[john40131]

Hi i am new to CNC zone..i am building a small CNC machine for use as a driller router for PCBs similar to a you tube version from NYC CNC but using Mach3 driving breakout board and motor drivers..my question is the wire from the motor drive boards to stepper motors what gauge of wire should i use and does it need to be screen cable..grateful for any help.
Regards John

[ger21]

Depends on how big your motors are, but 18 gauge is probably fine, and shielded is not required, imo.

[john40131]

Depends on how big your motors are, but 18 gauge is probably fine, and shielded is not required, imo.

I am using Nema 17 for X and Y and Nema 23 for Z

JOHN

[ger21]

I've been using unshielded 22 awg on my Nema 23's for 10 years.

[john40131]

Thanks for reply, I had heard you can get noise from un-earthed cable but that probably on a wood construction machine but I am building with Aluminium, I started original design using Arduino and CNC Shield but decided to change to using Mach3 so was easier to use Beakout board and Stepper drivers and speed control for Spindle and then I can use G-Code from Eagle PCB design software, not started build yet need a Pillar drill first to help with construction got most of the other bits.

Regards John

[ger21]

You might want to consider UCCNC, rather than Mach3. It's cheaper, and better.

[john40131]

Yeh I looked at UCCNC it looks very good but then I found 1 drawback for me, you need to purchase a UC100 serial to parallel dongle and that will set you back anything from £80 to £120 so cost of software about £50, but I think I can get away with using Mach3 Demo as it gives you 500 lines of G-Code that may be enough for me, we will see.
I am retired so don't have too much money so that extra on software may break the bank, will suck it and see. LOL
John

[lagore]

Have you looked at linuxcnc as a controller out is free a bit of a steeper learning curve then mach 3 but more powerful.

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