Re: Controllers and drivers for stepper motors

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Neil" <njackso@c...> wrote:

> To all who make this group possible, Thank you.
>
> I'm working on building an engraver for my shop. I have the

necessary

> stepper motors, and what appears to be a 2 axis controller. I'm
> needing three perhaps four axis.
> It seems the more I read the more off track I get.
> What are the necessary items needed to to set this up?
>
> I've seen serveral build it yourself boards, I want to hook this up
> via my LPT1 port. Do I need a controller and driver? Or are these
> units combined? Also I have Desk CNC, and a demo copy of Turbo CNC.
> Anything that can understand G-code would be the type of
> controller/driver I would need.
>
> My motors are unipolar (6) lead, my one power supply is 12v
>
> Searching for answers.
> TIA
> Neil

Hi Neil,

To get out of a confusion, all you need to do is to get one part you
KNOW and use that to reference all the other parts to that. A simple
thing for you to do is lay out a block diagram on paper.

contoller = PC and in it ....
- drawing program AND ...
- drawing to G-code converter program AND ....
- possibly a 'trace' program to convert PCB traces into outlines
- G-code to step/dir output program such as TurboCNC or Mach-1 (many
others)


Driver = takes step/dir output and makes motors spin ....
- Xylotex if motors are under 2.5 A and 30 volts
- Gecko if less than 7 amps, 70 volts
- others
- home made

Power supply

Table/machine/engraver
- too much to cover simply, but I hope you have a design.
if you have a stepper moving, you are half way there. all you need
to do is make it move other things.

yor 3 or 4 or 5 axis machine ? there are a LOT of differences in the
complexity between 3 and 4 and 5 axis machines.

a ring can be done with 3 axis. like a band with grouves, or 4 axis
if you want shapes that cannot be done from a tool pointing into the
axis of the ring. But converting a drawing to a 4 axis is lots more
complex than an XYZ table or XAZ set-up.

Dave