Stepper connector

[cnczoner]

Hi all,

Where do I find decent-priced connectors for my stepper motors? I found these at digikey.com ... SC1182-ND and SC1162-ND, but they're only rated for 20-gauge wire and I'm thinking I should use something heftier like 16-gauge -- just gut feel for a 4-to-5-ft run from controller to motor.

Any better sources? Also, while I'm at it, any sources for nice flexible multi-conductor wire.

Cheers,
-Neil.

[jalessi]

Neil,

Take a look at the 9W4 connector, they make pins for 10 thru 40 amps.

http://www.mouser.com/catalog/636/1235.pdf

Jeff...

[cnczoner]

Hmmm... nice connector, but I was hoping to find something inline, and sealed to protect against all sorts of oils/fluids. Where is everyone else getting the round connectors, that I keep seeing on pics of CNC conversions?

Cheers,
-Neil.

[Arquibaldo]

Dear Neil:

I have an extreme suggestion: why not using no connectors at all?

I believe connectors are one of the troublespots in our machines,
specially if used with steppers, which draw a considerable amount
of current and, if one wire gets loose, can cause a driver to blow.
If you try to find a decent, locking, high current connector you will
see they are unreasonably expensive.

So, I decided on a radical approach: NO connectors for the steppers:
the wires are soldered near the steppers and I use screw terminals on the
driver side: very secure (tighten them well, of course) and high current
capability. After all, you don't have to disconnect them so often...

Nelson

[jalessi]

Like this?


http://tinyurl.com/c8fq2p

[Crevice Reamer]

If you put the connectors on the DRIVER end, they don't have to be sealed. Try these:

You can use THIS wire for motor cables and home/limit switches. Ground the drain wire ONLY at the driver end.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Servo-Motor-Wire...3286.m20.l1116

These gold-pin connectors are good and fairly cheap:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...%3D4%26ps%3D42

CR.

[cnczoner]

If anyone ever needed connectors, it would be me -- for two reasons: (1) I seem to move the mill around periodically, and don't want wires dangling off the mill as it adds to the complications moving that beast; and (2) I am now CNC'ing a lathe, and want to use the same PC/controller/driver setup, and swap the connections as necessary. Both machines are very low use, so I'm not worried about

For (1) above, it would make sense to have the connectors near the steppers.

Those ebay connectors are just like what I was thinking, though I don't see the the seals/grommets for the wire sides, and ideally it would be a stock shelf item so if I needed spares in the future I could get more. That's what I'm running into now btw -- I can't find extras of the connectors I currently have on the mill (put there by someone else who I bought the mill from).

I use Amp Mate-n-Lock connectors ( http://dkc3.digikey.com/PDF/T091/P0226.pdf ) for work-related products regularly (and have a bunch in stock), and I discovered yesterday that I can get seals for it. With proper strain-reliefs, this may work well, and I'd use 2 circuits per wire to ensure proper current-handling capacity.

But a properly sealed circular may make me feel better.

Cheers,
-Neil.

[sparkness]

I Like those import military connectors from ebay I wonder if they are cpc compatible. I just bought 3 size 11 cpc 3 flange mount, plugs and contacts from digikey total cost $50 after you get all pieces needed
A1301-ND