Re: G201-IP

It sounds like an "affirmative" that $15 to protect the $114.00
investment is reasonable to most people.

There is still the "low-price" hobby market, for which $114.00
was already too high. For them, the 2.5 amp xylotex drive
($99 for all 3 axis) and other products exist.

Here's another possible option to dead G201's. Maybe you could
publish a "technical report" which outlines the usual damaged
components by common overloads, explain how to verify what is
blown, and tell how to replace these components, by a good
technician. This may prevent people from having to mail the
drives back to you, and may save us time. Any company which
has 6 or so drives, likely has a technician who could keep a
few MOSFETS on hand for repairs. Of course, this assumes just
1 or two components fail. I don't know if the entire circuit
fries.

- tj.

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., "mariss92705" <mariss92705@y...> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have breadboarded a protection circuit for the G201. It protects
> against:
>
> 1) Shorting any or all motor wires to ground.
> 2) Shorting any motor phase to phase.
> 3) Miss-phased motors (series or parallel).
> 4) Miss-connected motors.
> 5) Internal motor winding shorts (serial-killer motors).
> 6) Motor connects/disconnects while under power.
> 7) Motor winding short to motor case.
> 8) Unused 6-wire motor leads touching/shorting anywhere.
>
> These are the most common drive failure problems (>95%) that we see
> for return/repair.
>
> The circuit works internally on the "DISABLE" input (term. #7) of
the
> drive. Any of these faults would latch it low (disable). It would
> then require a recycling of the power supply to clear the fault.
> The "Fault" indication would be a "0" on the "DISABLE" terminal.
>
> The "IP" in G201-IP stands for "current protect", or as a cruel
> individual here pointed out, it can also read "Idiot Protect".
>
> This circuit (about 20 additional components to the existing 136)
> would require a major revision (REV-8). Of course it would be 100%
> compatible, pinout, function and form, with all previous drives.
>
> What I am throwing out to the group here is:
>
> (1) Is it worth the effort to do this?
> (2) Is it worth a $15 premium to do have this protection? That is
the
> all-up cost of the additional parts.
>
> We will continue to produce the G201 regardless if there is or is
not
> a G201-IP. It will not in any way supplant it.
>
> The G201-IP might be useful for those that are using the drive for
> the first time and want a little extra margin against Mr. Murphy
and
> his Law. Later, after everything has settled out, stock G201s would
> serve as well. Others that are a little more tense/prudent may wish
> to have it as protection against Mr. Murphy should he call
uninvited
> at a later time.
>
> If I'm going to do this, my schedule has it for the end of the
first
> quarter. What I'm looking for is feedback if this is wanted/needed.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Mariss