which driver?

[WTX]

Hey Guys,

I'm getting ready to buy a G9036. When I do, I'm going to convert it over to CNC right away. This will be my first conversion and I want to make sure all of my ducks are in a row before I start.

According to my calculations, I need to use a stepper motor that is approximately 958 oz for this lathe. So, with a 20% margin, I planning on getting two of NEMA 34 High Torque 1200 oz-in motors. Is there an advantage to stepping up to the 1810 oz-in or should the 1200 be ok?

With me using stepper motors this big, I cannot use the G540, so instead for electronics, I'm planning on going with (2) KL-9082 step drivers, (1) KL-7220 72v power supply, (1) C10 Breakout Board, (1) 5v power supply for breakout board. (This is basically Keling's cnc 3 axis kit less one driver and motor.) Is this a good way to go, or should I be looking for Gecko equivalent? I'm pretty much lost here. This is the first one I have done and I really don't know any pro's or con's about any of theses setups. Should I go with a digital stepper motor driver instead? Also, there were a ton of power supply unit options. Is this the best one for my needs?

On the software side of things, I'm planning on running Mach3 but my question is; do I need lazycam? I don't care about the $75, if I can use it and it will help, great, if not, no point in getting it.

When it comes to ball screws and what not, I'm lost. I noticed a while back, Crevice Reamer retained the factory screws and just adapted the motors to work. Is that a good idea or bad?

If retaining them is ok, why not just hook the motors up to the handles, instead of mounting the Z on the end of the unit?

If retaining them is a bad idea, where is a good place to get them and how large should they be? I'm not impressed by keling's offerings. So, I have been looking elsewhere, but there are a ton of companies that make them and I don't know enough to know good from great or bad from good. Any help here is greatly appreciated.

The information on this site has been extremely helpful and you guys seem very knoweledgeable. So, any insight is really appreciated.
Thanks!

[LUCKY13]

I would go with a digital driver, or a gecko.



Power supply I would get from ANtec dirrect. I guess Keling is giving peak rates and Antec gives continues ( same PS). I believe it is the PS 10N70 that is the same PS Keling is offering. If you want 1500watts get the PS 15N73. Either can have the 5v supply you need added just by getting a 15 dollar module from Antec (transformer is already wired for it, plus its cheaper from Antec). It doesnt really take anymore power to run a bigger supply anyway, and it will have better regulation. The 1000watt unit ( PS 10N70) will be plenty for you but if you start adding more axis or motor driven parts it would not hurt to have the bigger. It will only use what is drawn on it, at idle they burn very little. The Antec style supply is very cheap and easy to repair if something goes wrong also ( can fix it yourself and get the parts cheap, very few parts also).

Laztcam,, I will say its worth getting. Unless you plan to buy something alot better. Even then 75 dollars is nothing when looking at software and Lazycam is growing. You will be in on it for cheap. Its usable, but will get better.


Ballscrews will be better. No need for Handles at all either. You can run the factory screws for a while if you need, and maybe even be as good as you need. But ballscrews will be more accurate, and require less power from your axis motors. Again forget using the handles and hook direct to the screws with your stepper/cuppling setup.

Yo can read Hoss thread on his G704 ( in the benchtop machines section a little below this section)and the guys are going over ballscrews, price and where to get them. I have been using the Rockford double nut ballscrews but they have been using some others with good results and price ( the rockfords are pretty pricy). Getting a no backlass setup going will be worth the effort.


Hope this helps get your thread going a little anyway, maybe others will jump in when they get here.

Jess

[WTX]

Thank you for the info.

I found HOSS' thread. 155 pages of great info. Thanks. I just spend an hour and a half reading the first 24 pages. Lots of interesting ideas and info

I'm hoping to nail everything down today or tomorrow and start ordering. Hopefully by the end of September I can have it up and running.

[WTX]

Ok, so I finally finished. Looks like roton for the ballscrew setup. I will give them a call next week go figure out what diameter I need.

Also, looks like I'm going to take your suggestion and use the digital drive and the Antek power supply. Not sure which one yet.

[WTX]

Well, funding secured. I ordered the lathe, but I cannot seem to get a hold of Keling to get the motors or driver. Might need to find another solution...

[LUCKY13]

I would get them from them ( drivers atleast). I was reading a thread somewhere on the forum and it may be they where on vacation. What ever the reason was they will be back soon and all will be good. I have no connections with them except for buying from them. I will see if I can find the thread, I believe it was in the Keling section now that I think about it.



BTW , great that you got your machine ordered.


Jess

[WTX]

Hey Jess,

I think I figured out why a lot of people are having problems with keling. Their e-mail isn't working unless you submitt the contact us form. If you e-mail their account directly, they aren't receiving it. I have had a decent amount of communications with Linda and John over the last couple of days and have now ordered everything.

I ended up going with the Antek PS15N70R5 power supply, C11G Breakout board, NEMA 32 1200 oz-in motors, 203VGeckodriver, Mach3 and Lazycam.

I'm hoping to get the lathe here next week and then I can see about the ballscrew's.

Thanks for your input and help. as you can see, it helped sway some of my purchasing decisions.

[LUCKY13]

That looks like a nice round of parts. It should be a very durable setup. Now the fun begines.



Jess

[WTX]

Electronics showed up on Thursday, Lathe showed up on Friday. Only problem is that UPS couldn't get the lathe down off the truck with the lift gate (lathe is too big I guess). So, hopefully they will get that straightened out and I will be able to take delivery of the lathe early next week!