Stepperworld kits

[s5mar]

Hi folks,

I am going to build my first CNC mill. Most of parts is well chosen expect drive sistem...sigh

I am thinking of buying stepperworld kit (199USD), which I hope could drive 13''x13'' mill table made out of ALU and rolled stel profiles.

Is the drive system good for mostly balsa, wood compilation and motors could be capable of getting any "normal" speed?
Threated rod for X, Y, Z drive is 0.12x0.4'' (hope this is equal to 10x3mm)


Thanks for any help guys!

[dertsap]

its a tough driver but it is a slow setup , you would find it not being much more costly to buy geckos and by some motors on ebay ,
i started with the fet3 setup and ended up buying the geckos within two months, trust me you will be far better off and happier if you reach that little bit further into your pocket

[s5mar]

Well actualy geckos were my first option but I thought that gecko drives are somehow expensive

Anyway I checked geckos but I can't get any info about 3 axis drives?!? Am I blind or what


How tough drives must be for wood and thin alu anyway?

[ger21]

Gecko sells drives for individual motors. For 3 axis with 3 motors, you'll need 3 drives.

[diecutter]

Like dertsap said, the FET3 is rugged, but limited as to speed. You can only boost voltage to 12v if memory serves. I have an FET3 setup running 5v for die engraving and motor rpm is only about 200-250. My cnc for wood uses a Hobbycnc board at 35v and I can top out at 100 inches per minute. If building again I'd go Gecko just like dertsap suggested.

[dertsap]

the problem with the fet is if you get into heavy voltage you need barrel sized resistors ,and a lot of heat is generated , i could nearly light a smoke off the resistors ,
the real pain is anytime you want to try a different voltage you need a whole other set of resistors

when i converted over to geckos my system went from 40 to 80 in/min

[s5mar]

Jea, I heard about resistors and problems going around them

It's bad for such a good motors to be driven so slow. Looks like they are made only for micro milling. Anyway I am thinking of making a purchase by NC-step (germany) cos all american stuff needs to be shipped and taxed (europe union takes 70% per shipment price and 20% per material price)


Nc-step look damn good for 76€. I have also some old printers motors which I think will do fine in wood destruction What do you think? (I think that this is almost out of topic...ups)