Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] gecko

Hi Kandiah,

> I have heard much about this list and about Gecko drives and figure
> this would be the correct list to ask. Why is the Gecko drive so
> popular?

Gecko drives are popular because they are great drives at a
very reasonable price.

>I understand that Gecko only supply the electronics and
>doesn't supply the power supply. Is the power supply difficult to
>hook up?

Many, if not most drive makers require you to supply your own
power supply or at least they charge extra for them. It is not
much to build your own as it only requires an unregulated supply.
Once you figure your requirements as to voltage and current, all
you need to get is a transformer, capacitor, and a bridge rectifier
(or some diodes)

>What else would one need to make the Gecko a complete servo
> motor driver other than the motor itself and where can we get the
> circuit diagram for the power supply

I assume you know that this is a step/direction servo system and
not a true servo system like those on the big expensive machines.
That said, I am running a Gecko servo system and could'nt be more
pleased. It works much faster and smoother than a stepper system
and is all I really need on my machine (CNC Router). About the
only other thing you REALLY need is wire, but you will probably
want to get some switches, relays, E-Stop switch, etc to finish
up once you get it going. I believe the files section has some
diagrams of the hookup in it. Oh, I forgot, if you are using servo
motors, you will need some encoders. I am using 500 line
encoders and they work real well. That's 2000 pulses/revolution
quadrature, and more than enough for my needs. Also of course,
you will need a controller program which will output step and
direction signals. Most of the programs talked about on the
list here will do that.

Bill