Re:low cost stepper driver

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Jeffrey Birt" <birt_j@...> wrote:

>
> I have to agree with Ron here. Trying to turn a cheap Chinese stepper driver
> into a good driver is akin to trying to turn a Yugo into a Toyota. If you
> start with junk you'll wind up with junk.
>

It's a fair point, and if it was just for my own project I'd agree. But it's clear that plenty of people want cheap steppers and that's what makes it worth the ebayers' while to churn them out. There aren't only the good quality alternatives - there are also hobbyist designs for things like repraps which attempt to cut the price and end up designing similarly fragile boards (without even the low chinese cost, usually).

So my development effort might be better spent on my own projects, but if there's a way to modify them reasonably easily then everyone benefits. Maybe the mods even make their way back into the chinese boards eventually.

-adrian