[WeCheat]

I was wondering if any one made a standalone controller for stepper motors. Basically what I’m looking for is something that I do not have to hook up my computer during the construction phase of my new plasma Cutter.
Thanks

[whateg01]

I have seen several people with joystick type controls, but those probably rely on a computer connection. I am using a simple 555 timer circuit with a variable frequency and a spdt switch to control the speed of movement. This goes into the "step" line of the driver board. Then, I have another switch connected to the "direction" input on the driver board that either pulls that input high for one direction or low for the other direction.

If that gets too technical, let me know and I will try to simplify it.

Dave

[WeCheat]

you lost me after " I have seen several people " I was looking at this http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14095 and thinking if no one made Standalone Control I could use it (real cheep if I let out the magic smoke) and HAVE someone make a small thingy that would send the control pulses to it when I pushed a momentary switch. I don’t won’t to hook up the good stuff until I am farther along in the project .I thought it would be easier to work around as it would be relatively small, no software setups, you know something just test the drive system and steppers with and (K.I.S.S approach). I think I may have lost myself in my own reply . :-)

[whateg01]

I am not familiar with that device. I am still fairly new to this whole cnc thing myself. :cheers:

I work with electronics all day, so it's just second nature for me to discuss the circuits needed to do some of this stuff.

How many axes do you want to be able to control at once with your test box?

Dave

[WeCheat]

Just one to test with. A small power supply, so all I have to do is plug it in the wall and start working the motor. I just want to keep away from having everything scattered on a work bench wondering whether it’s the computer, board, or software for the stepper motor. I notice you have a sprint car avatar. You a racer? Thanks for the replies

[whateg01]

Fan for awhile. Crew chief'd for a guy for a couple of years before the money well dried up. (wife divorced him. - actually good for her!) Sat out a couple of years, then pitted for another driver/owner last year. Don't know what I'll be next year, as we had a pretty tough year last season equipment-wise.

Sounds like the circuit I'm using would be just right for you.

Dave

[pminmo]

I have built one for my boards, and it is invaluable. Bascially a simple oscillator a pot and a couple of switches. But it your not wiring wise it won't do you much good.

[whateg01]

Do you have a pinout (description of each pin) for the connection to your drivers?

With that somebody could perhaps put something together and instruct you on how to connect it.

Dave

[pminmo]

I suspect he wants something from the db25 perspective?

[whateg01]

Phil,
As you probably know I am not real familiar with that end of things. (Heck, I'm just now getting familiar with the working end.) Is there any kind of standard for the computer interface?

Dave

[Olsson]

Hi, here is olsson Iam new in this group I wanna now how can I do to send one post to everybody , but anyway I need fanuc 6m parameters manual.
thanks

[pminmo]

Olson,
start a new thread from the formum home page:http://www.cnczone.com/forums/index.php?

Dave,
The closest thing to a standard is the parallel port on a pc. In that I mean the db25 signal i/o the PC uses. Most of the software is configurable as to what pin is x step, ydir, etc. Look at my website on the parallel port link:
http://pminmo.com/pport/pport.htm

The pretty much stick to pins as defined in the original PP spec for in's and outs. (I just noted a foopah, DB26F s/b DB25F)

[Isoprenia]

Kitsrus has a driver that works with small motors, when I posted that last time someone told me they were no good, contraty to that this is exactly what I use them for, they are about 20 bucks. you still need power supply , easy rig, they also have an encoder driven step pulse generator that may be handy for other trouble shooting, I also have found on the web about a dozen or so circuits for generating step, pulse signalsthat you can feed to your geckos, or whatever, I'm with you , computer is PITA for design and trouble shooting in the shop, unless you have an old spare laptop. murphy WILL knock a newone onto the floor and break it in my shop!!

[whateg01]

murphy WILL knock a newone onto the floor and break it in my shop!!

I hope that is not thevoice of experience talking.

