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IndustryArena Forum > OpenSource CNC Design Center > Open Source Controller Boards > New Linistepper design, PMinMO compatible, kit sale.

View Poll Results: What are the most important driver features to you?

Voters
102. You may not vote on this poll
  • Open source firmware and board layout freely available

    72 70.59%
  • Low parts-count and cost for home building

    34 33.33%
  • Low kit price to get running on a budget

    27 26.47%
  • Smooth / low resonance modes for better performance

    43 42.16%
  • Faster / more reliable operation w/ low cost surplus motors

    31 30.39%
Multiple Choice Poll.
Page 1 of 8 123
Results 1 to 20 of 142
  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2005
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    1397

    New Linistepper design, PMinMO compatible, kit sale.

    Just wanted to let you all know there is a new design, board layout, and kit coming out for the Linistepper (the smooth linear driver with higher speed active current regulation for medium to small, low cost, unipolar motors).

    The new Linistepper Version 2 features a few small but important improvements:
    • PMinMO standard connections so you can mix and match with other break out boards and drivers
    • Screw terminals for the motor leads
    • Onboad mode selection (full, high torque half, low resonance 6th and 18th micro-stepping)
    • Network resistors for a lower component count and less soldering
    • Still open source, still your best bet for great performance from low cost motors. (Unipolar, 1.5 amps/phase, up to 35Volts)


    Same great linear microstepping features:
    • Ultra smooth, low resonance operation in 6th and 18th over microstepping modes with analog ramping.
    • Active current regulation via the onboard PIC microcontroller (open source) and a tricky little feedback circuit for faster operation than the old style linear drivers.
    • High-Torque half stepping mode provides 28% more torque and less resonance when half stepping at high speeds.
    • Low cost "junk-box" component list for outstanding value. We order large quantities so if you don't have a PIC programmer or a fully stocked parts bin, we can get you a kit for less than you can order the parts from a distributor.


    Now we have some good news and some bad news:

    BAD NEWS: They aren't quite in stock yet and we are still working on the documentation. We expect to be done updating the web page, publishing the new layout and build instructions, in the next few days, and the shipment of kits is in the air as we speak.

    GOOD NEWS: If you are willing to order the kits now, and wait a week or so for delivery, we are knocking $5 off the kit price. That makes a 3 axis system just $75 or $25 per axis!

    Place your order at:
    http://www.ecomorder.com/techref/ecomprice.asp?p=416015 BEFORE we get the kits in stock, and save! At that price, we are pretty close to loosing money, so there is a limit of 3 drivers per customer.

    And... as if that weren't enough... there is a new open source design coming from Roman for a 3A/phase SLA7062 based microstepping driver. The web page with all the documentation should be up soon, and we will be offering a kit for price that is pretty close to the Linistepper.

    Thanks for supporting open source designs and products! Your support, customizations, and feedback really make a difference. Please take a moment and take the poll? Thanks!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    1397

    Linistepper Version 2 in-stock, Sale ends, Rebate opportunity.

    Ok, the new version is in stock, and we will be shipping our back orders tonight and tomorrow.

    The sale is over, and the price is back to a very affordable $35 each or $30 each for 3 or more for the kit. Has anyone made one at home for less?

    If you missed out, no worries, we are going to do a little rebate opportunity that could save you even more:

    The current gallery of pictures from users of the Linistepper controller only has the original versions and home built versions in it; there aren't any pictures of the Version 2. So if you buy a version 2 kit or a set, build them and get your CNC machine up and running, then take a picture, clearly showing the Version 2 board and your machine, and send them to me along with a rebate request, I will refund $10 of your purchase price. After you do that, you can get another $10 by sending a pair of pictures or a video showing the difference between full stepping and micro-stepping modes. It can show a finer cut on your finished work, or the sound, or the top speed, or any other comparison of the different modes. Then, you can get another $10 by sending temperature readings at start, and after at least a half hours operation for both the motors and the controller. Again, you must do the first two to qualify for the third $10 rebate. But it's a total of $30, so one of your axis will effectively be free.

