Something with more voltage capacity?

[klrskies]

I'd like to find a gecko-like driver that could handle higher dc voltages...like 150 volts. I could use geckos with my mach3 conversion, but I'm gona loose 23% of my maximum speed with geckos' 80v limit.

regards,
Ken

[H.O]

Hi,
You don't say but I guess you're talking about a servo drive, right?

I appologise to Mariss and Geckodrive for bringing up competing products but because you want >80V I hope it's OK since Geckodrive doesn't have any in that range.

Have a look at Granite Devices, I've tried their older VSD-A with good results and have read and heard nothing but good stuff about the new VSD-E/XE. Tero is active on the forum as well as very responsive to support before and after sales IME.

Another option is the Dugong from CNCDrive, that one I haven't tried but I have tried their smaller drive (Whale3), also with good results. Balasz @ CNCDrive is also a great guy and very responsive to emails etc.

If you're comfortable with a "kit" perhaps the HP-UHU drive is something to look into. There's no company behind it and support is handled by the community here on the zone and elsewhere.

Then there's the Viper drives from Larken which I have no personal experience with.

Those are the ones that springs to mind right now. Obviosuly AMC and the other "big guys" can supply drives in "any" range as well.

Hope it helps.
/Henrik.

[klrskies]

Thanks Alot H.O,

I had been considering useing Geckos, but the voltage issue would have been a big drop on speed. Not trying in any way to take away from their product, just nothing available in my size.
regards,

Would you know of a good DC power supply, say at least 120 volts, 12 amps?

regards,
Ken

[H.O]

Hi Ken,
I usually build my own supplies, transformer, bridge rectifier, capacitor - in its simplest form. Then on high capacity units a softstarter may be needed. However, I keep hearing good stuff about Antek, check with them if they have something suitable for your application.

/Henrik.

[klrskies]

Very cool that you build your own stuff. I have a bed mill that has 3 A.O. Smith, 160vdc motors. The largest (the z axis) is 20 Amps. I'll need to take the other 2 off to see their amperage rating. Im very new at trying to determining what works well for powering and controlling dc motors. I want to use MACH3 software, something like Viper 200 drives, and the power supply is to be determined. What factors should be considered in a power supply choice? Can a simple transformer be used? What would be best?

regards,
Ken

[H.O]

Hi,
Well, what I meant was I usually build my own powersupply consisting of a transformer, rectifer and capacitor which is all there is to it in its simplest form. (Obvioulsy I don't build the actual components myself).

As for sizing a powersupply you can make it easy or you can make it a little more complicated figuring in a lot of things like IR drop in the motors armature, voltage drop across the drive etc etc. It depends on if you need and/or want the very best performance the motors can give you or if you simply want something in the right "ballpark" that works - which is fine in most cases.

I really feel we're getting off topic for the Geckodrive support forum though. Can't you start a new thread, either in the general electronics section or in the Viper forum (if that's what you're going to use) and then post a link here and we can continue the discussions there? If you do, try to get as much data as possible on the motors.

/Henrik.

[klrskies]

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=104303

Moved to more appropriate thread.
regards,
Ken