Re: Digest Number 315

I think this servo vs steppers is getting a bit nuts- It is a fact that
there are many thousands of systems in service with stepper motors that
do a very good job. This ranges from tiny motors moving ink jet printer
heads to big ones movnig industrial size tables under big machines.

If the motor is run within its design limits, it does NOT loose steps.
PERIOD.

Jon described the situtation where a servo system 'hits the wall' and
breaks a tool or some such and says the servo doenst loose it positon-
so what, the tool is broken, the work is likely ruined anyway.

Trying to take a stepper and make it into a servo is a waste of time and
effort. If you want a system that can be built within the design limits
of a stepper, it will be considerably cheaper, simpler, more stable in
operation and probably longer lived than servos. Just use good steppers
and carefull enginering and strt making parts.

If you want the highest possible speed, then the job equires servos, so
bite the bullet and buy the servos and amps and controllers and get on
with it.

Trying to make a stepper into a servo is about like trying to make a
flying automobile, sure it could be done, but why bother.

ron