RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Wall Wart for a Gecko

Hi, Kelly:

A simple answer to your question is to purchase a regulated 5 volt supply
rather than use a wall wart.

A better answer is to suggest that you decide on how you want to package
your system. If you were working in an industrial environment, you'd be
purchasing a NEMA box and panel. You'd mount your Geckos, power supply,
fuses, etc. on that panel and interconnect them. You'd have connectors for
the motors mounted on the cabinet side, and switches and other "control"
items (such as pilot lights, power switch, E-Stop) mounted on the front. You
might even select an industrial grade comuter and mount it in that cabinet
as well. The cabinet would most likely be mounted on a wall near the machine
with the CRT and keyboard mounted near the machine. You'd also have E-Stop
(Emergency stop) switches mounted near the machine.

Of course, in a hobby environment, things are a lot different. But, I'd
still suggest mounting your drives and power supply in a common cabinet with
the appropriate fusing and switches. In essence, you'd duplicate the
"industrial" system on a smaller, lighter, scale. And, you'd use an old
office type PC instead of the industrial controller, so you might have the
computer and monitor mounted near the machine and a cable (from the printer
port) going to your control cabinet.

In my own system, I chose to mount my driver (Camtronics) and most of the
other elements in a small plastic case. My power supply handles both the
driver and the power to the motors. It's mounted in a case made from MDF.
The control electronics actually sit on the power supply cabinet.

Hope this helps,

-- Jerry

BTW, thanks for the tip on electrical fences. Being a "city boy," I'd not
thought of the consequences of spitting on them. I'm sure that a lot of us
learned something!


|I guess what I really need to ask is should
|I try to use one of these wall warts or just break down and buy one
|of those break out boards that have the 5 volt on board. Like the one
|that Doug Fortune or The Campbell guy sells.
|Thanks for your help and Berating
|Kelly Sprayberry