Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] CNC Newbie

What would I do? I'd use what you have. I'd buy 3 stepper geckos and hook
up the motors that you got for free. Get it running. Then if you wanted
to try servos, you should be able to sell your geckos for at least 75% of
what you paid for them. If you included your (free) big steppers, you
might get double what you paid for the geckos. I'd be willing to bet that
these steppers will work just fine on your sized mill. Like Tim Goldstein
said, when he converted to servos his rapids were faster. But your mill
isn't as big as a full sized series II Bridgeport, so it won't take as long
to get from one side of the table to the other. You might find that the
rapids you get from steppers to be perfectly acceptable.

Now if you didn't already have the steppers, then it would be a tougher
question. The next machine I retrofit will be with servos. Mostly because
I have some servos kicking around, partly because I want to see how much
'better' they can be. But I don't think I'll be taking steppers off
anything in the near future.

I recently bought some servo geckos used off this list. They went fast. I
bet the seller could have sold 10 sets at the price he offered. So I don't
think you will have much trouble selling either stepper or servo geckos
used on this list.

I use to think that I would want both manual and CNC operation of my mill
and lathe. But I think you will find (like I did and many others) that
once you go CNC, you (almost) never go back :-) Don't knock your self out
trying to make a dual purpose machine.


Good luck and have fun! It's an addicting hobby... the feeling of 'I can
make anything!' after your first 'real' part can't be described.

- Steven Ciciora

<snip>

>Now for the Q's.
>
>Which is the best setup to go for? I have a set of stepper motors ,
>Eastern Air devices model type LA34CKK. I think they are 620 Oz/in at
>around 10 Amp! These steppers were free! I know about steppers
>missing steps and they have good stall torque characteristics. I was
>thinking of using feed back using say US Digital' E6D encoders on the
>ballscrew ends. Or do I spring for a servo system? I have no idea
>what is the best affordable servo system to go for. I know certain
>servo type systems are out of this world.
>
>I am guessing that a belt drive system is propably best for a dual
>purpose machine? Any suggestions?
>
>Jason