Re:low cost stepper driver

I have a simple machine that is made of MDF. it is not designed to cut metal, just wood and plastics and such.

3 amp motors are more than enough.

the machine cost under $300 to build (motors were free)

it does not call for $100 each drivers.

an hour to make a simple circuit board that will run the drivers properly is worth the tradeoff. not sure why there is an issue of disconnecting motors with the power on.

it would be nice to make another one less than $100 in drivers and power supply and motors.

$33 and axis is not impossible.

Dave

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Ron Ginger <ronginger@...> wrote:
>
> On 10/1/2012 6:15 AM, CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com wrote:
> >
> > Posted by: "artgartg"lists@... artgartg
> > Date: Sun Sep 30, 2012 7:44 pm ((PDT))
> >
> > I've been looking for suggestions on modifying these chinese boards to improve reliability. Unfortunately Yahoo stripped your pdfs from the archived mail. Would it be possible to put them in the files section please ?
> >
> > I have found some articles on the web, mostly related to improving the optoisolator circuits. There are comments too about power sequencing, which these boards do not usually do correctly.
> >
> > I'm also interested in the reason these boards fail if a motor is disconnected in use, and wonder if it's feasible to add some protection.
> >
> > -adrian
>
> How long and how much effort do you want to put into maing a low cost
> board into a better board? Why not just buy a better board in the fist
> place. There are a number of good quality drives around now for not much
> more money than these cheap drives that are good industrial quality
> drives. Keling is one good source, but there are others.
>
> brings to mind an old saying about making a silk purse out of a sows ear.
>
> ron ginger
>