LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Ive bought 2 3axis kits from Probotix. (2 different machines)
Fantastic product and amazing support. These guys really love hobby cnc and what they do. Highly recommend them.
| | |
I would like to compile a list of vendors that offer a "Plug and Play" stepper motor and controller kit. I've been shopping around and I figure I can’t be the only one searching for this information. If this thread already exists somewhere else please let me know!
If you have experience with any of these kits PLEASE add a review or link to where there is some discussion. If you have purchased a kit from a vendor that does not appear on this list please post about it and I will add it to this list.
CNC Router Parts
Originally Posted by ggibson
Keling INC
Xylotex
Probotix
Homann Desgns
Build Your CNC
Longs Motor
Wantai Motor
Fine Line Automation
ProCut CNC
Motion Control Products
Rhonmac-CNC
Stepperworld
Automation Technology
CW Motor
HobbyCNC
Last edited by enforcer; 02-15-2012 at 10:42 AM.
Ive bought 2 3axis kits from Probotix. (2 different machines)
Fantastic product and amazing support. These guys really love hobby cnc and what they do. Highly recommend them.
I purchased the CNCRouterParts 4 Axis kit about 2 years ago for my 8020 2'x4' CNC machine, and it was easy to put together (the motors having connectors to plug directly into the G540) and has performed perfectly for 2 years. I've contacted Ahren for support for other items (never needed it for the steppers/controller) and his responses have been very quick, friendly, and helpful.
Thanks,
Glen
Hi there not sure if you’re looking for a “plug and play” solution for yourself or simply creating a thread to compile feedback and create a base as a user friendly access point for us to compare products, you might just clear that up please.......... as each and every one of us who have purchased "kits" have done so for different reasons some from previous advice (not fully understanding the electronic aspect and I say this from my own experience as I myself am learning every hour) and some from research and bought to output specific torque ranges for diferent stock machining, and so someone may just get more confused......
Me I used Keling Stepper motors and Keling Digital Stepper drivers I've only recently finished my own build but I can highly recomend that combination mind you I used CNC4PC Breakout Boards but again Keling also supply them, if you want here's my complete electronics hardware and software setup including all the respective hardware links in post 6 of the thread http://www.cnczone.com/forums/bencht...n_using-6.html happy reading
My bad. I should have cleared that up. Yes I'm looking for Plug and Play kits to compile a list and have a little bit of feedback in one central location.Hi there not sure if you’re looking for a “plug and play” solution for yourself or simply creating a thread to compile feedback and create a base as a user friendly access point for us to compare products, you might just clear that up please.......... as each and every one of us who have purchased "kits" have done so for different reasons some from previous advice (not fully understanding the electronic aspect and I say this from my own experience as I myself am learning every hour
Me I used Keling Stepper motors and Keling Digital Stepper drivers I've only recently finished my own build but I can highly recomend that combination mind you I used CNC4PC Breakout Boards but again Keling also supply them, if you want here's my complete electronics hardware and software setup including all the respective hardware links in post 6 of the thread http://www.cnczone.com/forums/bencht...n_using-6.html happy reading
enforcer, to expand MW's question. Do you have any experience machining? Manual or CNC? Not trying to offend just curious. I personally have run a Hobby Cnc Pro board and their recommended steppers (I did build the board from a kit so plug and play might not be you would call it). I have run G540's with various power supplies, probotix and PMDX boards. All worked great and have great custommer service. None of them worked well UNTIL I understood the settings and configuration issues. That is an ongoing process. Fortunately for me it is a hobby and I can get sidetracked with another project and the family still eats.
NP. To answer your question... no. I've more experience with automation products and none with actual machining. CNC machines are a new venture for me. I began creating this list in a spreadsheet as a starting point for myself as I spec out and research parts. Some of these kits are fantastic based on what ive read on the forums. Others are garbage. I decided to create this as a way to centralize my research and provide it to others who are researching what is available out there as far as turnkey, plug and play kits. In the end I may decide to build a motor, driver and power supply configuration from scratch.... but I would have come to that decision quicker if I was able to find and research what kits are available.
I purchased the 3 motor kit from CNCRouterParts.com about 18 months ago. I got the larger power supply for no good reason. Worked just fine. I did replace the cables because I wanted to put the resisters closer to the stepper motors. My version of the G540 made the motors run hot unless the resisters were close to the motor. I understand that the current version of the G540 allow the motors to run cooler no matter where the resister is placed.
You forgot these two;
LiniStepper and SLAmStepper kits;
PIC Linear Stepper Motor Controller
SLAm Stepper Motor Controller, Allegro SLA7062M, Unipolar
They have a fair following on this forum and the PIClist boss (James) provides tech support here.
This wasn't really what i was looking for since neither of them include motors and a power supply.
Sorry, I misunderstood your wording, I thought you were doing a "complete list" of "stepper driver kits".
Hello again enforcer it's a good idea what your trying to do here but unfortunately the electronics hardware configuration is not really as simple as "plug and play" and can get very confusing for a first timer (speaking from experience here
And I don't ‘mean or want’ to add to an already confused kinda thread as a one fix solution for all is really not a viable option as one suppliers product may suit one person’s application machining requirements and not the next but mated with a differing electronics build/setup may also be the best product too.....!
bear with me here and once you get your head around the points listed below things may seem a little easier and before choosing any individual electronic product as a rule of thumb work backwards:
1. work out the requirements or cutting needs, i.e. material or stock to be machined (Steel, Aluminium, castings, plastic etc..), and the time spent cutting or the feasible machining time i.e. “speeds and feeds”
2. then this will dictate the torque output requirements of the axis motors i.e. stepper or server motors (and this is NOT to be confused with SPINDLE motor HP output)
3. this will then dictate the power requirements to drive each individual axis motor i.e. taking for example in my case my chosen X,YandZ axis motors are stepper motors and for my steppers to output their respective holding torque based on my motor wiring configuration in the manufacturers specs I needed Stepper Drivers to output over 6amps ( as a loss of Amperage from the drivers to the motors will deliver a loss of holding torque too)
4. here’s where someone can get confused too as there are several wiring configurations for Stepper Motors to the Stepper Drivers too i.e. Bipolar Series, Bipolar Parallel and Unipolar, but depending on the holding torque required will dictate the wiring configuration too
5. then the next stage once the dirvers have been selected will then dictate the power supplies required i.e. 48v, 72v, 12 v etc…
6. now what controller platform will be used to control the CNC machine does the Host PC have a Parallel Port or only a USB port as this will dictate if a USB Motion Controller is required
7. what additional hardware requirements will be sought to use in the builds i.e. MPG’s, Spindle control, additional axis 4th or 5th and this will also dictate what breakout boards are required
8. what OS (Operating System) does the host PC run Mac Windows etc?
I hope I haven't confused any one any more hear but if your new to this whole electronics thingy it's just a new jargon to learnand once learned will never be forgotton........
Posting Permissions
| | |
