Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] General Question REgarding Stepper vs. Servos

I did have some lost steps on my plasma in the beginning, while finding the
limits of the machine but now I have got it tuned I never have a problem. At
my previous place of work I used a CNC router. It would occasionally lose
steps on the Z axis for no apparent reason. Usually the first thing you
would notice would be the horrible noises as it slowly cut deeper and
deeper...
Unfortunately the supplier provided little support for the machine and the
problem was never solved.

Just like servos, steppers need tuning for best performance. In my opinion
if you do a good job of tuning the drive( hardware and software) then you
should not lose steps.

Les

> I often hear a lot about the limitations of stepper motor systems being

the

> potential for lost steps and the resonance issues at low speed. I have a
> question for those of you running stepper motor CNC machines: do any of

you

> actually miss and steps? My systems have been up and running many, many
> hours and have never missed a step. With a micro-stepping drive like
> Xylotex (for small machines) or Gecko (for larger machines) isn't the
> resonance issue resolved? I have zero low-speed resonance on my sytems

with

> the Xylotex drives.
>
> I think the fact that steppers lose torque at high-speed is the only
> limitation that seems to matter. Therefore, a stepper system will be
> somewhat slower than a servo system. Or am I missing something else?
>
> Not trying to start a religious war about stepper and servo systems, just
> trying to understand the real differences.
>
> Daniel J. Statman, Statman Designs
> www.statmandesigns.com
> dan.statman@...