How is the "New Hobbycnc" board working?

[massajamesb]

Got it in yesterday, assembled it this morning. I have to say that I really like this board, very very quiet, no hiss like the old model. Seems to run much smoother and even seems like the motors have more torque! Definately worth the price of admission. If you ever blew a chip on the old board, you will definately like this board. I accidently got to try out the chip protection (powermax motor connectors suck), and after turning the power off, wait a minute, and power back up, everything is fine. Very nice end result, great price, and easy to follow directions. What more could you ask for? I think that Daves' email box is going to be a lot emptier thanks to this board, since it seems to be completey trouble free. I ran a sheet of parts through Mach with the steppers just sitting on the bench. Job was about an hour long, all said. Steppers got a little warm, and there is a normal amount of noise from the motors, but from 1/8 step to 1/2 step they are SMOOOOOOOTH. Full step of course has a bit of resonance, but that is to be expected. I highly reccommend this board, I will have it on my torch table within about 48 hours, and I will follow up with those results, though I have to say my hopes are already high.

[Ron111]

Dave,
I used one of your boards a couple of months ago, it worked great. I sold the lathe, but I was interested as to how the new design is working out. Will the steppers run cooler with the idle function? I got used to the hiss, but will this be quieter?

The drivers still can use a PS voltage of up to 42 VDC. The new enhancements include two new features 1) driver protection of disconnecting the leads from the motors, and 2) and the idle current reduction. Any thing else?

I'm thinking of buying and cnc'ing an X3 sometime in the future, maybe using your new board.

Ron

[massajamesb]

There is none of the old hissing with the Pro boards. There is a little bit of chopping noise with the steppers, but not much. The steppers run warm to the touch, but not hot. I didn't read the instructions at first, and I set my Vref the same way I did on the old board, to the same amperage. This is bad. It is actually a lower number than before. Then, yes, the steppers get hot. REAL hot. But when I turned the amperage down, the heat was hardly worth mentioning. Even after running for an hour, I could still pick up the motors and try to stop the shaft to check torque.

[HobbyCNC]

Dave,
I used one of your boards a couple of months ago, it worked great. I sold the lathe, but I was interested as to how the new design is working out. Will the steppers run cooler with the idle function? I got used to the hiss, but will this be quieter?

The drivers still can use a PS voltage of up to 42 VDC. The new enhancements include two new features 1) driver protection of disconnecting the leads from the motors, and 2) and the idle current reduction. Any thing else?

I'm thinking of buying and cnc'ing an X3 sometime in the future, maybe using your new board.

Ron

Yes on cooler...depending on how long they sit "idle".
Yes on quieter. Board now handles that much better.
Chips allow full step too in addition to 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16th.

[Ron111]

massajamesb,

Thanks for the info, looks like a winner!!!!!

Ron

[Ron111]

Dave Rigotti,

Thanks for the info, looks like you hit a home run with the new board. Question, what is the largest bench top mill that folks have used your boards to control? I know that maybe all you know is that you sell the boards and maybe don't get feed back as to their application.

Thanks,

Ron

[HobbyCNC]

Dave Rigotti,

Thanks for the info, looks like you hit a home run with the new board. Question, what is the largest bench top mill that folks have used your boards to control? I know that maybe all you know is that you sell the boards and maybe don't get feed back as to their application.

Thanks,

Ron

We know of many "micro" mills and also some "mini" mills. The X1 and X2 size stuff. X3 would be stretching it for sure.

[Ron111]

Dave,
I'm not sure that using your wouldn't work well on the X3. Here's why. CNCFUSION.com make a hardware kit for the X3 and has cutting video demos of a cnc X3 reportably using steppers valued at 166 oz/in (X) and 200 oz/in (y) axis. A Gas spring on the Z would allow a simular size.

On my 9X20 lathe on the Z, I used a keling (425 oz/in (bipolar rating)) 300 oz/in unipolar rating, using your board.

So, if cncfusion.com truely is getting good results from the above stated configurations, then I think your board would be a good match.

I tried going to their website to confirm this report, but it contained two many graphics for my dial up service, so I wanted to run this past you while I had your ear.

You may want to check it out for your own point of reference.

Thanks,

Ron Little

[eDudlik]

How much skill is required to assemble one of the Pro boards? It's been a long time since I did any serious PCB assembly, and I'm a little worried that it might be too much. However, from what I've read, some of you have done it in a single morning, which doesn't seem bad at all. Thanks.

//
Edward

[Ron111]

I assembled the board prior to the Proboard, it took an evening. I think hobbycnc (or one of the kit venders) may have a soldering training kit for $20 or so that you brush up on your technique if you think that you are too rusty.

With the board that I assembled, Dave had you solder the passive components (resisters, caps) prior to the voltage regulators and drivers so I felt more able in soldering the more populated areas of the board.

[massajamesb]

I soldered one of the older boards in about 2-3 hours, from start to finish. I assembled the new board and was testing it within the same amount of time. Trust me, even if you are lame in your PCB soldering skills, you can do this. Just slow down and assure good solder flow on each joint. Don't rush, just do it right the first time. Hope this helps!

[jhowelb]

Dave,
I just bought one of your new boards as a kit and was shocked to find that it did not include a bridge rectifier nor the large blue capacitor. Now I will have to do a lot of head scratching and hunting for these items and just hope I get the right ones. (There was no instruction relevant to power supply!)
My disappointment over this is pretty bitter. I will remember it when it comes time to purchase again.
John