Interpreting Opinions for Gecko vs Cheap Drivers

I am deep into planning, and close to pulling the trigger on a diy build. However, I want to know why I am selecting one driver over another.

Why do many people give the cheap drivers good ratings and others declare them worthy of the trash heap?

I highlighted, bolded, and underlined: WHY?so any offered answers deal with this question specifically.

Answers such as: The cheaper drivers are bad, blow up, go poof, ruin jobs, and you get what you pay for, do not give me understanding sinceother people using them, giving great reviews such as I have been using them for two years, no problem, etc.. Also, if you look at the links, th epople seem pretty happpy with these cheap ones.

If I can gain understanding, I will have conviction as to why I am doing what I am doing. I am not interested in saving $20 dollars, so I would rather get the good stuff if that were the case; however, it seems I can save hundreds of dollars initially with the cheap drives.

My philosophy:
build budget minded machines capable of manufacturing and work at the cottage industry level (from my home) and let the machine upgrade itself. I am planning two 5x10 machines - one for plasma and one for router.

Examples of my budget philosophy:
1. I will make steel tables because I have steel for free on hand.
2. Make the power supply from old microwaves I have (easy project, proven, saves a chunk of change)
3. Use some plastic pex tubing I have for cable managment from the ceiling until the machine can buy it's own echain.
4. and other cost saving practices.


I will gladly spend the money on a Gecko 540 for my plasma and four gecko G203V for my router; however, I do not want to if I can start out CHEAP and grow from there.


Gecko is the reigning King of the diy market. The company is great, the product is tested, proven, a veteran, and many turn key machines don't fool around, they have a gecko. The price is really amazing for what you get in capability...

However, after many, many hours of reading about diy CNC machines, I still don't understand WHY the budget drivers like the two examples I have below are not good ideas?

For $15.50:SMAKN® TB6600 Upgraded Version 32 Segments 4A 40V 57/86 Stepper Motor Driver

For $35.99:
SainSmart CNC Micro-Stepping Stepper Motor Driver 2M542 Bi-polar 2phase 4.2A Switch

Some talk about speed based on higher voltage capabilities and that I understand. However, while I appreciate a turbo diesel that can go a hundred up hill, under load, I would be glad with a non-turbo that can still get me there, and make me the money to buy the turbo with cash later.

Anyways, I welcome and am grateful for any illumination you smarter guys can offer, or even a link to an article or video that will help me "understand" what is at stake.

-Mike

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Why do many people give the cheap drivers good ratings and others declare them worthy of the trash heap?

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For one, because different people have different expectations.
Some people are very happy just to have a working CNC machine, while others demand the best performance possible.
Expectations are the difference between a $500 machine and a $10,000 machine. There are plenty of people that are extremely happy with their cheap little machines, that many other people upgrade from almost immediately.

Many people over the years have found that trying to go the inexpensive route actually costs more money, as they have to pay for both the low quality parts they start with, plus the ones they wished they'd have bought in the first place.

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Gecko is the reigning King of the diy market.

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They used to be, but times are changing.
Many people now say that the higher end Leadshine digital drives are equal to or better than Gecko drives. I haven't used either, so can't provide any personal experience. But I do have some new Leadshine drives in my desk drawer. :)

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I still don't understand WHY the budget drivers like the two examples I have below are not good ideas?

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Can you show me some examples of large size machines that are using those cheap drives? I personally have not seen any. Almost every 4x8 or larger machine I've seen in the last 10 years has used Gecko or Leadshine drives.


In the end, the simple answer is that you get what you pay for.
Why does a Ferarri cost more than a Kia? Because it uses better technology and components.

The more expensive drives have more and/or better technology. Features like stall detection, anti resonance, full step morphing, and many others.

They can run motors smoother, quieter, faster, and with more power than the cheap drives.

Gerry, thank you for your response. I have come kicking and screeming to the realization that I need to spend the money on the descent drivers, so it will be Leadshine or Gecko. I did not realize that it was that rare to see cheap drivers on large machines. I had heard leadshine was pretty good as I read, but figured the prices were not much different, so I would go with Gecko if I had to go with the better models.

My router will be a mechmate style and if I use Gecko, will use four G201X or G203V with Nema 34s.

The plasma table has a much lighter gantry, so it will have Nema 23 and if I go Gecko, was leaning toward the G540 to keep budget low. However, I do get a caution in my gut that a lost driver on the G540 means replacing the whole vs swapping a drive If keep them separate. Any advice?.

Which "high-end" Leadshine equivalents are there for the G201X or G203V and the G540? Why would you select them over a Gecko?

Thanks,

-Mike

The MX4660 is comparable to the G540, but has a higher current rating, so it can drive larger motors..

As for the G201X, I'd say the EM806.
There is another alternative to the EM806, which is the way I went, in order to save money.
The AM882, which is not sold in the US. They are similar to the EM806 in specs (older model?), but can be purchased on Ebay from China, for about $80 each.
I know some people that have used a lot of these, and are very happy with them. I have two of these that I purchased for a future machine, and will be buying another one or two for spares. I'm using these for two Z axis on a dual spindle machine I'm working on. The other axes will be AC servos.

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However, I do get a caution in my gut that a lost driver on the G540 means replacing the whole vs swapping a drive If keep them separate.

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The G540 has separate drives that plug into a motherboard (G251). They can be replaced if they get damaged.

Excellent, any difference between AM882 and AM882H?

They are delivered for under $60 each on ebay. Very cool!

Also the EM806 had the alternative AM882.

Does the MX4660 have an alternative model overseas?

The price of the MX 4660 is close to $400, so if that is the case, and there is no cheaper alternative, I will probably just run the AM882 or 882H on both machines for simple repair, spare protocol.

I am glad you are here Gerry; however, I do not like not understanding the electronics more. I want to know more than what to do. I want to understand the electronics more. Is there not a tutorial, webinar, video, book, lecture, that teaches it from zero to hero? Some stuff starts out expecting the reader to be at a higher level, and other's may be so low, they don't get you anywhere. I have read hundreds, maybe thousands of posts and I still don't understand the electronics, and I have a grasp of general electronics at a lower hobby level. Switches, relays, contactors, ohms law, resistors, capacitors, AC/DC, wattage, amperage, etc.. But when it comes to answering what I need and why, I am merely tossed around in the sea. Wher eit not for rescue swimmers like you, I would drown :) So while I REALLY APPRECIATE your help on the zone, I want to be the guy who can offer the counsel when others ask. I want to learn to swim.

Thanks,

-Mike

The ones for $60 are used.

I hadn't heard of the AM882H. It appears that it takes AC voltage, instead of DC. So you don't want the H model.

I don't know much about electronics either. I just learn what I need as I go.

OK, I will keep looking for a idiots guide :) If I find it, I will share the link.

These are new and $58.84, unless I am missing something.

No, it looks like you are correct. The first ones I looked at for 2 cents cheaper were used.
At that price, I may buy 2 more right now, as I paid $80 for the other two that I have,

Great! Does the MX4660 have an alternative model overseas?

Not that I know of.

Just a heads up. I just ordered two of those AM882's, and the estimated shipping time is 4-7 weeks. :eek:

When I paid $80 each, I got them in 1 week.

thanks for the heads up. Would you say the AM882 would be good choices for both my mechmate Nema 34 and plasma Nema 23 tables? Or would you recommend the MX4660?

Seems I can come out cheaper with the $60 AM882 drivers.

I personally haven't used either, and I know nothing about plasma machines.

I'd recommend doing a lot of research on plasma machines before making a decision.

ger is right that big machines don't use those cheap drivers... they just don't do the real work

But... it's not just Gecko and Leadshine running big machines. LOL: You want to talk about large machines? Show me a machine bigger than this:
techref.massmind.org/Techref/io/stepper/THB6064/gallery.htm


My drivers are running HOUSE PRINTERS.
Rudenko 3D Printer
You can see the driver box with my drivers in it at 1:50 in this video
https://youtu.be/2eNp6q35uRo?t=1m50s

And when they are applied to big cutters, they throw the router around like a toy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLqwxBBWNAE

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Originally Posted by ger21

Just a heads up. I just ordered two of those AM882's, and the estimated shipping time is 4-7 weeks. :eek:

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They actually arrived in 10 days.

If you want excellent Stepper Drivers look at Banggood for JK 1545 or JKD 2060 AC. The greatest, smoothest and quietest drivers I have come across.
They are as good as Geckos if not better for less then half the price of Geckos.

Thank you for the mention of the JK Drivers. I looked for te 80V JKD2060 and found them for about $57. I can get Gecko 201X for $100, and the Leadshine AM882 for about $60. Currently I am leaning toward the Leadshine unless something else shows up as a better option. Since the Leadshine is only a few dollrs more and has a very good reputation, I will likely go that way. If these JKD2060AC were much cheaper, I would look into them more.

I don't think the Gecko 201x has polarity protection.

Ger, have you tried the Leadshine AM882 driver yet? If so, what do you think of it?
Thanks,
Mike