use satellite dish actuator motor as a stepper motor

[ozni]

Hi,

I am new here, this is my first post, and i am planning in the short term to build my cnc router.

I am from Morocco, where it is very difficult to find special parts like the stepper motor. But I can easily find a satellite dish actuator (it's an arm that moves the satellite dish). it includes a motor that works with same principe as on the cnc tables. the motor turns and the arm goes longer. But I am not sure if it is a stepper motor.

Did anyone had any experience with this type of motors is it a stepper motor? Is there an easy way to identify the motor if it is a stepper motor or not?

[AbSat]

These motors are no stepper motors but simple DC motors.
When the actuator has no DiSEqC control there is no electronics involved,
just a 36V DC motor and a reed contact or opto device to give pulses when the motor is running for position control by the receiver or positioner. Some of them have build in limit switches.

AbSat.

[cnc2]

Originally Posted by AbSat These motors are no stepper motors but simple DC motors. When the actuator has no DiSEqC control there is no electronics involved, just a 36V DC motor and a reed contact or opto device to give pulses when the motor is running for position control by the receiver or positioner. Some of them have build in limit switches. AbSat.

Hello AbSat,

Sorry to dig into an old thread, can you please answer some of my questions:

1) Do you have more info on these motors ? (no load & max ampacity, no load speed ...etc)

2) Are they strong/tough enough to work continuously in a CNC machine without overheating/burning ? (say on a 3 hours routing job)

3) Is it easy to mount an encoder on them to drive them with UHUs ?

Thanks !
cnc2.

[Al_The_Man]

I have a motorized dish and have wondered about the motor?
But considering the current to drive it is supplied by the coax, they cannot be very large at all, and very low voltage.
Must be large gearing involved.
Al.

[AbSat]

There are 2 types of motors to move satellite dishes.
The first one is the actuator from the first item and the DiSEqC
motor I think Al The Man is talking about.
A actuator has a 36V DC motor and is controlled by extra wires from
the receiver / control box to the motor. These motors will draw between
0.8 and 1 A.
A DiSEqC motor has a smaller DC motor running on the 13 - 18V power
on the coax between receiver and LNB in the dish. These units are
controlled by DiSEqC commands send by the receiver over the coax connection.
These motors will draw about 0,5A max.
Both motors are not very usefull as axis or spindel motor for CNC.
To weak and not made for continuous use. Mostly simple brass bearings.

AbSat.

[cnc2]

Thanks guys for the detailed replies !

Ok the motors are no good for CNC, but what about the screws used in the actuators ? any idea about their diameter, lead ...etc ?

Thanks !
cnc2.

[AbSat]

Sorry with that I cannot help you.
I never build out a screw.

AbSat.

[cnc2]

Ok, thanks !
cnc2.