Re: What makes step and dir?

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Dave Shiels <dshiels@e...> wrote:

> > > Hi, I have only posted a few times and was asked a question that I
> > > couldnt answer: I was wondering if I wanted to make a machine that
> > > made one move in the X direction then back to cut slots. What could
>
> > I
>
> >> > use to make the step and direction to Geko drives that power

steppers?

> >> >
> >> > In the past I have always used a PC based CNC, but I really wouldnt
> >> > need to have the features and flexibility of a CNC because I

want to

> >> > go one direction and a fixed amount and then back.
> >> >
> >> > Can a plc do step and direction or is there another simple way

to do

> >> > one move and back? Thanks for any input.
> >> >
> >> > Dave Harhay
> >
> >
>
> Still the PC is going to be the cheapest way to do this. A cheapo
> mother board
> can be integrated right into the controller and use turbocnc on a IDEto
> CF disk
> to make it solid state.
> A single step and dir board off one of the web sites and a re-use PC
> would work
> the trick, not require and special programing and be quite cost

effective.


I disagree with the pricing part.

A simple 555 could be set to generate the pulses (no ramping) and a
DPDT relay could be connected to set direction. then end switches
control the rest.

If, all he is doing it moving out and back on the same axis, then
anything CNC is pretty sophistacated technology.

BUT, I would agree 100% that a cheap laptop could do the work in the
easiest to run time and costing.

TurboCNC on an old 486-66 laptop would run acceptabley. Easily the
fastest to get from the parts to making chips.

And, very inexpensive at that.

Dave