what do i need to buy from zylotex to get up and running?

[ljoe1969]

i am gonna build my table and i need to know what i need to buy from zylotex to get my cnc running.

i know i need 3 stepper motors. and driver boards. i have an old pc power supply.

what else do i need?

[kong]

I think that's it actually. The board should come with the conector cable for the parallel port. The one thing I will suggest though, if you can afford it you should get the 24v power supply. The difference between it and a pc psu is huge.

[ljoe1969]

i don't see a 24v power supply on their website.

any recomendations?

[ger21]

Search Ebay for 24V power supply. Here are some good ones for the xylotex going on right now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=32720

Way overkill, but a friend just bought one for his router from here and it works great. If the price is right.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...&category=4665

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=32720

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=11772

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=36323

Someone on the Xylotex group mentioned this one the other day, if you want to stay away from Ebay.
http://www.herbach.com/Merchant2/mer...egory_Code=PWS

You should be able to pick up any of these for a decent price.

Gerry

[Mr.Chips]

I just ordered drivers from Xylotex and I really don't understand the Volts and Amps information, and don't want to damage anything.

Here are the specifications of the driver:
±2.5 Amp/Phase PWM controlled drives
up to 35 Volt (w/BEMF)
5 Volt Logic ( < 50mA typ.)

When looking for a PS should I look for one whos amp spec is 2.5?

The driver voltage is listed as 35 volts, I understand 30 V is a better choice to prevent driver damage. Typically are PS adjustable? Don't see a pot on most of the ones on EBAY.

Seen some electronics on machines that have large resistors, what are they used for?

Have an old PC PS could I use it for the 5V? And would the Amps match?

Need some information and guidelines for this newbie.
Thanks
Hager

[ger21]

The 2.5A/phase is the most the motor can draw. The power supply can be as many amps as you want, but depending on your motors, at least around 5A minimum. Email Jeff with your motor info, and he can tell you more accurately. Some 24V supplies can be adjustable up to usually 27V, but I haven't seen many. 30V are hard to find if you're on a budget, so most people go with 24V.

Resistors are for Unipolar drivers to regulate the current, none are needed with the Xylotex.

Did you get the 3 seperate boards? On the 3 axis board, Jeff supplies a power cable to plug right in to a PC hard drive power connector with the board. With 3 seperate boards, you'll probably have to wire them up yourself, but yes, you can use a PC supply for the 5V.

Gerry

[Mr.Chips]

Gerry,
I went with three seperate boards, didn't want to replace them all if one went. And I have the wiring diag.

Thanks for clearing the resistor question up.

I baught the motors from jeff as part of the package, won't know the specifics until they arrive.

Please clarify the following. If the PS can be as many amps as you want, how is it limited to the motor max, say 2.5A?

The 2.5A/phase is the most the motor can draw. The power supply can be as many amps as you want, but depending on your motors, at least around 5A minimum.

Thanks
Hager

[ger21]

There is an adjustment pot on the boards for each axis that you set for the current requirements of your motors. You need a voltmeter to do this. Read the .pdf for the boards from the Xylotex site, that should clear things up for you.

Gerry

[HiString]

So if I understand things correctly, having an overabundance of current won't create problems....................I recently received my drivers from Jeff and have just found a power supply which specs out as being 27.5V, 30amp. I just wasn't sure whether I could use it without problems.

[lsfoils]

Hey Jeff,

Maybe now would be a good time to explain current limiting...?

[Mr.Chips]

HiString,
Welcome to the ever growing group of people that are electrically challenged.
I’ve learned that there are many things that are very basic to the electrically enlightened and sometimes when they explain something, they forget that we don't know the basics, and their answers while accurate, can be confusing.

CNC construction is a very interesting and addictive hobby. The potential to create objects even on a three axis machine is mind boggling. If you want to build your own machine you will learn metal working, wood working, electronics, programming , and more.

There are a lot of warm and giving people in the CNC Zone, don’t be afraid to ask questions even twice when you’re not sure. Anyway keep at it, and we will all grow because of this experience.

I just ordered driver boards and steppers from Jeff. I purchased three separate driver boards rather than his board with three drivers on it. In his acknowledgement email he said if I was unsure about the electrical connections I could send him the diagram and he would check it out. I’m putting that together now, don’t want to do anything wrong electrically.
Hager

[ger21]

Please clarify the following. If the PS can be as many amps as you want, how is it limited to the motor max, say 2.5A?

Basically, you set up the xylotex for the current your motor needs through the onboard pot. With the board powered up with the 5V, but NOT the motor power yet, you use a Voltmeter to measure the voltage at the reference pin on the board (actually not a pin, but a small hole) you turn the pot until the voltage is (motor max current x 1.44), for example, a 2A/phase motor would be set to 2.88V. All this is in the data sheet on the Xylotex site. Once this is set, then the Xylotex will only draw this much current from the power supply. Hope this was clear enough.

Gerry