584,841 active members*
4,413 visitors online*
Register for free
Login
IndustryArena Forum > CNC Electronics > Gecko Drives > Stepper disconnection with g540 turned on
Results 1 to 6 of 6
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Posts
    68

    Stepper disconnection with g540 turned on

    Hi!! I have a doubt... My friend told me I can never disconnect a stepper motor when it’s driver (in my case the Gecko G540) is turned on. That I may fry the driver...

    While assembling my cnc kit to my mill I often connected and disconnected a stepper, for testing reasons,and sometimes the Gecko was turned on through Mach3. I never experienced any problems, but now I’m afraid I could fry my controller.

    I really can’t disconnect the stepper from the gecko while the gecko is on? (On, but the motor is not running, of course)

    Could I fry it? Or the Gecko has some kind of protection against it?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538

    Re: Stepper disconnection with g540 turned on

    Yes, you can really fry it. Never unplug a stepper when the drive is powered. If you had a cheaper drive, it would likely fry the first time you try it.
    Geckos do have some protection, but it won't help every time.
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Posts
    1943

    Re: Stepper disconnection with g540 turned on

    So instead of just doing the thing that will for sure not fry your driver you opt to get internet opinions about it? Would you really trust if someone said it would be ok and risk your gecko instead of just turning off the power supply?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Posts
    68
    Quote Originally Posted by 109jb View Post
    So instead of just doing the thing that will for sure not fry your driver you opt to get internet opinions about it? Would you really trust if someone said it would be ok and risk your gecko instead of just turning off the power supply?
    I’m sorry, but you already know this fact, so you may find it silly.

    I didn’t by the time I was assembling my machine. My friend told me I shouldn’t do this afterwards. As he doesn’t have a driver like this, and so far my driver is ok, I’m just double-checking this info on a part of a forum dedicated to this driver. I thought that maybe this driver had a protection.

    I tried to get this info on gecko’s website but didn’t find anything about it. I may have missed it, or skipped it, if it’s written somewhere.

    I’m slowly learning and reading as much as I can through the years and getting information shared over the internet, and also in this particular case, in this very forum dedicated to exchange of information of this brand of products.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Posts
    68
    Quote Originally Posted by ger21 View Post
    Yes, you can really fry it. Never unplug a stepper when the drive is powered. If you had a cheaper drive, it would likely fry the first time you try it.
    Geckos do have some protection, but it won't help every time.
    Better be safe than sorry! I wasn’t aware of this when assembling my cnc.

    Thanks a lot!!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    4252

    Re: Stepper disconnection with g540 turned on

    Some of the stepper drivers have an logic-level Enable pin. It allows you to disable the big FETs and safely disconnect the motor. I use this all the time via a front panel switch.

    Cheers
    Roger

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 26
    Last Post: 08-18-2017, 04:16 PM
  2. Total disconnection of axis
    By BorislavS in forum Fanuc
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 02-19-2015, 09:12 AM
  3. best stepper for G540?
    By SatanKlawz in forum Gecko Drives
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 07-08-2014, 07:35 AM
  4. G540 with one different stepper out of four.
    By BanduraMaker in forum Gecko Drives
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 11-21-2011, 06:11 AM
  5. G540 & 5 Phase stepper
    By mikie in forum Gecko Drives
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 09-10-2009, 04:38 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •