[fyrebug]

I'm looking to build my first cnc machine using a fram from modularcnc.com, 225 or 325 seems like a great price to me. and I'll use a harbour freight router head.

for stepper motor I was thinking of the ones used in reprap or makerbot
http://store.makerbot.com/motors/ste...51-24-08b.html

it's a Nema 23 - Keling KL23H51-24-08B.

now, my issue is... how do I drive it?

as I'm on a budget I'm not really looking to buy a $200 controller.. I can see some on ebay for $50, though I have no idea if they're good or not. some list as being able to work with mach3 etc,

but what would all you pros here recommend?

(I should note, I'm perfectly ok with etching a board and programming pic's, atmel or arduino. so if there's an open source router, it might be a good idea)


Thanks everyone!!

[Hirudin]

Here's a similar thread over on the Benchtop Mills forum. IIRC it got a little derailed, but there's probably info in there that will help you in your search.

[dj-kenpo]

ya, not really any good info in there.

like you said it just gets off topic. chopper vs non chopper.... thanks though

[dj-kenpo]

looking at this one

http://www.cncgeeker.com/index.php?m...&products_id=1 59$ isn't bad, though there are users in this forum that have it and seem to of had hit and miss experiences.

I can't tell if I hook the stepper motors directly to it, or if I need seperate boards ontop of this one.....

can anyone tell?

[ger21]

Decent and cheap don't go too well together. But the HobbyCNC might work for you. www.hobbycnc.com

[dj-kenpo]

thanks gir21!

it looks almost exactly like the one I found, except that the hobbycnc one looks like it might have better support should I run into issues....

think I might grab that one then

[Crevice Reamer]

I'm looking to build my first cnc machine using a fram from modularcnc.com, 225 or 325 seems like a great price to me. and I'll use a harbour freight router head.

for stepper motor I was thinking of the ones used in reprap or makerbot
http://store.makerbot.com/motors/ste...51-24-08b.html

it's a Nema 23 - Keling KL23H51-24-08B.

now, my issue is... how do I drive it?

as I'm on a budget I'm not really looking to buy a $200 controller.. I can see some on ebay for $50, though I have no idea if they're good or not. some list as being able to work with mach3 etc,

but what would all you pros here recommend?

(I should note, I'm perfectly ok with etching a board and programming pic's, atmel or arduino. so if there's an open source router, it might be a good idea)


Thanks everyone!!

I don't know what you are going to be driving with them, but those are fairly tiny motors. And running them Unipolar with HobbyCNC board will lower torque further from 156 down to 113 oz.

CR.

[BobF]

get one of the hobbyCNC kits. Motors and driver for one price.
If you can spend more get a Gecko 540 and motors to suit.

[Crevice Reamer]

Many try to save money with cheap drivers. Well, definitely after your first several cheap drivers don't work out--Get the G540. If you are lucky, you'll only have spent twice the G540 cost by then.

CR.

[dertsap]

a lot of guys here have had great success with the hobbycnc boards ,a few years back there were always posts in regard to those boards it seems its polularity has slid a bit over the last while , at $25 per axis for a 4 axis driver it's a great deal , and if need be fixes are cheap

[dj-kenpo]

ya the hobbycnc boards seem to be the way to go. searching this forum there seem to be pretty good comments from everyone on it. vs something like the univelop which sounds terrible.

gecko, I'm not sure what the cost is but probably more than I want to spend on my first starter cnc.

as for motors, hobby cnc sells them in the kit, as mentioned here, and I think I'll do that.

does anyone have a suggestion? other than knowing I need nema23 size, I have no clue what 'oz' weight I should be aiming for.

they come as 130, 205, and 305 oz
http://www.hobbycnc.com/products/hob...oard-packages/

I'm not looking to be cutting metal, just wood, plastic, plaster, but who knows. if 305oz 4.2v will do metal, why not spend the extra little bit

[Crevice Reamer]

Choosing motors depends on a lot of factors. Bigger is not always better, and in MOST cases is slower. Maybe some of this info will be helpful to you:

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76865.#3

CR.

[guru_florida]

As CreviceReamer said, the G540 is the best choice. Get a new paper route if you have too. I just switched from the *cheap* variety and I am still in shock over the difference. I kick myself for spending $180 on the popular L297 variety.

[dj-kenpo]

Thanks CR!

that was a lot of info... though I'm still unsure of what motor to get I think 205oz should do. I'd only have an 11x12x4 or 6x4x4 cutting area.
gecko sounds great, but more for a second machine 2 years down the road

I've also just found this kit: http://www.xylotex.com/3AxSysKit.htm

$310 isn't too bad considering it's the power, steppers, etc. it's a toss up between that one and the hobby cnc.

[Crevice Reamer]

Xylotex is a bipolar drive--That alone would make it a better deal than HobbyCNC. Just don't get the 425 motors with it. Someday you'll wish you had gotton the G540 though.

CR.

[gasmasher]

I just made the decision between a xylotex and hobbycnc kit for my first hobby machine and went with the hobbycnc pro 4 axis kit.

Each kit has a few parts that you need to add such as a case. You have to put the hobbycnc board together yourself (you get a PCB and a couple bags of parts) and supply a transformer (about $60 shipped). For the xylotex kit you need to supply a parallel cable and motor wire.

I enjoyed putting the hobbycnc board together but I am still in the process of building my machine so I don't have any data on how it is going to run. I have pics of the board before and after assembly in my build thread.

[dj-kenpo]

CR I fully understand the gecko is better. I'd love to get it now, it's just as have one too many purchases right now to deal with, so it'll have to wait for a 2nd machine 3 years from now. by then I'll also better know what my needs are.

if your opinion is the xylotex over hobbycnc then I'll go that route.

[ger21]

Xylotex is a bipolar drive--That alone would make it a better deal than HobbyCNC. Just don't get the 425 motors with it. Someday you'll wish you had gotton the G540 though.

CR.

But by being able to use 36V, the HobbyCNC can outperform the Xylotex.

[dertsap]

Choosing motors depends on a lot of factors. Bigger is not always better, and in MOST cases is slower. Maybe some of this info will be helpful to you:

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76865.#3

CR.

your link doesnt explain why there is a difference other than the larger motors get hot or why they are slower ? it just says it is ???
i have two 770oz nema 34 and one nema 42 , not one of those motors gets hot after hours of use ,they are barely even warm , and i dont concider them to be slow due to the fact i keep the x and y slowed down alot to 500 ipm , and thats with low voltage
so i dont understand how you can say that as a general term ?

[Crevice Reamer]

your link doesnt explain why there is a difference other than the larger motors get hot or why they are slower ? it just says it is ???
i have two 770oz nema 34 and one nema 42 , not one of those motors gets hot after hours of use ,they are barely even warm , and i dont concider them to be slow due to the fact i keep the x and y slowed down alot to 500 ipm , and thats with low voltage
so i dont understand how you can say that as a general term ?

Your argument is apples to oranges. My bigger is not better comment was directed to the previous poster who was certain that the bigger N23 motor would be better just because it was bigger.

You have mis-read the info you refer to:

NEMA SIZES: Both steppers and servos may come in different Nema flange sizes.
Nema 23= 2.3 inch flange. Nema 34= 3.4 inch flange etc. We usually use either the smaller Nema 23 or the somewhat larger Nema 34. The torque may overlap between the sizes, but generally the larger motor has an easier time.

For example, a 500 oz Nema 23 stepper motor will be working hard (and getting hotter) to attain the power at which a 500 oz Nema 34 will be easily cruising. Generally, power is added by extending the length (stack) of the motor.

CR.