laptop ( was Re: HELP: Bipolar stepper ciruit

Even on a tight budget, I would not rule out a laptop.

TurboCNC is very inexpensive and pretty powerful.
It runs on DOS, but the key word is RUNs !

an old 486 laptop should be available for less than
$200.00 at most computer shows. it offers you a
very cheap controller.

Many DOS CAD programs are abvailable and of course
you can write G-code in a spreadsheet or word processor.

Another thing about laptops is that people trash them
when the batteries die. But in most any CNC operation,
line voltage is available so battery operation is not
critical to the operation.

Dave

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "al" <101@g...> wrote:
> Hi Dave,
> thanks for your reply, I'm on rather a tight budget :( and would
prefer to
> keep away from a
> laptop altho I know it would be ideal and have seen many circuits I
could
> use with one.
> At first it will be a single axis but eventually a 2 axis control.
It will
> be battery operated.
> There is actually a hand controller sold for this stepper but the
price is
> about 10 times
> what I could build one for I feel sure, or that how I've seen
electronic
> bits in the past.
> So you know my problem now $$ :( I was an electronic tech but never
had
> anything to do
> with steppers. . Thanks again I've had more help on this group
[altho I'm
> told I'm off
> topic ]than any of the astro group. al [this is for a small stepper
on a
> telescope]
> -------Original Message-------
>
> From: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
> Date: 05 January 2003 20:52:07
> To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: HELP: Bipolar stepper ciruit
>
> Hi Al,
>
> Seems you would benefit from a Palm as your controller. this would
> offer you true portability and as you have a single function
device,
> your needs don't vary as radically and as quickly as the machine
tool
> guys.
>
>
> However.... there is no current (that I know of, and just recently
> discussed on here) method of connecting a Palm and using that as
your
> controller.
>
> A laptop would work well.
>
> do you have enough power to run everything in the field ? or are
> based in a location close to power ?
>
> Also, are you set for a single axis or 2 ?
>
> Possible applications would be the single axis FROG.
>
> Another is a single axis unipolar driver that uses the serial port.
> I got one off e-bay last year. It is a PIC microporcessor and has a
> priority language (free) and is available in multi axis. I couldn't
> find the site, but I have the guy's e-mail address. It is limited
to
> low power, but might serve if you have the ampacity to handle a uni-
> polar driver with limiting resistor. Drop me an e-mail if you want
> the guy's e-mail.
>
> Dave
>
>
>
> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "al <101@g...>" <101@g...>
> wrote:
> > Happy new year to all.
> > I'm looking for a cuircuit to run a small bipolar stepper.
> > I need a hand held controller as its for a telescope, all
> > the circuits I've seen are computer controlled and I have no way
of
> > draging my p.c/monitor out side :)
> > Hope someone can help. The makers controller runs of 6Volts
> batteries.
> > Thank you. al
>
>
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