[bradtal]

Hello All-

I've built a Joes2006 machine and have had pretty good luck with it so far. However, I tend to run into some issues after awhile. For example, I've been making some cool pencil holders and have a large order for them. I'll make like 15-20 with no problems, and then suddenly, my x-axis (long axis) will skip steps and it ruins the board I'm cutting from.

I'm currently using standard 1/2 inch threaded rod. I've always wanted to "upgrade" to the 5-start 1/2 rod from McMaster-Carr. After doing some research, I see that people are 50/50 on whether to use 5 start or 2 start.

I'm using the HobbyCNC board with 305 oz steppers with a 24V transformer.

I've read that steppers have more torque as slower speeds, so the 5-start makes sense to me. But then I also read that your motors have to be "strong enough" to be able to turn the rod at that slow speed.

I guess after all this typing, my question is... What makes more sense? 2-start or 5-start? I don't want to invest a bunch of money and regret it afterwords.

Thanks for your help.

Brad

[BobF]

Brad,
I built joes2006 as well. I used 1/2-8 2 start. This gives 4 tpi. Lots of the builders of Joes 4x4 have used the 1/2-10 5 start, which gives 2 tpi. I think that will work on the 06 and am looking into getting some, but don't have any yet.

I can tell you that the 1/2-8 2 start works well.

[calgrdnr]

Howdy Brad ,

I switched out my 10tpi 1 starts to 5starts . I can now routinely cut mdf at 150 ipm I have rapids of 320ipm. I went with the 4 Axis HCNCPROPKG Package w/ 200oz-in Stepper Motors. I used to have problems with Zaxis losing steps, since the change I have had no problems. I am sure it is because the torque is greater at lower speeds ( only use 30ipm for Zaxis)

you should also check to make sure acceleration not set to high this can cause you problem I believe.

good luck Kent

[bradtal]

Howdy Brad ,

I switched out my 10tpi 1 starts to 5starts . I can now routinely cut mdf at 150 ipm I have rapids of 320ipm. I went with the 4 Axis HCNCPROPKG Package w/ 200oz-in Stepper Motors. I used to have problems with Zaxis losing steps, since the change I have had no problems. I am sure it is because the torque is greater at lower speeds ( only use 30ipm for Zaxis)

you should also check to make sure acceleration not set to high this can cause you problem I believe.

good luck Kent

Kent-

Thanks! This is exactly what I was hoping to hear! Thanks also for listing your specs. Made it easy to compare your setup with mine.

Brad

[calgrdnr]

Brad,

Glad to be some help, that is what is so great about this site . Ask and you get answers. might not always be real quick or what you want to hear.
but you will get responses.. Please make sure to share some of your results of your creativity and your CNC .
let us know how it work Kent

[AJ Negvesky]

I have finally finished cutting out and asseblinng all the pieces for Joe's 2006 R2 and went with the Probotix

3x SideStep Bi-Polar Stepper Motor Driver
2x HT23-400-4 400ozin Stepper Motor (X- & Y-Axis)
1x HT23-260-4 260ozin Stepper Motor (Z-Axis)
PBX-2 Parallel Port Breakout Board
24Volt 4.3Amp Switching Power Supply

Mach3 and Vcarve pro V5 software


I now need to select the lead screws. I understand 5 start would give you higher speed, but do you loose accuracy? Any help on which way to go and what the settings would be best in Mach 3 would be greatly appreciated..:drowning:

[TchTchr]

Are three anti-back lash nut and flanges needed from dumpstercnc when going with the 5-start?

thanks,
Brad

[Realmseeker]

Does McMaster carry the 1/2-10 5 starts? i am having problems finding it on their site. Can someone link it please?

Seems about 40$ for 1/2-8 1 or 2 starts vs 60$~ for the 5 starts on 6' lengths,
Basically adding about 40$ to a build,
Even on a budget,
thats not to bad

[AJ Negvesky]

http://www.mcmaster.com/#=1jlp9n

[AJ Negvesky]

search for number
steel
99030A704 $60.74

Black-Oxide
98940A020 $82.26

[Realmseeker]

much thanks AJ

[TchTchr]

I found the answer to my question below in the parts spreadsheet.

3 backlash nuts and flanges

sorry for unneeded post

[BobF]

I have finally finished cutting out and asseblinng all the pieces for Joe's 2006 R2 and went with the Probotix

3x SideStep Bi-Polar Stepper Motor Driver
2x HT23-400-4 400ozin Stepper Motor (X- & Y-Axis)
1x HT23-260-4 260ozin Stepper Motor (Z-Axis)
PBX-2 Parallel Port Breakout Board
24Volt 4.3Amp Switching Power Supply

Mach3 and Vcarve pro V5 software


I now need to select the lead screws. I understand 5 start would give you higher speed, but do you loose accuracy? Any help on which way to go and what the settings would be best in Mach 3 would be greatly appreciated..:drowning:

Most steppers are 200 steps per inch these days look in your specs and see what yours are. It may say 1.8 degrees.
Steps per inch = screw pitch * 200 full steps per rev * microsteps so
1/2-10 5 start gives 2 tpi effective pitch.
2*200=400 full steps per inch.
If your drives do 4 microsteps you now have 1600 steps per inch. This would give a little better than .001 which is probably as good as you can hope for with a homebuilt.
With your 1 start screw you would have had 10*200*4 = 8000 steps per inch.
yes in theory you traded speed for accuracy, but could the machine really resolve 1/8000 inch?
Microstepping seems to be fairly common in drives and I have seen 2,4,8,16,5, and 10 listed in various drive specs. There are probably other numbers that some do.
So you could choose 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 2000, 4000 steps per inch depending on the microstep settings available.

