RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Thoughts on PC Based Control Retrofit....pictures of the specimen

Marty,

Welcome to the extreme home CNC contingent that puts full sized industrial
machines in their house.

No, the motors do not have any encoders they run open loop. The reason for 6
wires is that they were run as unipolar. They will run just fine as bipolar
1/2 coil and you will get better performance. The motors are most likely 8
wire motors so you have a lot of flexibility in how you drive them. Matt
used some fairly expensive high voltage drives on his conversion. I have
tested my series II (like a series I on steroids) with a Camtronics bipolar
chopper driver at 24 V and was getting about 30 ipm on the X and Y and 15
ipm on the Z. I just ordered a single Gecko G210 with the NEMA 42
modification to try and see how that works. Talking to Mariss (owner,
designer, promoter, and I imagine janitor) at Gecko he tells me that all
else being the same max RPM on a stepper will increase in direct proportion
to the drive voltage. The G210's are good up to 80 volts. So, if it works as
planned I should be able to get 40 - 45 ipm on the Z and 80 - 90 ipm on the
X & Y. Testing will be reported to the group.

I see on your webpage that you are interested in some spare stepper motors
for the machine. I have to ask why? Steppers are about indestructible. It is
easier to exterminate cockroaches.

Tim
[Denver, CO]
Fellow member of the bigger is better club

> -----Original Message-----
>
> Forgot to ask, I'm assuming these are original Bridgeport Stepper
> motors with built in encoders? I *think* I counted 6 wires in the
> cable coming out of one....machine won't be home until this
> weekend...
>
> Marty
> FAQ: http://www.ktmarketing.com/faq.html