Stepper Motor Woes........

[deltafab]

OK, it looked so simple, stepper motors, no big deal, WRONG! I need to use a NEMA 23 370 oz/in. Stepper Motor in a single application, requiring it to run CW and CCW rotation. I have the motor and all of a sudden I find I can't just put a toggle switch in line and do what I want. It appears I need a driver, power supply, etc, etc,etc. Man what a mess! I have a Model # RS23-570 motor I bought from HomeshopCNC online, the tag on the motor = 60HS78DE076B-01,
it was manufactured 2011-05-04. It bolts up to my part fine, now what???????
Dummy in the Delta

[KOC62]

Welcome to the world of CNC.

Yes every motor needs a power supply.
Steppers need a stepper driver.
The stepper driver needs inputs like STEP pulses and a DIRection pulse/level.
Where will you get these pulses if you are not using a computer?

You may need to re-examine your project.
OR
You will need to do a lot of reading on this zone.

[deltafab]

Thanks for a speedy reply, not what I was hoping to hear, but a reply anyway. I am familiar with CNC equipment, but this seemed like such a simple thing.......... I was not aware of the traits of stepper motors, other than they were less expensive than servo motors and had less "baggage" than servos. I knew they would have to have power and have several voltages available on the machine to choose from. Just didn't know the wiring was so complicated when all I needed was CW and CCW motion, no voltage sensing, etc., just up and down................ Thanks again for the reply.

[doorknob]

You can use a "standalone" stepper motor driver (incorporating a pulse generator) instead of using a computer.

There are examples that range all the way from extremely simple DIY projects to off-the-shelf equipment.

For example, if you do a search on "rotary table indexer" you may find something suitable to drive a single stepper motor in CW or CCW direction.

[KOC62]

deltafab,

Depending on the power required (370 oz-in?), you may be able to go with a DC motor. This you connect to a power supply via a toggle switch for direction.

You didn't mention speed control, which is another reason we use steppers. Steppers also have accurate shaft position control, which a DC motor doesn't - unless it has an encoder like your servo idea.

Your requirements will dictate which means is most appropriate for you. As doorknob has pointed out you can find a means to control a stepper as a standalone circuit.

[James Newton]

Another option is the Linistepper clock project
techref.massmind.org/techref/io/stepper/linistep/LiniClock/index.htm
or telescope mount
techref.massmind.org/techref/io/stepper/linistep/equatorial.htm

Each of those provide a stepper drive with the clock source built in. You can rig up your own switch to the direction input to change the direction manually.