Need Help!- Help finding a 4.5V 3.5A unipolar stepper driver

[masonicus]

Hi all, I'm a new user here with a new (old) piece of CNC equipment.

I just brought home a NOS SLO-SYN positioning table, a NCR1020TPX I think. It has SLO-SYN HS50L (no other numbers) 4.5V 3.5A 120 oz-in steppers. I think it dates from the early 70's, but that's just a guess.

A few quick searches didn't turn up anything that's meant for such a low voltage and such a high current.

Anyone have any suggestions? I'd like something that'll do a good job, but not into the industrial price range since I'm assuming I'll replace the steppers with servos eventually.

I'm ok with something that can take step signals, or will just amplify a digital signal to drive the coils.

Thanks in advance!

[CalG]

Do a search of "Stepper power supply voltage" or the like.
You will find that a 4.5 volt stepper wants the drive to be much higher voltage. greater than 35 V for sure. IT has to do with inductance.....

The good folks at Gecko will set you on your way when you buy the drives. (you should Good products!) Still need the power supply though..... ;-)

There is lots to be gained by reading here on this very forum....

CalG

[danielponciano]

4 hilos... 6 hilos.. 8 hilos

[masonicus]

Originally Posted by CalG Do a search of "Stepper power supply voltage" or the like. You will find that a 4.5 volt stepper wants the drive to be much higher voltage. greater than 35 V for sure. IT has to do with inductance..... The good folks at Gecko will set you on your way when you buy the drives. (you should Good products!) Still need the power supply though..... ;-) There is lots to be gained by reading here on this very forum.... CalG

I have looked through the archives, and found a wide range of advice for voltage - somewhere between 5 and 20 times the rated voltage. I was hoping to narrow it down a bit. I have some understanding of the AC voltage being different from the rated DC voltage But it doesn't seem right for the controller to be using a holding voltage that's 20 times the rated DC voltage - I'd rather the motors didn't run hot enough to burn me.

In the past I've used either the rated voltage or what other people use for the same motor, but this is an uncommon motor - it looks like it was used only on one of Superior's products, presumably with their own controller, probably 30 years ago. So that doesn't work.

I'd love to just fork out for Gecko drives, I've used them in the past, but all I can get out of Gecko's web site is fancy flash animations of Geckos, with no working links to product information or a non-flash web site. A broken web site from a high tech company is a pretty big turn-off.

I've looked at a few other brands of controllers and I couldn't find anyone who had any help for selecting the right controller for a particular motor, which is how I wound up here.

[jalessi]

Masonicus,

Gecko's website is working flawlessly, are you sure you don't have a browser issue on your P.C.?

Jeff...

[masonicus]

Originally Posted by jalessi Masonicus, Gecko's website is working flawlessly, are you sure you don't have a browser issue on your P.C.? Jeff...

Flawlessly! That's pretty darned good!

If their web site is flawless then it must be my fault.

[MadMachines]

Originally Posted by masonicus Flawlessly! That's pretty darned good! If their web site is flawless then it must be my fault.

Try this,
http://www.geckodrive.com/upload/G54...4%20MANUAL.pdf

[CalG]

If you are in need of a "Superior Electric" (Slo Syn is the brand) LC drive. I have one for you ;-) A REAL antique. ;-)

[masonicus]

Originally Posted by CalG If you are in need of a "Superior Electric" (Slo Syn is the brand) LC drive. I have one for you ;-) A REAL antique. ;-)

Antique! I'd love to take you up on it, but my cat's got a tummy ache right now, and that just upsets the whole household, so I can't make any firm promises.

[RomanLini]

That motor is almost certainly a unipolar type.

If you are happy to drive it at 3A instead of 3.5A you could use one of the low cost unipolar chopper motor drivers, this one is my favorite;
SLAmStepper 3amp chopper unipolar stepper motor driver

[CalG]

Regarding the LC drive

Any time, the unit is "in stock" ;-)

I really should get pictures (or start a museum)

[masonicus]

Originally Posted by MadMachines Try this, http://www.geckodrive.com/upload/G54...4%20MANUAL.pdf

Thanks! That looks like pretty much exactly what I'm looking for.

Anyone got any suggestions for who's got the best price?