If kit94 is what you are talking about, does it only do single step operations? I noted on the switch, the max speed is about 120RPM. As an example, if I am trying to make sure that the gantry will move from one end to the other smoothly, it will take a lot of finger turning to get there.

(36"/120RPM*13TPI=3.9minutes of knob spinning!) Is this correct? It seems to limit the max speed and the length of single move (fingers get tired). Also, this driver board drives the motors directly. I suppose if you didn't have drivers already, this might be viable, but for somebody has driver boards already and just needs to make them step, it wouldn't work.

WeCheat, I guess looking back, you don't already have a driver board? This might work for you, though I would still be hesitant due to the limitations mentioned.

I build a board based on some of the open source schematics but added an oscillator and a couple of switches. Of course, it too needs external power. Maybe I'll make a version to run off a 9V battery, and only have it powered when actually driving the motors. Any interest in that?

Dave

[MHINK]

I have built a few of the kitsrus controllers, unipolar and bipolar.
Look here http://www.kitsrus.com/ and look at kits 179 and 158 depending on the motor type you wish to drive.
I have found a few errors on their boards, but are easily fixed. You will need an external clock.
I have found these drivers to be very robust and inexpensive, in fact, they cost less than what I can buy the components for from the major suppliers.
If you decide to go with this controller, let me know and I will tell you about the few little fixes they take. They are well worth the price.
Another approach, el cheapo, would to be to go to the salvation army thrift store, buy a junk printer for $3 and remove one of the steppers and replace it with the one you wish to test (assuming current is not too far off).
I have used ramsey's kits to run a small mill, and they are not as cheap or strong as the kitsrus kind, but do fine on teen cube size. I have driven a 23 size 3A stepper, briefly, with one too.
-Mark

[whateg01]

Mark,

Thanks for the info. I will look further down the page for the kits you mentioned.

The printer idea might be good for testing the motors themselves, but for testing alignment of a gantry or something, I'm not sure of its usefulness.

Dave

[pminmo]

I was wondering if any one made a standalone controller for stepper motors. Basically what I’m looking for is something that I do not have to hook up my computer during the construction phase of my new plasma Cutter.
Thanks

WeCheat,
After looking at some of the responses, I'm not sure what it is your really looking for. It could be any of the following:
1. A motor driver and stepper(s).
2. A motor driver or driver(s).
3. Electronics to control the motor driver(s) and motors all.
4. Other?

You need to start from the motor back. Have you chosen motor(s)? It will all hinge on what motor.

[Isoprenia]

the voice of experience , is me and laptops dont get along, gave up on em , too expensive and fragile for my liking.

as for the stand alone controllers , it really depends what you want to do with them. IMO a nice setup would be to have a 1000 line encoder and hand wheel and a pulse divider to drive a controller , and also have an oscillator in one box with the three wires and a 9v batt, switch back and forth as necessary, depending on what you want to do. everyone has different ideas and needs. That's why I sort of just throw em all out , and you decdide what's right for you. Kitsrus stuff is easy for those who dont have the electiical backgriound or want quick cheap and easy, by no means are they the ultimate solution for antyhing. Arround here I can't even get the pc board made for the cost of the kit with all the parts.

Maris also has a schematic floating around using an exclusive or for a step dir generator, would be simple and easy for a small test generator.

Mhink is right about the errors, they have a bulletin on them , my units were corrected, old stock might still have errors. Also if you set the switch to ext, and touch the inputs, you will generate erratic pulses that try to run the motor ...gets very confused!

they are good for what they are , dont tryto make them something they are not

BH

[vladdy]

If you are looking for some kind of circuit to 'test' a stepper controller board without a computer hookup, I had made one some time back, used 1 IC, a pot, all small stuff..just sent out a direction signal, an adjustable step pulse..

Could be made on a breadboard for one time usage, or PCB for a keeper..

If that's what you are looking for I can post schematic, etc..
just keep in mind, it's not real fancy..

enjoy..

[pstockley]

Vladdy, I'd be interested in seeing it.

Thanks