A few stepper questions...

[snooper]

Just a few things I'd like to check, so here goes:

1. If the motor is rated 8.4V, what voltage should I supply it in order to use it effectively?

2. Is 425 oz.in (holding torque) sufficient to mill mild steel and aluminum with a max cutting area of 2x2ft (60x60cm)? (Assume threaded bolt and skate bearings...)

3. What's the difference between bipolar(series) and bipolar(parallel)? Which is best?

4. In terms of EM interference, will I be making things better or worse by using coiled wire chords (similar to those found on telephones) between my steppers and the drivers?

My most humble apologies if these questions have been answered elsewhere; I'm not afraid of reading, so please just point me in the right direction!

[NC Cams]

Read on:

Research
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showth...9&page=1&pp=15
specifically post #15

Electronics books
http://www.forrestmims.com
or
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/pro...lance&n=283155

The "holy grail" of electronics info for the DIY CNC neophyte:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/052...lance&n=283155

Web-based books on electronics:
www.ibiblio.org/obp/electricCircuits/



Linear scales;
http://www.cnczone.com/cg...3;t=003181;p=0

Ball screw basics:
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20748

Ball screw treatise, the hard core stuff:
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showth...?t=8813&page=1


PID tuning
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20927

Daisychaining ATX power supplies:

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showth...015#post142015
http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=108208

Linear P/S design/construction
http://www.campbelldesigns.com/files...ply-part-1.pdf

Servo amp P/S design
http://www.elecdesign.com/Articles/A...7635/7635.html

Servo motor , servo amp, powersupply sizing for CNC
http://www.rutex.com/pdf/Mystique2.pdf

Bearing literature:
http://www.bardenbearings.com/literatr.htm

http://www.timken.com/products/bearings/catalogs/

http://www.jp.nsk.com/app01/en/catal...gi?ec=bearings

Get the NSK E1102 catalog for starters


Motor torque info/defininition
http://www.merkle-korff.com/formulas.asp#con

What gage wire to use:
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17350
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showth...480#post136480

Servo vs Stepper:
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17419

Simply stepper info:
http://www.parkermotion.com/catalog/catalogA/A12.pdf

Stepper reverse engineering:
http://www.doc.ic.ac.uk/~ih/doc/stepper/others/

Stepper sizing:
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17707

Small stepper P/S
http://www.campbelldesigns.com/files...ply-part-1.pdf

G code parts counter
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22223

You need SHIELDED wire for the leads to the steppers and/or servos. Phone cord won't cut it...

[Al_The_Man]

Originally Posted by snooper 4. In terms of EM interference, will I be making things better or worse by using coiled wire chords (similar to those found on telephones) between my steppers and the drivers?

If you are looking at coiled style cables to your motors, it is preferable to go either simple festoon track or cable track, The coiled variety is good for Handwheels but they have the danger of getting trapped in axis use.
BTW there was a previous post where I got the information on how to custom coil your own cable, by coiling it around a former and heating in an oven to change its memory! It worked.
I was finding it hard to obtain the type I wanted.
You need a higher gauge than is required for normal motor current when using track or festoon, as the cable is constantly flexing.
Cat5 is made for Ethernet use, not servo motors.
Al.

[snooper]

NC CAMS and Al, thanks to both of you; it's people like you (that take the time to answer noob questions and point us in the right direction) that not only contributes to this hobby, but to mankind as well. Thanks a million.