RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: HELP ON CHOOSING A STEPPER MOTOR CONTROLLER

IMHO with proper choice of motors the Xylotec board should work just fine
for most small machines. I just did some price research and you can put
together a Xylotec driver box with a 35 volt 10 amp supply for $177.93 or
less depending on what you already have laying around and where you purchase
the parts. If you can find some 4 volt or less motors that only draw an amp
or two you should get excellent performance from the Xylotec board.

Gecko's are very nice and if you are converting or building a larger machine
that will require higher voltages and current ratings then they are the way
to go. I am running CMD-260 drivers I got from Tim Goldstein and am very
happy with them BUT if the Xylotec driver had been available I would most
likely be running one of them on my Sherline instead. I wound up spending
over $600.00 on my driver box by the time I got a system I was happy with.
That does not include the set of 5 amp drivers I bought and don't like, or
the first breakout board I bought or the purchase of the wrong steppers etc
etc etc. Many mistakes, many dollars and now I have some nice paper weights
to remind me of the learning curve.

Get the CNC for hobbyists paper that Alan Marconnet wrote (it's in the files
section) and read it, I think Alan has some great advice for people doing
their first conversion. CNC for the home shop has come a long way in the
last year, and the costs are finally getting to be somewhat more tolerable,
at least in my opinion.

John Guenther
'Ye Olde Pen Maker'
Sterling, Virginia

> -----Original Message-----
> From: ballendo <ballendo@...> [mailto:ballendo@...]
> Sent: Monday, January 27, 2003 14:30 PM
> To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: HELP ON CHOOSING A STEPPER MOTOR
> CONTROLLER
>
>
> Jim,
>
> While I agree that the Gecko drives are an amazing product and value,
> the xylotec board is NOT a "second rate" drive...
>
> It uses the newest allegro microstepping chip; which is gaining
> industry acceptance so fast that it is currently hard to keep in
> stock. It is a chopper drive.
>
> And while its voltage and amperage capability is less than the
> geckos', you can buy a THREE axis xylotec board for about 75% of the
> cost of ONE gecko!
>
> So unless you NEED the higher voltage and amperage, the xylotec board
> is a VERY good alternative to the Gecko drives. And MANY people will
> consider THAT to be money well spent, not wasted,
>
> Ballendo
>
> P.S. The xylotec board does not require fancy external reset
> circuitry, or capacitors hanging outside the drives...
>
> P.P.S. I DO think the Geckos ARE a very good product. But they are
> not the only "correct" choice for ALL CNC.
>
>
> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Jim Brown <jagco1998@y...>
> wrote:
> >
> > Just save yourself some trouble and time and invest in Gecko
> drives, instead of wasting your money on second rate drives....The
> best money I ever spent!!
> >
> > Regards,
> > Jim
> > Tim Goldstein <timg@k...> wrote:Torque with a bipolar driver will
> be about 30% higher with the same
> > motor than a unipolar drive. A chopper style current limiting drive
> > (which the Xylotex is) will produce a much higher speed when run at
> the
> > higher voltage you can use with this type of drive compared to an
> drive
> > that uses resistors for the current limiting.
> >
> > Ultimately the torque and speed are greatly dependent upon the
> motors
> > you use and the voltage you can run them at.
> >
> > Tim
> > [Denver, CO]
> > Sherline products at Deep Discount
> > Mach1 & DeskCNC with credit card ordering
> > www.KTMarketing.com/Sherline
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > >
> > > Wat about the torque and speed that is acheivable with xylotex
> drive?
> > >
> > > arun
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> >
> >
> > Addresses:
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> Addresses:
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> OFF Topic POSTS: General Machining
> If you wish to post on unlimited OT subjects goto:
> aol://5863:126/rec.crafts.metalworking or go thru Google.com to
> reach it if you have trouble.
> http://www.metalworking.com/news_servers.html
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jobshophomeshop I consider this
> to be a sister site to the CCED group, as many of the same
> members are there, for OT subjects, that are not allowed on the CCED list.
>
> NOTICE: ALL POSTINGS TO THIS GROUP BECOME PUBLIC DOMAIN BY
> POSTING THEM. DON'T POST IF YOU CAN NOT ACCEPT THIS.....NO
> EXCEPTIONS........
> bill
> List Mom
> List Owner
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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