[bgymr]

Simple question. My fourth axis on the 540 doesn't work. Is there a way to take the signals from that axis, and hook up a 201x to the signals? Has it been done?

I know I can send it and get fixed, but I'd like to get a bigger motor on my y axis to get some more speed, and I don't think i can do it with the 48v.

[coherent]

I know they contain 4 G250 drives. I've never had a need to open the one I have, so not sure if you can simply get another G250 and install it yourself. Take a look and see if it plugs in or is hard wired.
Other than that, since the G540 has it's own breakout board. My guess is there would be no simple way to use the 201 driver without wiring some jumpers to the G540 board or step/dir only and wiring the power supply separately. But, if you're looking for more power and the 201 can take 80v, using the built in BoB may be a moot point If you have another port and a cheap breakout board and 80v power supply, you can always run it separately. As long as the port/pin setup in your driver software is correct, that will work. Maybe someone from Gecko will chime in with advice.

[john-100]

when you open the G540's case
you will find a motherboard with the motor connectors plugged onto four G250 stepper drivers that you can replace your self

note- the latest version of the G540 uses modified versions of the G250 and G540 mother board
because the potentiometers used to tune the G250's has been moved and are now on the mother board

John

[john-100]

as a plan B

after having a look at the 201x
I think you can connect 201x and G540 on one printer port if you used a modified printer cable

if you make a printer cable out of a ribbon cable and IDC 25 way D-type connectors

it will be possible to split the ribbon so that the step & direction wires that would of gone to faulty G540 axis
can be connected to the 201x step & direction inputs
the 201x common will need to be connected to +5V taken from your PC - a USB cable can be cut to make the +5V available

Attachment 387306

John

[john-100]

here is one possible solution


for a smooth stepper
Attachment 387336

a ribbon cable with two 25pin plugs
the end plug has wires for pins 8 & 9 cut for the connection to the G540

the in board 25 pin plug can either
be connected to a working G540 to control 4 axis
or a 25 way socket with two wires connected to connect pins 8 & 9 to a G201x
with its common connected to +5V supply from the PC (or motion controller )

John

PS
for PC printer port to G540 & G201x
Attachment 387342

[bgymr]

Well, that is awesome. Exactly what I was hoping for. Basically I'm stealing the signals from 8 and 9 to feed them to the 201? Correct?

Thank you!

[john-100]

yes , without modifying the G540 !

the IDC connectors save a lot of soldering just in case you have not had a lot of practice soldering D-Type connectors

https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/idc-d...ctors/0492642/

Attachment 387338


taken from the net

USB cable colour code

use red wire to power the G201x common input

[Goemon]

I was just about to start a thread with a very similar question for a slightly different reason...

I want to buy a 400lb table for a moving table machine and I am not sure if my Gecko g540 / nema 23 381oz stepper set-up is up to the job. I wanted to ask if it was possible to add a second breakout board to connect a G-203 to run a more powerful nema 34 for one axis while keeping the g540 / nema 23's for the rest.

If I understand what I am reading here properly, it sounds like there is a cheaper way to do it if I splice cables and whatnot. If it didn't want to splice and dice cables, is using a second breakout board a viable method of using a 7amp nema 34 alongside a g540 on a Linux CNC machine?

[Goemon]

This is the motherboard I was considering:

https://www.pmdx.com/PMDX-134

For $55, it allows you to connect up to 4 G-203 drives and, with an additional $10 adapter, it can connect direct to a parallel port, or it can be connected to a breakout board / motion controller.