New drivers for Bridgeport steppers
Posted by
Rick Dulas
on 2000-07-08 20:01:34 UTC
Howdy All! I have a Bridgeport Series I CNC mill equipped with, what I
believe to be, 56vdc 8 amp NEMA 42 stepper motors. I want to put new
driver hardware into it and am looking for some considered opinions
about the possible options.
1. Buy a new high power/high dollar controller - not in the budget
2. Get a low power/low dollar controller and run the outputs into
MOSFETS to power the motors - the most attractive idea
3. Breadboard somebody else's design with my own parts - Fun to do if I
can keep the magic smoke from leaking out.
4. Redesign the wheel - I'm too old for that
5. Dispense with the motors and convert it to a manual mill - the stone
hammer approach
The solution constraints are:
A. This is a hobby machine - production uptime is not critical
B. I know which end of the soldering iron to grab, and am able to read
somebody else's schematic.
C. I am an Industrial Engineer, not an Electrical Engineer
D. My budget (read 'wife') can withstand $100 shocks periodically, not
$500 jolts.
Since the hallmark of experience is to recognize a mistake when you make
it the second time, and this group is collectively the most experienced
CAD/CAM/EDM/DRO bunch in the world <G>, I wanted to avail myself of your
collected wisdom.
Thanks for considering my appeal.
Rick
believe to be, 56vdc 8 amp NEMA 42 stepper motors. I want to put new
driver hardware into it and am looking for some considered opinions
about the possible options.
1. Buy a new high power/high dollar controller - not in the budget
2. Get a low power/low dollar controller and run the outputs into
MOSFETS to power the motors - the most attractive idea
3. Breadboard somebody else's design with my own parts - Fun to do if I
can keep the magic smoke from leaking out.
4. Redesign the wheel - I'm too old for that
5. Dispense with the motors and convert it to a manual mill - the stone
hammer approach
The solution constraints are:
A. This is a hobby machine - production uptime is not critical
B. I know which end of the soldering iron to grab, and am able to read
somebody else's schematic.
C. I am an Industrial Engineer, not an Electrical Engineer
D. My budget (read 'wife') can withstand $100 shocks periodically, not
$500 jolts.
Since the hallmark of experience is to recognize a mistake when you make
it the second time, and this group is collectively the most experienced
CAD/CAM/EDM/DRO bunch in the world <G>, I wanted to avail myself of your
collected wisdom.
Thanks for considering my appeal.
Rick