    We also don't have nearly enough comparisons between the linistepper and other drivers. If you send any substantive (and it's substantive if I publish it) comparison between the same motors and machine running off a Linistepper (purchased or home made) and running off another controller, along with a picture of your setup, I'll pay you $30. You might send top speeds, stall torque, video, working motor temperature, cut smoothness comparison, or just about anything else you can think of. We don't even need to come out on top, we just want to know how we stack up. Be sure to include a picture of your setup, showing the Linistepper, and the exact part number of the other driver.

    Thanks again for your support!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    1397

    Linistepper Version 2 pictures, Linistepper Video

    I thought you guys might like to see some pictures of the new Linistepper Version 2 boards

    This is what comes in the kit (the PIC isn't installed in this picture, but it IS included in the kit, programmed with the source code which is openly available). The network resistors reduce the parts count and make the kit a lot easier to build. Notice the mode switches on-board at the left edge. Select Full, High Power Half, 6th or 18th micro stepping with linear smoothing and low voltage active current regulation for faster response.

    And here it is hooked up and ready to go with the users unipolar 1.5Amp motor, head sink, and cable ready for a PMinMO standard interface board. The linistepper is ideal for high inductance, medium to small stepper motors like those found in copiers, old laser printers or surplus shops. We have a list of good motors and you can add your favorite if you like.


    And here is a nice YouTube of linisteppers running a Sherline 2000 mill with the EMC2 open source CNC software from http://www.linuxcnc.org/


    Notice how nice those motors sound? Smoooooth music.

    More pics and video at:
    http://techref.massmind.org/techref/...ep/gallery.htm

    Please take a moment to complete the poll at the start of this thread? Thanks!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    392
    Those look awesome James! I'm seriously considering building some of these, but I have one small issue. I can't seem to find any files or images for the PCB Traces, if we were to make our own PCB boards. Do these exist, or do I just need to make them myself using the schematic? Thanks!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2005
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    1397
    There are several board layouts for the Linistepper in different formats at:
    http://techref.massmind.org/techref/...ds.htm#layouts

    The design of the current V2 does not lend itself to anything less than a multilayer PCB, which is what we include in the kit, but anyone who wants to try and make a single layer or other DIY PCB layout is certainly welcome. I'll be happy to host the files on the page above.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    25

    Linistepper V2 Eagle files

    I modified Patricio Oholeguy eagle files to reflect v2 of the linistepper and made some minor changes.

    This is for homemade single sided board.

    I have not made them yet so there may be mistakes.

    Let me know.

    Thanks,
    Sam
    Attached Files Attached Files

  7. #7
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    Aug 2009
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    392
    Quote Originally Posted by Sam Waters View Post
    I modified Patricio Oholeguy eagle files to reflect v2 of the linistepper and made some minor changes.

    This is for homemade single sided board.

    I have not made them yet so there may be mistakes.

    Let me know.

    Thanks,
    Sam
    Awesome, thanks! I'll take a peek at that once I"m done my homework.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
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    392
    It looks pretty good to me. Then again, it's quite possible I've missed something Just letting you know it looks good though; thanks for that contribution, very useful.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    25

    Drive 3amp/phase steppers

    I am going to try and drive some 3 amp/ phase motors.
    I made the traces larger so should take the current.
    Added a 100nf cap on the pic and split the ground traces.
    Changes I am going to try are
    TIP142T (15amp) DK# 497-7653-5-ND for the Tip122.
    BC337-AP DK# BC337-APMSTB-ND are inline pins so should work good.
    Going to use 0.33 ohm resistors for the sense resitors.

    Anyone have an idea what values to try for other resitors to run at 3 amps?

    Thanks,
    Sam

  10. #10
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    Aug 2009
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    392
    Quote Originally Posted by Sam Waters View Post
    I am going to try and drive some 3 amp/ phase motors.
    I made the traces larger so should take the current.
    Added a 100nf cap on the pic and split the ground traces.
    Changes I am going to try are
    TIP142T (15amp) DK# 497-7653-5-ND for the Tip122.
    BC337-AP DK# BC337-APMSTB-ND are inline pins so should work good.
    Going to use 0.33 ohm resistors for the sense resitors.

