Re: PWM input Servo Amp / Universal Stepper Controller

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Jon Elson <elson@p...> wrote:

>
>
> alex wrote:
>
> >I wish I new it earlier - I would never get involved with

steppers...

> >
> >
> Yeah, this is definitely my feeling on them, too. If I hadn't

seen how

> well steppers can do with the Gecko 201 drives, I would still be

an ardent

> stepper basher. Even with the great performance provided by the

Gecko 201,

> if I was going to spend the time and effort on a retrofit, I would

still go

> with a true closed-loop servo system, with feedback to the

computer.

> The additional cost is not great, especially if you can find some

bargains

> on eBay, and the peace of mind that you won't lose position

without knowing

> about it is worth a lot! (So much else ALSO can go wrong when

going from

> CAD, to CAM, to CNC, to cut metal, that any source of error that

can be

> totally wiped out is worth the effort to do it. When a hole or

slot

> comes out
> in the wrong place, which happens way too often, at least I don't

even

> have to
> THINK about whether a stepper skipped a step. I can assume it is

a data

> entry error, and that happened just last week. Or, maybe I set

the axes

> wrong.)
>
> Jon

After looking at some of the home made lashups on the cnczone I
would imagine that a missed step here and there would be the least
of the basement machinists problems (that is if they chose steppers)
Millions of stepper driven printers, copiers and assembly machines
are working hard every day without fail in industery of the real
world yet on the plexiglas and MFD creations of the hobby shop
feedback is a must have!
I can remember years back at the start of my apprenticeship, I would
have to mic a piece after every cut but this changed with experience
and confidence.
I find steppers work for me on all the machines I have built and
use, but I am not production machining or cutting huge quantities of
air at the speed of light without automatic way lubrication.
Like any machining, If you understand speeds and feeds and work
within the limitations of your machine and the step motor power they
do not make mistakes. I am talking microstepping drives, this is the
key.