Re: Max voltage for a stepper motor?

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "AbbyKatt" <cnc@a...> wrote:

> Hi again all,
>
> I was wondering if it's sane to try and run a 3A stepper of a 60V
> power-supply with a Gecko?
> I got a new mill, (The old was a Sherline running on steppers at

28V w/

> a Xylotex board), the new machine is all on 60V (Servos), I was

thinking

> of getting a Gecko-Stepper driver for the rotary axis (it still has

the

> same 3A dual stack NEMA23 motor on it), as this would save me

having to

> build another power supply/motor and wiring it into my whole E-stop
> shenanigans.
>
> Will the current-limiting save the day, or is it a recipe for smoke?
> The motor is 3A unipolar (so I guess the Bipolar rating would be

lower).

>
> If not, any other suggestions?
>
> Thanks!
> ~Abby

The question is not if you can run at 60 volts, but what voltage is
best to run a particular motor ?

20 to 25 times motor nameplate is optimum for the Gecko's. so, if
your motor has a nameplate of 2.5 volts, then 2.5 times 25 = 62.5 so
running at 60 volts would be optimum.

That is for single coil wiring or if you have 8 wire motors, parallel
wiring (you can't parallel wire any other motor but an 8 wire)

if you are series wiring, you halve the amperage setting so half the
current will flow into the motor, but you also double the voltage,
so, a 1.25 volt nameplate motor would also run at 60 volts and be
near the sweet spot.

Other design tips... check the wirng for no shortages, and the set
resistor for the correct ohmage when setting the apmerage. And test
all the wires to make sure there are no openages, but all circuits
are complete.

Dave