[AJ Negvesky]

Most steppers are 200 steps per inch these days look in your specs and see what yours are. It may say 1.8 degrees.
Steps per inch = screw pitch * 200 full steps per rev * microsteps so
1/2-10 5 start gives 2 tpi effective pitch.
2*200=400 full steps per inch.
If your drives do 4 microsteps you now have 1600 steps per inch. This would give a little better than .001 which is probably as good as you can hope for with a homebuilt.
With your 1 start screw you would have had 10*200*4 = 8000 steps per inch.
yes in theory you traded speed for accuracy, but could the machine really resolve 1/8000 inch?
Microstepping seems to be fairly common in drives and I have seen 2,4,8,16,5, and 10 listed in various drive specs. There are probably other numbers that some do.
So you could choose 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 2000, 4000 steps per inch depending on the microstep settings available.

Thanks didn't look at it that way the stepper drivers have full half 1/4 and 1/8 step and the steppers themselves are the 200/1.8 degree. By looking at the specs I would really want to keep the steppers under 700 rmm for the higest torque, so with your formula at full step and 5:1 at 500 rpm 250 inches per min would the effective travel rate. Sounds like alot of people like the 5:1 and for like 5 dollars over the 2:1 not much of a diff on the lead screws. I was also worried about the angle being too steep for the steppers to move it but from what I am reading I don't see that as the case.

[BobF]

multi start screws are usually more efficient as well.
Look up Nook industries. They have lots of good screw info on their site.

[bradtal]

Hello All-

Well, thanks to all the help from everyone on the board, I bit the bullet and ordered the 5-start rod from McMaster-Carr and the DumpsterCNC parts.

I installed them last night and all I can say is "Wow! Wow! Wow!" What a huge difference. Not only is it faster, but it is much smoother. The stepper doesn't have to spin as fast, so the rod doesn't whip. This minimizes the "jerkyness" I was getting with the old 1/2-13 threaded rod.

I definitely recommend the 5-start rod if you are thinking of upgrading.

Brad

[AJ Negvesky]

Well I did the same mine all came in over the weekend went with the dumpstercnc clamping collars too. I hope mine is as nice as yours sounds.

[calgrdnr]

"Wow! Wow! Wow!" What a huge difference

:banana::wee: Just wait till you start cutting , and save all kinds of time with the quick/fast rapids .

You mentioned jerkyness are you still getting it? Is it just from inertia?
Are you using Mach? If so, try tuning your motors. I really have no jerkyness in my system is why I am asking.
It moves real smooth on all axis’s.

After my upgrade I was amazed on how much more professional/efficient the
machine sounded and ran also. It was worth every penny and as far as I am concern
and should be done at the beginning ,if just starting a build . Skimp on clamps / t rails,
what ever else you may need to skimp on .
but not starting with these screws is pretty much a waste of monies. Not to mention time ( cutting slower )

enjoy your “NEW” machine :cheers:

[multiplex]

i'll jump in on the 5 start bandwagon :rainfro:

i recently upgraded from 2 to 5 start 1/2-10 using McMaster screws and Dumpster components. What an amazing difference.

My max rapid before was 120 IPM (sometimes 150). Now i have my rapids set to 400 with no problems. I'm also 1/16 stepping my motors I believe.

[bradtal]

:banana::wee: Just wait till you start cutting , and save all kinds of time with the quick/fast rapids .

You mentioned jerkyness are you still getting it? Is it just from inertia?
Are you using Mach? If so, try tuning your motors. I really have no jerkyness in my system is why I am asking.
It moves real smooth on all axis’s.

After my upgrade I was amazed on how much more professional/efficient the
machine sounded and ran also. It was worth every penny and as far as I am concern
and should be done at the beginning ,if just starting a build . Skimp on clamps / t rails,
what ever else you may need to skimp on .
but not starting with these screws is pretty much a waste of monies. Not to mention time ( cutting slower )

enjoy your “NEW” machine :cheers:

Calgrdnr-

Thanks for the comments. I mentioned "jerkiness" when using the old 1/2"x13 1 start threaded rod. It was spinning so fast, it would whip ever so slightly. However, that "whipping" seemed to make my rapids "jerky". Like every time the rod would rotate once, I'd experience a little "jerk" of the gantry. Multiply that by how many revolutions it took to move the gantry, it seemed to "stutter" slightly as it moved. Hard to explain...

With the new 5-start rod, the stepper doesn't have to spin as fast, so no whip and no jerkiness. Way cool.:banana: