Which Gecko Drive

[Lloyd]

Hi I've been reading this forum whenever I've had time for the last 8 months. I am getting parts together to build a CNC Router. It will be based on the http://www.solsylva.com/ design with a few upgrades like precision ground rods for slides, gecko drives and acme screws. I have a couple questions I would like to ask. First the stepper motors I am thinking about using are keling tech drives 425 oz/in. The specs are at http://www.kelinginc.net/KL23H286-20-08B.pdf. First I guess is which gecko drive would be best. Then the next Question is What kind of power supply will I need to run 4 steppers. I have been trying to figure it out but I keep getting different answers. I have been thinking about using 2 power supplys 1 supply for 2 drives as the only answers I have been able to come up with would require a a very large expensive supply. Thanks in advance Lloyd

[ger21]

First, go with the G202's They are a little more monwy than the G201's, but are much more tolerant of miswiring.

As for power supplies, I'd use about 15x the motors rated voltage. At 4.17V and 2.8A, you'd want a 48V-60V supplyand 8-10amps. You want to wire them bipolar parallel for best performance, which those are the ratings for.

You'll probably get better high speed performance from the $79 motors. http://www.kelinginc.net/KL34H260-42-8B.pdf

1.6V and 6 amps. Use a 24-36V 15amp supply for 3 motors.

[Lloyd]

Thanks for the answers the motor you advised is a nema 34 mount isn't it? I already bought the nema 23 mounts so I'll have to stay with the 425 os/in steppers. I was looking at a laptop today but it doesn't have a parellel port I was wondering if a pcmcia card would work for the mach software. I do know a usb parellel won't work I remember reading that on this forum somewhere but I can't remember if they said a pcmcia card would work. Thanks Lloyd

[ger21]

No gaurantees. I've heard some say it works, and others say it doesn't. You really need to try it and see.

[mdreitzusa]

i've have been looking at laptops myself.but with the new laptops you have to get a dock for them, in order to get the parellel port.the only thing i've been wondering about is that the dock plugs into the usb port.so i don't know if this would work either.

[Lloyd]

The problem with usb ports is they don't have an addressable port to link the software to so that it will know where to send the direction and speed pulses to. I wonder though if a person could use a serial port for the project. I think what I'll end up doing is either finding an older laptop that has a printer port or getting a cheap desktop to just run the the router. I do have an old laptop but it only a 475mhz so it will not run the mach software which I would prefer to run. Lloyd