    Anyone have an idea what values to try for other resitors to run at 3 amps?

    Thanks,
    Sam
    If I plan on running lower amperage motors, should I both taking out the 100nf cap, or will it be fine if I just leave it in there?

    Also, what part of Canada are you from?

  11. #11
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    25
    Quote Originally Posted by Jesse B View Post
    If I plan on running lower amperage motors, should I both taking out the 100nf cap, or will it be fine if I just leave it in there?

    The 100nf is a "decoupling capacitor" it helps protect the micro from lockup or glitches and should be placed as close to the vcc and grd pins of the micro as possible. With drawing more current I figured it would be generating more noise and the cap wouln't hurt and I had room on the board.
    As for you, if you have one put it in, if not don't worry about it, it's not in the original linistepper design.

    Also, what part of Canada are you from?
    Saskatchewan....It's freezing rain here right now, oh what fun!!!

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
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    392
    Quote Originally Posted by Sam Waters View Post
    The 100nf is a "decoupling capacitor" it helps protect the micro from lockup or glitches and should be placed as close to the vcc and grd pins of the micro as possible. With drawing more current I figured it would be generating more noise and the cap wouln't hurt and I had room on the board.
    As for you, if you have one put it in, if not don't worry about it, it's not in the original linistepper design.



    Saskatchewan....It's freezing rain here right now, oh what fun!!!
    Alright thanks for the help

    I'm in BC. It's starting to cool down, but it's not too bad yet.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    May 2005
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    1397
    Err... just to make sure, has anyone actually gotten the Patricio Oholeguy version of the boards to work?

    Sam, 3 amps on a Linistepper has been done, but it doesn't work well in the microstepping modes just because of the enormous heat load. It isn't terribly practical. Do let us know how it goes for you?

  14. #14
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    25
    Quote Originally Posted by James Newton View Post
    Err... just to make sure, has anyone actually gotten the Patricio Oholeguy version of the boards to work?

    I compared the scematic to the one on the Linistepper site and they look the same, only the parts are in a differnt place, so should work the same as the orignial linistepper v2.


    Sam, 3 amps on a Linistepper has been done, but it doesn't work well in the microstepping modes just because of the enormous heat load. It isn't terribly practical. Do let us know how it goes for you?
    The motors I have are low voltage ~3 volt / 3 amp motors.
    Even if run them on a 6 volt supply and drop the whole 6 volts across the TIP142's that would only be 18 watts and they are rated at 125 watts so they shouldn't overheat, and I plan on running fans on the heatsinks.

    I'll let you know how it goes once I build and test them sometime this winter.

    Later
    Sam

  15. #15
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    May 2005
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sam Waters View Post
    I compared the scematic to the one on the Linistepper site and they look the same, only the parts are in a differnt place, so should work the same as the orignial linistepper v2.
    Did you catch the errata in the Linistepper v2 build instructions? I can't view your board files, or I would check for you.

    Quote Originally Posted by Sam Waters View Post
    The motors I have are low voltage ~3 volt / 3 amp motors.
    Even if run them on a 6 volt supply and drop the whole 6 volts across the TIP142's that would only be 18 watts and they are rated at 125 watts so they shouldn't overheat, and I plan on running fans on the heatsinks.

    I'll let you know how it goes once I build and test them sometime this winter.

    Later
    Sam
    Thanks, best of luck.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
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    2392
    Quote Originally Posted by Sam Waters View Post
    ...
    The motors I have are low voltage ~3 volt / 3 amp motors.
    Even if run them on a 6 volt supply and drop the whole 6 volts across the TIP142's that would only be 18 watts and they are rated at 125 watts so they shouldn't overheat, and I plan on running fans on the heatsinks.
    ...
    Sam- It's not recommended to run the Linis over 1.5 amps per phase. The constant current control used in the Linis is dependent on the Vbe voltage of the TIP142 transistors. The Vbe voltage changes with high transistor heat, which causes the current to increase out of spec.

