Re: HELP ON CHOOSING A STEPPER MOTOR CONTROLLER

Hi,
Thanks John & Ballendo,

I do want to mention that 35V is the maximum rating of the driver
chip on the Xylotex board. Allegro recommends a maximum running
voltage of no more than about 90% of this, or about 30V. As I've
stated before, I get good results with the drive when running at 24V,
and they will work excellent for smaller CNC conversions like
Sherline or Taig (but they would not work well for a Bridgeport CNC
conversion).
Of course if your drive requirements specify voltages greater than
mentioned above, or amperages greater than 2.5A/phase, then obviously
you don't want the drive. Your actual needs will determine if the
Xylotex is a proper drive for your application.

Jeff
http://www.xylotex.com


--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "j.guenther"
<j.guenther@v...> wrote:

> 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
>