that you won't have to use resisters on. I think I remember reading a thread asking about it. But yea, big savings.

The resistors are only used to set the drive's current. They may eliminate them in the future, but they cost less than $1, so it shouldn't be a big deal.

[FandZ]

The resistors are only used to set the drive's current. They may eliminate them in the future, but they cost less than $1, so it shouldn't be a big deal.

It's not the cost that is a a pain, it's the soldering. I now know there are clamp db9 kits, not sure if the resisters can be clamped in, but not having to solder in resisters would have been very welcomed by me. I'm terrible at soldering. Anything to get closer to plug and play.

[ger21]

Only the G540 connectors need soldering. All the other Geckos use screw terminals.

[LeeWay]

I don't care for soldering either. I can do it for single wires and attach a wire here or there to a circuit board, but when it comes to 36 wires in a small confined spot, I am going this route.
http://www.winfordeng.com/products/brktd9.php

Just mount 4 of these on there.

[ahren]

FandZ, I now sell 380 oz-in motors pre-wired with a 3.5k current set resistor, specifically designed to work with the G540 -- they really are just plug and play. I just got 200 of them in. Feel free to PM me if you're interested.

Ahren
www.cncrouterparts.com

[FandZ]

FandZ, I now sell 380 oz-in motors pre-wired with a 3.5k current set resistor, specifically designed to work with the G540 -- they really are just plug and play. I just got 200 of them in. Feel free to PM me if you're interested.

Ahren
www.cncrouterparts.com

Wow, that's great news. I remember reading about them a few months ago. PM on the way.