Re: servo vs stepper

Jon,

Today will be a turning point when I test a different pulse
generator and much higher voltage drive. If it is the software or
the motion board, then I will have a beef, if it is the drive or
powersupply hardware then I can't really blame them since they do
not "do hardware".

Thanks
Keith

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Jon Elson <elson@p...> wrote:
> Keith Clark wrote:
>
> >As many have read, I have been having a bad time making stepper
> >motors work using Gecko drives. Several have recommended
switching
> >to servos but I have been fearful of tuning the motors etc. Is
it
> >really that difficult and that much more expensive? At this
point I
> >have spent $550 on each motor. I am also concerned about the
> >difficulty of selecting the correct servo motors since I have had
so
> >much trouble with the stepper motors. I guess I would appreciate
> >some encouragement or discouragement at this point especially
from
> >those of you that have done it with a Bridgeport. My machine is
a
> >Boss 6 Bridgeport.
> >
> >
> Well, I did my first Bridgeport servo retrofit in 1998 with my OWN
analog
> servo amps. eBay didn't exist yet, and I didn't really know what
I was
> doing, so it took a while. I had no idea where to buy used amps,
either.
>
> Most of my problems were electronic, due to some outrageously
speced
> components and such. So, I had to redesign the servo amp a couple
of
> times before it worked.
>
> But, that was the old days, before such stuff as Gecko drives were
> available.
> Tuning a Gecko 320 is VERY simple. You turn up gain until is
starts to
> jiggle,
> then turn it down a bit. That is just about it.
>
> But, you really need to work with software that is SUPPORTED by
somebody,
> either the maker or a user group. If the software maker takes the
$2000 and
> then lets you stew, that is no good.
>
> Jon