Controller Hardware-A COMPARISON

[Rance]

I've searched but have not seen a comprehensive side-by-side comparison of controller hardware for driving Stepper motors. I'm still somewhat of a newbie so I may need more columns to get a useful comparison. Any info. or suggestions you could provide would be helpful. I'll update the table in this first post as new posts, suggestions, and input is added.

|Kit|U/B|Axis|Opto.|Type|_Steps|MBRD|$/Ch|Amps|Volts|_Tech_|_Controller_____|
|###|###|####|#####|####|######|####|####|####|#####|######|################|
|PCB|_U_|__1_|__.__|__._|___Y__|__._|$_22|__3_|_55__|18245T|_PicStep________|
|PCB|_U_|__1_|__.__|__._|___.__|__._|____|__5_|_30__|IRLZ44|_PMinMO_________|
|PCB|_B_|__1_|__.__|Chop|__400_|__._|__._|_2.5|_46__|L297/8|_PMinMO_________|
|PCB|_U_|__3_|__.__|__._|___.__|__._|__._|__5_|_30__|_3977_|_PMinMO_________|
|Kit|_U_|__4_|__N__|Chop|_3200_|__._|$_25|__3_|_42__|_7062_|_HobbyCNC_4AUPC_|
|Kit|_U_|__1_|__N__|Lin.|_3600_|__N_|$_30|1.5_|_35__|TIP122|_Linistepper____|
|Kit|_U_|_>3_|__N__|Lin.|_3600_|__N_|$_25|1.5_|_35__|TIP122|_Lini-InQty.____|
|Kit|_U_|____|__N__|____|__200_|__N_|$___|3.0_|_35__|TIP122|_Lini-NoMicro___|
|_N_|_U_|__1_|__N__|__._|__400_|__._|$__4|1.25|_35__|_5804_|_UCN5804________|
|_._|_._|__._|__.__|__._|___.__|__._|$___|__._|__.__|_3977_|_3977/a3977_bd._|
|_._|_B_|__3_|__.__|__._|_1600_|__._|$_52|_2.5|_35__|______|_Xylotex 3-Axis_|
|_._|_B_|__4_|__.__|__._|_1600_|__._|$_46|_2.5|_35__|______|_Xylotex 4-Axis_|
|_N_|_B_|__1_|__Y__|__._|_2000_|__Y_|$114|_7.0|_80__|Propri|_Gecko G201_____|
|###|###|####|#####|####|######|####|####|####|#####|######|################|
|Kit|U/B|Axis|Opto.|Type|_Steps|MBRD|$/Ch|Amps|Volts|_Tech_|_Controller_____|

- - Legend - -
Kit - KIT-Comes in a kit; PCB-PC boards available only.
U/B - Unipolar or Bipolar? (U/B)
Axis - # of Axis (or Channels)
Opto. - Does it have Opto-Isolation? (Y/N)
Type - Chp-Chopper, Lin=Linear
Steps - Steps per revolution, assuming a 1.8deg. motor.
$/Ch - Cost per Channel or Axis
MBRD - Mid-band resonance damping? (Y/N)
Amps - How many Amps will it support in the given mode? (Per Phase)
Volts - Max. volts supported.
Tech - The technology this driver is based on. (3977, TIP122, etc.)

- - PROS - -
PicStep - OPEN SOURCE
PMinMO - OPEN SOURCE
Gecko - Powerful?
HobbyCNC -
Xylotex -
UCN5804 - Really Cheap, easy to build
Linistepper - Less Expensive, versatile, OPEN SOURCE.
3977 -

- - CONS - -
PicStep - Soldering Required, No Kits available
PMinMO - Soldering Required
Gecko - Expensive
HobbyCNC - Soldering Required
Xylotex -
UCN5804 - Soldering Required, Really low power
Linistepper - Soldering Required
3977 -

Other related questions:
If a controller is NOT a Chopper or a Linear, then what is it?

[Edit: Added MBRD, Volts, Reformatted, Updated]

[GlenBA]

Need to add "Mid-band resonance damping" to the chart.

[Mariss Freimanis]

Volts are important too.

Mariss

[dpuch]

Well for the PICstep and the PMinMO 3977 you have the choice of 3 axis opto isolated or 4 axis without. Both can use the same breakout borards I believe.

There is a spreadsheet for the 3977 on PMinMO's site that includes the component costs. Total cost depends on if you buy boards or make them... but it lets you figure it out. Roughly $120 for a 4 axis setup.

[James Newton]

I hope this will be more readable. The trick is to select the table and click the "#" tool or just put "|CODE]" at the start of the table and "|/CODE]" at the end but replace the "|" with the open square bracket. The thing won't let me show you an open square bracket 'cause it thinks its an actual code command then.

