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