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Thread: Which stepper motors should I use?

  1. #1
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    Default Which stepper motors should I use?

    I'm trying to build a *very* small CNC machine to drill homemade PCBs. I've decided to go the cheap route, using threaded rod from the local hardware store, which hopefully will work OK for my purposes. The frame shouldn't be too hard to build, but the thing that I'm most concerned about is which stepper motors to use. I don't think they need to be very powerful, since my machine is so small and only is going to be used for drilling.

    The website I've been looking at for stepper motors is alltronics.com. I've never purchased from them, but they have lots of different motors reasonably priced. These are the ones in my price range:

    http://www.alltronics.com/cgi-bin/it...-stepper-motor
    http://www.alltronics.com/cgi-bin/it...-stepper-motor
    http://www.alltronics.com/cgi-bin/it...-stepper-motor
    http://www.alltronics.com/cgi-bin/it...-stepper-motor
    http://www.alltronics.com/cgi-bin/it...-stepper-motor

    Does anyone have some advice for me on what motor to use? Is there a better website to order from?

    I really appreciate the help, thanks

    Similar Threads:


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    Here is another alternative: http://www.mpja.com/prodinfo.asp?number=17748+MS

    You can see this motor run in this video of mine: http://pminmo.com/which-stepper-motor

    There are two different motors illistrated in the video, the 2A motor (faster one of the two) in the video is the same motor at mpja, just doesn't have the second shaft.

    Phil, Still too many interests, too many projects, and not enough time!!!!!!!!
    Vist my websites - http://pminmo.com & http://millpcbs.com


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    Thanks for the recommendation! I think I'll go ahead and buy three of the motors you linked to. In addition to knowing that they work, they are cheaper then the ones I was looking at!

    Would you happen to know the correct way to wire them?

    Did the stepper motor pull a full 2A when you ran it? The reason I ask is because I have these motor drivers on hand.

    Last edited by Robotics Guy; 06-02-2009 at 01:38 PM.


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    The motors were set at 2A.

    Phil, Still too many interests, too many projects, and not enough time!!!!!!!!
    Vist my websites - http://pminmo.com & http://millpcbs.com


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    Hi pminmo,

    What voltage do you think is best to run the PK266-02A at?



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    For the money up to 40V, you can run it higer but cost verses benifit curve changes. Little performance improvement verses cost of higher components...(driver and power supply). Even at 27V it's a zippy little motor.

    Phil, Still too many interests, too many projects, and not enough time!!!!!!!!
    Vist my websites - http://pminmo.com & http://millpcbs.com


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    pminmo, thanks for all of your help.

    The stepper motor controller that I'm building says (in one of the IC's datasheets)
    drives two phase bipolar permanent magnet motors, four phase unipolar
    permanent magnet motors and four phase variable reluctance motors
    I'm wondering what you think is better, unipolar or bipolar?



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    It's not a simple answer unfortunately. If you have a six wire motor and you want rapids, there is little difference between half coil bipolar and unipolar at the same driver voltage levels. If you can run at much higher voltage levels, then full coil bipolar will give you more power. It depends on the coil voltage ratio of the motor supply.

    Phil, Still too many interests, too many projects, and not enough time!!!!!!!!
    Vist my websites - http://pminmo.com & http://millpcbs.com


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    Is the 36V 10A power supply enough to run full coil, do you think? If not, to run it half coil do I just use the center tap with one of the other wires?



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    So with my 36V power supply should I run it half coil or full coil?

    In either case, do I wire it as in this picture?

    http://www.probotix.com/cnc_images/unipolar_ill_02.jpg



  11. #11

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    Quote Originally Posted by Robotics Guy View Post
    I'm trying to build a *very* small CNC machine to drill homemade PCBs. I've decided to go the cheap route, using threaded rod from the local hardware store, which hopefully will work OK for my purposes. The frame shouldn't be too hard to build, but the thing that I'm most concerned about is which stepper motors to use. I don't think they need to be very powerful, since my machine is so small and only is going to be used for drilling.

    The website I've been looking at for stepper motors is alltronics.com. I've never purchased from them, but they have lots of different motors reasonably priced. These are the ones in my price range:

    http://www.alltronics.com/cgi-bin/it...-stepper-motor
    http://www.alltronics.com/cgi-bin/it...-stepper-motor
    http://www.alltronics.com/cgi-bin/it...-stepper-motor
    http://www.alltronics.com/cgi-bin/it...-stepper-motor
    http://www.alltronics.com/cgi-bin/it...-stepper-motor

    Does anyone have some advice for me on what motor to use? Is there a better website to order from?

    I really appreciate the help, thanks
    This motor will be ok
    NEMA 23 BIPOLAR STEPPER MOTOR 185 oz-in
    http://www.kelinginc.net/NEMA23Motor.html



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    Depends on your screw pitch.

    Phil, Still too many interests, too many projects, and not enough time!!!!!!!!
    Vist my websites - http://pminmo.com & http://millpcbs.com


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    Hi pminmo,

    I'm using 1/4"-20 threaded rod. The travel distance is only 6" though, so speed isn't a huge issue.

    Thanks for your help!



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    I'd start with half coil

    Phil, Still too many interests, too many projects, and not enough time!!!!!!!!
    Vist my websites - http://pminmo.com & http://millpcbs.com


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    OK. And I forgot to ask, does it matter which half of the coil I use? I mean, I'm supposed to use the center wire and one of the outside wires, right? But which outside wire should I use?

    Thanks



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    It doesn't matter except you need to select the same polarity for each phase... i.e. choose either the begining of winding or end of winding and do the same for the other phase.

    Phil, Still too many interests, too many projects, and not enough time!!!!!!!!
    Vist my websites - http://pminmo.com & http://millpcbs.com


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    I finished my electronics board. But when I power it up the motor emits this high pitched squealing noise. Does this mean I hooked up the motor incorrectly?

    I have the black wire going to pin 2 (on the L298), yellow to pin 3, red to 13 and white to 14.



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    It's normal. Some stopped positions are worse than others, while moving it's virtually non existant and when a spindle is running you don't hear it. When a motor is not in use disble the motors for safety, easier on the ears, and wear and tear on the motors and power drivers.

    Phil, Still too many interests, too many projects, and not enough time!!!!!!!!
    Vist my websites - http://pminmo.com & http://millpcbs.com


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    Whew! Thought I might have done something terribly wrong there

    How do you recommend disabling the motors? Do you mean cut power, or use the L297's ENABLE pin?

    Thanks!



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    L297 enable pin.

    Phil, Still too many interests, too many projects, and not enough time!!!!!!!!
    Vist my websites - http://pminmo.com & http://millpcbs.com


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Which stepper motors should I use?

Which stepper motors should I use?