|Kit|U/B|Axis|Opto.|Chop|M.Step|MBRD|Cost|Amps|Volts|_Tech_|_Controller_____|
|###|###|####|#####|####|######|####|####|####|#####|######|################|
|_._|_._|__._|__.__|__._|___.__|__._|$___|__._|__.__|18245T|_PicStep________|
|PCB|_U_|__3_|__.__|__._|___.__|__._|Clik|_5._|__.__|_3977_|_PMinMO_________|
|_._|_._|__._|__.__|__._|___.__|__._|$___|__._|__.__|______|_Gecko__________|
|_Y_|_U_|__4_|__N__|__Y_|___Y__|__._|$25_|_3._|_42__|_7062_|_HobbyCNC_4AUPC_|
|_._|_B_|__3_|__.__|__._|___.__|__._|$___|__._|__.__|______|_Xylotex________|
|_._|_B_|__4_|__.__|__._|___.__|__._|$___|__._|__.__|______|_Xylotex________|
|_._|_._|__._|__.__|__._|___.__|__._|$___|__._|__.__|_5804_|_UCN5804________|
|_Y_|_U_|__1_|__N__|__L_|___Y__|__N_|$30_|_1.5|_35__|TIP122|_Linistepper____|
|_"_|_"_|_>3_|__"__|__"_|___"__|__"_|$25_|__"_|__"__|__"___|_"_Qty_Discount_|
|_"_|_"_|____|__"__|__X_|___N__|__"_|____|_3._|__"__|__"___|_"_w/o_Microstep|
|_._|_._|__4_|__.__|__._|___.__|__._|$40_|__._|__.__|_3977_|_3977/a3977_bd._|

- - Legend - -
Kit - KIT-Comes in a kit; PCB-PC boards available only.
U/B - Unipolar or Bipolar? (U/B)
Axis - # of Axis (or Channels)
Opto. - Does it have Opto-Isolation? (Y/N)
Chop - Is this a Chopper? (Y/N/L) L=Linear
M.Step - Does this suport Micro Stepping? (Y/N)
Cost - Cost per axis
MBRD - Mid-band resonance damping? (Y/N)
Amps - How many Amps will it support in the given mode? (Per Phase)
Volts - Max. volts supported.
Tech - The technology this driver is based on. (3977, TIP122, etc.)

- - PROS - -
PicStep -
Gecko - Powerful?
HobbyCNC -
Xylotex -
UCN5804 - Really Cheap, easy to build
Linistepper - Less Expensive, versatile, OPEN SOURCE.

- - CONS - -
PicStep -
Gecko - Expensive
HobbyCNC - Soldering Required
Xylotex -
UCN5804 - Soldering Required, Really low power
Linistepper - Soldering Required


I've updated the cost column to be per axis and included the estimate provided for the 3977.

I split the Linistepper into three lines to show the different options including quantity price and higher amp rating in non-microstepping modes. I sell the Linistepper kit, in case you didn't know.

Anyone else that can fill in some of the missing data for the other units? Perhaps the 3977 should be split into a few lines to show different options? Pricing for the others?

[NC Cams]

Why not simply put the rating into a spreadsheet which can then be attached and upgrade a bit easier????

[James Newton]

'cause everybody has a different version of the spreadsheet software. But if you do it, and add information, I'll be happy to translate it back to html or text for others to see.

[Rance]

James,

Thanks for the tip on using CODE.

[I split the Linistepper into three lines to show the different options including quantity price and higher amp rating in non-microstepping modes. ]

Hey, I don't see where you split this out. I'd be glad to do this if you want to email it to me. Each time I find out more info, I update Post #1 to reflect the changes. Thanks everyone for their input, both past & future.

[Edit: Doooooooh, I'm blind as a bat. Thanks James.]

[James Newton]

In my copy of the table (post #5 above) there are two new lines under the Linistepper line. The first one reflects the quantity discount and allows the "($75 for 3)" text to be removed from the prior line which gets rid of the horizontal scroll bar in the CODE area. The second new line is just under that and reflects the higher power available if you don't use the microstepping modes. I also updated the Ledgend to indicate Linear vs Chopper: "Chop - Is this a Chopper? (Y/N/L) L=Linear"

[davesaudio]

Originally Posted by James Newton 'cause everybody has a different version of the spreadsheet software. .

its just called a csv, isn't it?

[James Newton]

Errr... yeah, I guess so. Good point, .CSV would be just fine, assuming people would stick to that and not post back .XLS or whatever... And assuming people could load that...

Kit,U/B,Axis,Opto.,Type, Steps,MBRD,$/Ch,Amps,Volts, Tech , Controller     
PCB, U ,1,  .  ,  . ,   Y  ,  . ,$22 ,3,55,18245T, PicStep        
PCB, U ,1,  .  ,  . ,   .  ,  . ,    ,5,30,IRLZ44, PMinMO         
PCB, B ,1,  .  ,Chop,400,  . ,  . ,2.5,46,L297/8, PMinMO         
PCB, U ,3,  .  ,  . ,   .  ,  . ,  . ,5,30,3977, PMinMO         
Kit, U ,4,  N  ,Chop,3200,  . ,$25 ,3,42,7062, HobbyCNC 4AUPC 
Kit, U ,1,  N  ,Lin.,3600,  N ,$30 ,1.5,35,TIP122, Linistepper    
Kit, U , >3 ,  N  ,Lin.,3600,  N ,$25 ,1.5,35,TIP122, Lini-InQty.    
Kit, U ,    ,  N  ,    ,200,  N ,$   ,3,35,TIP122, Lini-NoMicro   
 N , U ,1,  N  ,  . ,400,  . ,$4 ,1.25,35,5804, UCN5804        
 . , . ,  . ,  .  ,  . ,   .  ,  . ,$   ,  . ,  .  ,3977, 3977/a3977 bd. 
 . , B ,3,  .  ,  . ,1600,  . ,$52 ,2.5,35,      , Xylotex 3-Axis 
 . , B ,4,  .  ,  . ,1600,  . ,$46 ,2.5,35,      , Xylotex 4-Axis 
 N , B ,1,  Y  ,  . ,2000,  Y ,$114 ,7,80,Propri, Gecko G201

[imserv]

None of these are CNC controllers. They are all simple, low end, stepper Drivers.

Fred Smith - IMService
http://www.cadcamcadcam.com;hobby