[Jeremy Kamutzki]

I have spent over an hour trying to find the answer to my question. I would like to make a CNC machine, but cost is a huge factor (I'm 16, so I don't have a ton of money). So, I was looking at the HobbyCNC EZ driver board kit. It looks good, but I really like the price of the TB6560 driver with 3 steppers (3axis Nema17 stepper motor 78oz-in CNC kit&3A driver board | eBay) But i'm afraid that A. it isn't super high quality and it's a really important part of the machine and B. that the motors will be underpowered for my application. So, if figure the hobbyCNC ez driver kit would be higher quality, but I don't want to spend $245 on the bundle plus shipping. So, I was looking around for motors and this is my question. I know the hobbycnc board is unipolar only, which means no 4 wire motors, but will any 6 or 8 wire motor work with that hobbycnc board? I found these 6 wire Nema 23 motors (NEMA 23 Stepping Motor | 16.0 kg-cm | 6 Wire | 57BYGH303) they are allot stronger than the Nema 17's included with the ebay kit, so I thought they'd be better.

Another question I had was about a power supply. Would something like this 24V 6A Supply work (Super New 145W 24V DC 6A Regulated Switching Power Supply | eBay)

and last question. It looks like the hobbycnc driver and stepper bundle includes a capacitor. Do I need to buy one?

Any help is appreciate.

[ger21]

Yes, it should work with those motors.
But, if you can come up with another $40, I'd buy these instead. 3.6V,3A,1.8 Deg. NEMA 23 Step Motor-MPJA, Inc.
Just watch out for shipping.

The capacitor included with the kit is to make an unregulated power supply. If you use a switching supply like the one on Ebay, you don't need the capacitor.
The power supply requirements will be dictated by the motors you choose, and possibly your wallet.

What do you plan on using these for? If your building a CNC, then you really don't need to buy the electronics until your ready to install them. Then you'll have a better idea of what you need. Buying motors and electronics first is a mistake that's made wuite often by new builders.

[Jeremy Kamutzki]

Yes, it should work with those motors.
But, if you can come up with another $40, I'd buy these instead. 3.6V,3A,1.8 Deg. NEMA 23 Step Motor-MPJA, Inc.
Just watch out for shipping.

The capacitor included with the kit is to make an unregulated power supply. If you use a switching supply like the one on Ebay, you don't need the capacitor.
The power supply requirements will be dictated by the motors you choose, and possibly your wallet.

What do you plan on using these for? If your building a CNC, then you really don't need to buy the electronics until your ready to install them. Then you'll have a better idea of what you need. Buying motors and electronics first is a mistake that's made wuite often by new builders.

is this the same one as the one you listed? it has the same torque and is also a 6-wire. Ok. thanks for the info about the power supply. How do i determine the current i need? Is it the max current of all the motors added up? ex. 3A x 3 motors = 9 A power supply?

I plan on using them for a CNC that will be cutting foam, balsa, plywood, and maybe mdf to upgrade my machine. Possibly even thin metal, but not likely.

I know that I can build the base first, but I am designing the machine I want to build in inventor 2012 so I know how it will all go together. And i'm not going to buy the electronics all right away, but I want to know which ones i will get, to determine whether the total cost would be reasonable for me right now. Also so that all the dimensions are correct in my model.

Thanks for your help

Jeremy

[ger21]

Did you intend to post a link?

[Jeremy Kamutzki]

Did you intend to post a link?

yup, sorry! NEMA 23 Stepping Motor | 21.0 kg-cm | 6 Wire | 57BYGH405A

[ger21]

The specs appear to be the same, so yes, they are basically the same thing.

[Jeremy Kamutzki]

The specs appear to be the same, so yes, they are basically the same thing.

ok. now, the matter of unipolar and bipolar. the one you listed stated that it was unipolar, so is every 6 wire motor unipolar? I thought i read somewhere that they can be wired to be unipolar or bipolar

[ger21]

A bipolar drive can use 4,6, and 8 wire motors.
A unipolar drive can usually only use 6 and 8 wire motors. (and some 5 wire motors).

[Jeremy Kamutzki]

A bipolar drive can use 4,6, and 8 wire motors.
A unipolar drive can usually only use 6 and 8 wire motors. (and some 5 wire motors).

ok. thanks! you've been really helpful! I will probably get the hobbycnc ez driver and the 21kg nema motors once I have my base built.

last question. earlier on I was asking how to choose a power supply for my motors. How would I go about choosing one?

[Jeremy Kamutzki]

anyone know how to choose a power supply for your CNC driver?

[ger21]

With 3 of those motors and the HobbyCNC EZ board, you want a 24-30V power supply with at least 7 amps.
The higher the voltage, the faster your motors will go.

[Jeremy Kamutzki]

With 3 of those motors and the HobbyCNC EZ board, you want a 24-30V power supply with at least 7 amps.
The higher the voltage, the faster your motors will go.

ok. thanks. what would having less current (say 6A) have an effect on? holding power?