Using old 28v power supply for now with G540?

[eodjeep2000]

I bought a used CNC router with a bad Z axis circuit on the controller board. I'm replacing the board with a G540 and am aware it will do better with a 48v power supply than the machines current 28v one. Will it do any harm to hook up the 28v supply until I can afford to get the larger one? I'd like to throw some chips!!!

Also, Should I be using the same power supply for the motors and the G540 or should I get separate ones? I thought I only needed one but the gecko schematic has two. One for the relays and one for the motors...?

Motors: 3 ea. NEMA 23 3A 3.6v (specs on attachment, will be putting 4th axis on eventually)

[Scottluther]

I'm only stepping in here because no one else has answered. I'm new to this as well. The higher the voltage, in a general way, will give you more speed and more heat to worry about. So before you even pay to upgrade the power supply, you should determine the speed you are looking to get and with the torque you will need, you can check your motors torque curve to see if you even need to up it to a 48v PS. No need to produce anymore heat than you need.

And as for the second power supply for the relays, you should check the schematic, the second PS is probably a 12v or 5v for the relays.

With any luck, some of the more experienced guys here will chip in with a better explanation.

[ihavenofish]

i used a 19v laptop psu on my g540 which is the lower limit. works just fine, you just have limited top speed on your stepper. i was still able to get 100+ ipm on my KX1 mill quite happily with a 4mm pitch ballscrew.

[tumutbound]

28V supply will work just fine with the G540, it's lower voltage limit is listed as 15V.

I've a CNC router with a bad Y axis and I'm replacing the controller with a G540. For testing I just used the 24V supply in the old controller which worked OK.
I do have a 48V supply on order.

[eodjeep2000]

Thanks all. I just wasn't sure that I wouldn't damage the setup by under powering the overall combination. It sounds like the answer is that I can press on! My initial setup is small anyway and I won't be pushing it hard or fast. Basically I just want to do some projects and use it to build my future cnc equipment parts. I'd really like to get up to three machines eventually.

Thanks again!