Re: servo board

The type of CNC machine I want to build is mainly for hobby purposes
but also will have professional features. I would like to make
wood/metal projects but don't have the time nor want to do too much
manual labor to get the projects done. A CNC machine can perform
much of the manual intensive labor. I just want to create things on
the CAD (Solidworks) and essentially tell the CNC to build it. I
can't tell you more specifics since I don't have any experience in
CNC yet, but I am willing to invest time and money at this hobby.

I found out that the STG requires a relay board and break-out
boards. This can add much to the finaly cost of purchasing a STG to
the point that a Pico Systems 8-axis system may cost about the same
for a STG system. Right now, I am leaning towards the Pico System.
However, the STG cutomer base is plenty and I am not sure how many
Pico Systems Servo's have been sold.

Thanks,

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "industrialhobbies"
<admin@i...> wrote:

> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "george_barr"
> <george_barr@y...> wrote:
> > Thanks for replying. My first router/mill will use geckos. In
> fact,
> > I already have 3 geckos for step/direction. However, I would

like

> to
> > eventually move into the more professional stuff like servos.
>
> You do know gecko also does servos, right :)
>
> I have
> > looked at the servotogo, vigproducts.com (cost too much since it
> > needs more expansion boards), and pico-systems. I am just stuck
> > between the servotogo and pico-systems. I was told that the
> > servotogo has an 8 MHZ ISA bus while the pico-sytems uses a fast
> > parallel port. I was told that the ISA is a much faster
> > communication bus but I am not sure if that translates into

better

> > performance.
>
> ISA is much faster but you'll have a hard time finding a fast PC

with

> ISA slots, which comes back to a slow PC.
>
> To save cost, I'll use brush DC motors using 23 or 34
> > NEMA motors. What I like about pico-systems is that you can buy
> the
> > starter 4-axis kit and then later invest more for the full 8-

axis.

> > However, pico's 8-axis system cost more than servotogo's 8-axis
> > system. Also, servotogo's says you need a opto-22 product which

is

> > probably another board to hold the relays (more cost). I know

that

> > servotogo is used by many, but pico is fairly new. Pico has more
> > resolution using 16-bits rather than 13-bits, if it is needed.

How

> > uses/buys the pico system? I would like to hear from users of

the

> > pico servo systems. My future plan for this servo project is to
> add
> > a DC motor for the spindle to do tapping,
>
> Unless either one of those boards does on-the-fly current limiting,
> you probally want to use a tapping head instead of a servo, because
> the servo will snap a smaller tap in a heartbeat (force the
> movement). On the other hand if you use a spindle speed sensor,

and

> the feed/rev feature of your software you'll get a tapped hole.
>
>
> add 4th/5th axis, add lathe
> > attachments.
>
> Add Lathe attachments? Is this a 3 in 1 machine? or are we

takling

> a rotary table or somthing?
>
> Email me at admin@i... with your phone #, ( I promis
> I won't try to sell a thing), I would like to discuss this a pinch
> more offline, to better understand what you're trying to do, and
> maybe give you some other ideas.
>
> Thanks
> Aaron Moss
> www.IndustrialHobbies.com
>
>
>
>
> That is 7-axis already. I can't tell you more since I
> > am a newbie.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> >
> > --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "industrialhobbies"
> > <admin@i...> wrote:
> > > I just took a quick look at both of the mentioned boards and
> > noticed
> > > that the servo amp seems to require the other components (Pico)
> and
> > I
> > > didn't see any volt/amp numbers for the other. Which makes me
> > > question the total price of the application.
> > >
> > > I noticed you used the words "cost-effective" in your question,
> > which
> > > leads me to believe this is a hobby application, is this the

case?

> > >
> > > To recommend a controller we would have to know more about your
> > > application. For example if you were just doing a CNC mill or
> > > something Geckos are the way to go(my opinion), but on the

other

> > hand
> > > if you are building a teachable CNC arm or something like that
> you
> > > would need the additional features offered by these products

and

> > > companies.
> > >
> > > Also what kind of servo are you talking about? (I'm guessing
> > brushed
> > > DC) How many volts? Amps (cont)? Amps (peak)? Motor torque
> > > constant?
> > >
> > > When it comes to picking a controller (either servo or stepper)
> all
> > > these factors come into play it unjust of us to make an opinion
> > > without these.
> > >
> > > So include a pinch more and we (open forum) will probably be

able

> > to
> > > give a better opinion.
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > > Aaron Moss
> > > www.IndustrialHobbies.com
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "george_barr"
> > > <george_barr@y...> wrote:
> > > > I am looking for a servo controller. I have looked at

www.pico-

> > > > systems.com and www.servotogo.com controllers. Which of

these

> 2
> > > > servo controllers is better and why? Is there any other cost-
> > > > effective servo controllers out there that I should look at?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks,