[Chunky]

Doubted this day would ever come. Promised myself I wouldn't buy until I felt confident enough with the software. Thanks to many of you I feel like I can make it now. Will you please view my shopping list and see what I've over- looked. Bound to be something. I'm not going to concern myself with the mechanicals just yet. Especially concerned about overlooking some electrical or electronic component or software.

[JavaDog]

A shopping list that has actual part numbers/product on it may be more helpful.

[Al_The_Man]

Unless you have have pre-engineered mechanical design in mind or a pre built machine, I would suggest waiting to see what the the mechanical constraints are that you end up with before you buy the electronics.
Al.

[lerman]

Cables, cables, and more cables.

Connectors.

[Chunky]

A shopping list that has actual part numbers/product on it may be more helpful.
Why? You might be correct. Right now I just want to make sure I haven't overlooked something.

[Chunky]

Unless you have have pre-engineered mechanical design in mind or a pre built machine, I would suggest waiting to see what the the mechanical constraints are that you end up with before you buy the electronics.
Al.

Concur. That may be what JavaDog was getting at. I won't actually order until I know which sizes, etc. But I do want a complete shopping list so I can compare prices, claims, etc. I am pretty much decided on size of table though. Want to machine platic or mdf, 24" x 24" x 3/4", 1/4"drive PC 310 trim router.

[Chunky]

Cables, cables, and more cables. Connectors.
Cables? Assumed I just needed a big roll or 18ga wire. What kind of cables?

[ger21]

Deoending on how long the cable runs are, you may need to use shielded cables. 4 conductor shielded would make wiring steppers a lot easier. Also, make sure you get fine stranded wire. Sollid will break.


You might want to itemize your "mechanical components section", which may cover quite a few items.

[Chunky]

Deoending on how long the cable runs are, you may need to use shielded cables. 4 conductor shielded would make wiring steppers a lot easier. Also, make sure you get fine stranded wire. Sollid will break. You might want to itemize your "mechanical components section", which may cover quite a few items.

Attached is revised shopping list. Hope you guys will look at it every few days to make sure I haven't gone astray. Also some questions there. Thanks

[ger21]

A motion control card is a PC card which handles the motor control. They usually cost several thousand dollars. You don't need one, when using TurboCNC or Mach2.

As for do it yourself driver kits, The best ones are eithr the HobbyCNC kit or the Xylotex kit. Both cost about the same, and both should give the same performance. The Xylotex is 4 axis only (You can use it just for 3 and have a spare), the HobbyCNC comes in both 3 and 4 axis. Either way, you get all 3 (or 4) axis for under $100, as you only need one board.

[Chunky]

A motion control card is a PC card which handles the motor control. They usually cost several thousand dollars. You don't need one, when using TurboCNC or Mach2.

Whew! Thank God.

As for do it yourself driver kits, The best ones are eithr the HobbyCNC kit or the Xylotex kit. Both cost about the same, and both should give the same performance. The Xylotex is 4 axis only (You can use it just for 3 and have a spare), the HobbyCNC comes in both 3 and 4 axis. Either way, you get all 3 (or 4) axis for under $100, as you only need one board.

Are you kidding me? (!) I've been so focused on software (not regretably) that I had no idea about the range of costs of hardware. So you're saying that this $100 home-made board will do what three Geiko drives at roughly $450 will do??? A difference of $300???

[ger21]

So you're saying that this $100 home-made board will do what three Geiko drives at roughly $450 will do??? A difference of $300???

Not exactly, but close. The Gecko's can handle higher current motors, which usually will give you better performance. Gecko's can also handle higher voltages, which can give you higher speeds.

But I'd say that more at least half the people here are using similar drives to the ones I mentioned and get very good results. A bonus is they also have pretty decent resale value on Ebay, should you choose to upgrade later.

[Chunky]

The Gecko's can handle higher current motors, which usually will give you better performance. Gecko's can also handle higher voltages, which can give you higher speeds.

But I'd say that more at least half the people here are using similar drives to the ones I mentioned and get very good results. A bonus is they also have pretty decent resale value on Ebay, should you choose to upgrade later.

Right. I understand that cheaper generally means less performance. But for me-- at this point in my pursuits-- the choice is a no-brainer. I'll still need to shop for the best package. And I'm at it. Thanks again.

[chuckknigh]

Geckos also come pre-assembled. You pay for this convenience.

The driver kits are just that...kits. After all, the labor to put them together is worth something, right?

-- Chuck Knight

P.S. A particularly inexpensive kit is availabe, which is called the PicStep. I've seen it mentioned, but haven't played with it. The specs are actually rather impressive.

[Chunky]

Geckos also come pre-assembled. You pay for this convenience.

The driver kits are just that...kits. After all, the labor to put them together is worth something, right?

-- Chuck Knight

P.S. A particularly inexpensive kit is availabe, which is called the PicStep. I've seen it mentioned, but haven't played with it. The specs are actually rather impressive.

Certainly I'd expect to pay more for pre-assembled. The uninitiated (such as I am) has no way of knowing what level of difficulty we're talking about. If it's brain surgery-- no way. If it's a couple of hours of soldering part 213 to terminal 16b no problem, bring it on.

PicStep huh? I'll take a look. Impressive specs? I wouldn't know one if I tripped over it. I'm early-elderly. I regret I shyied away from electronics all my life. Wouldn't know an impressive spec from ....

[ger21]

I *think* HobbyCNC will assemble their kits for ~$25. You might want to give them a call. There are some reviews here that mention it can be assembled in an hour or 2 if you have some soldering skill.

I don't think the PicStep is a kit. You have to make your own boards I think. Check the open source forum if you're interested.

[Chunky]

*think* HobbyCNC will assemble their kits for ~$25. You might want to give them a call. There are some reviews here that mention it can be assembled in an hour or 2 if you have some soldering skill.

I don't think the PicStep is a kit. You have to make your own boards I think. Check the open source forum if you're interested.

You might want to give them a call. Will do.

I don't think the PicStep is a kit. You have to make your own boards... Yep. Looked into it already. Way over my head. I need tried and tested.

[chuckknigh]

I know I saw a kit, with premade boards and preprogrammed PIC chips. Hmmm...I know I saw it on this forum. I think they were $30 a piece, or $75 for a set of 3, complete with parts.

Now, where did I put that URL?
Oh well, I can't find it...and I may have been mistaken about the name, anyway.

Found these linistepper boards for about the price that I was remembering...
http://www.sxlist.com/techref/auction.asp?a=itm&i=41

-- Chuck Knight

[ger21]

Chuck, are you talking about the LiniStepper? I think those are $75 for 3. But they are not really suitable for a router, as they are limited to ~1.5a.

[chuckknigh]

1A stock configuration, 2.5A with some well documented modifications.

Yes, I'm talking about the LiniStepper.

-- Chuck Knight