    In normal use with the Linis under 1.5A /phase this is not a problem, they will work as designed. Or like James said it is ok to run higher currents if you are NOT using the microsteps.

    But if you are using microsteps you should keep current under 1.5A/phase or the microstepping current will vary with transistor heat (causing fractional positioning errors) or in a worse case can cause failure of the transistors.

    If you want to drive 3A/phase unipolar motors James now has the new SLAmStepper kits, these are only a fraction more expensive than the Linisteppers but are very suited to 3A motors. They are not quite as silent as the Linis but they still offer 8th and 16th microstepping which is quite a smooth performance.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Posts
    1
    Hi all,
    this is my first post here
    First I must say that I've planed to make CNC my self and your design is just what I wanted.
    There is one thing that I belive is missing and that is optocouplers. I like to be on the safe side with my machine
    agelkom has done good job modifing first version in my homble opinion.

    http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3341

    If you guy belive it's good mod I will happy to conrtibute by adding same or simmilar mod to version 2.
    Don't know how long it will take me to do it since due to my job and exams but I'll do my best :cheers:

    P.S.

    Check this:
    http://elektronika.rs.ba/data/projek...onika_v4.shtml

    seams like modified Linistepper!

  18. #18
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    May 2005
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    1397
    Quote Originally Posted by Kare View Post
    Hi all,
    this is my first post here
    First I must say that I've planed to make CNC my self and your design is just what I wanted.
    There is one thing that I belive is missing and that is optocouplers. I like to be on the safe side with my machine
    agelkom has done good job modifing first version in my homble opinion.

    http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3341

    If you guy belive it's good mod I will happy to conrtibute by adding same or simmilar mod to version 2.
    Don't know how long it will take me to do it since due to my job and exams but I'll do my best :cheers:
    It took me a minute to find what you were talking about with reguard to agelkom, since he just posted that on page 7 of that thread:

    http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showth...?t=3341&page=7

    Turns out we have that listed on our modifications page as a link near the bottom of the page but I had forgotten about it.
    http://techref.massmind.org/techref/...istep/mods.htm

    Yeah, that is a nice version, if you don't mind the extra cost of those parts. I don't really see the point in the over current protection since the Linistepper regulates the current anyway and shorts are very unlikely. I keep hoping someone will come up with a cheap and effective over TEMPERATURE protection circuit, since melting the power drivers and the PCB around them is really the biggest danger with the Linistepper.

    The isolation is nice, but I've always used an old throwaway PC to run the system and would do the design on my nice new machines and then transfer the files (net or sneaker net) over to the old box to run. Honestly, dust and chips sucked into the CPU and power supply fans are a more likely cause of failure for the box running your CNC machine.

    If you really want isolation, there are several breakout boards with opto isolation. PMinMO has a nice one listed at:
    http://pminmo.com/4axisopto/4axisDIYopto.htm and that will plug right into the Linistepper V2.

    Quote Originally Posted by Kare View Post
    Check this:
    http://elektronika.rs.ba/data/projek...onika_v4.shtml

    seams like modified Linistepper!
    Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. He even stole our screen shots of the scope! LOL... Not a very good looking PCB though... wow... I would not spend money on that, for sure. I can't tell how much he is charging, but I really doubt he can make them for less than we do considering our volume and shipping from Bosnia is sure to make it more expensive.

    Maybe some locals will benefit if the PCB holds together.

  19. #19
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    Oct 2005
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    2392
    That Russian copy with the nasty looking single sided PCB is 80 euros, about $105 US dollars. Doesn't seem a real good value considering they only added 2 optocouplers and a couple of bridge rectifiers.

    I'm a bit annoyed that they didn't list any credit to the "Linistepper" design since it's a direct knock off of software and microstepping hardware. They should of at least mentioned "based on the popular open-source Linistepper design" or something. Some people are just plain rude I guess. :nono:

  20. #20
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    May 2005
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    1397
    Wow... $105? That's why he doesn't mention Linistepper: Google is everyones friend and would be his customers friend if they knew what to search for.

    I'm also annoyed that he doesn't make the board layout available.

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