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IndustryArena Forum > CNC Electronics > Stepper Motors / Drives > Stepper driver recommendations
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Posts
    31

    Stepper driver recommendations

    Just picked up a couple of nice Astrosyn 3.8Mm stepper motors - 4.8V, 2.8A.

    Anyone have any driver recommendations? I'd prefer to source from the UK or EU. I need three. I already have a 36v 10A power supply so would prefer something that would work with this, but it's not essential.

    I have considered these:

    Generic 2DM542 CNC Microstep Stepper Motor Driver 2DM542 4.2A Controller 24-48V DC Nema17,23,34 | eBay
    Generic M542T Stepper Motor Driver 1.5A-4.5A 24-50VDC for Nema 17/Nema 23/Nema 34 Motor M542T | eBay
    Generic DM556 【EU Free Ship】3Pcs DM556D Digital Stepper Motor Driver 5.6A 50VDC For CNC Router
    Generic MA860H Stepper Motor Driver 2.4-7.2A Max 80VAC/110VDC for Nema 34/Nema 42 Motor MA860H | eBay
    Leadshine M542 Endstufe Leadshine M542 4,2A 50V | eBay

    One last product I like the look of: Smart Drive Micro Stepping Stepper Motor Driver Unit SDONE484A 36B250 http://r.ebay.com/QNsNpq

    It looks like Smart Drive have gone out of business as they're not answering emails and their phone is disconnected.

    Thanks

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    1397

    Re: Stepper driver recommendations

    I would strongly recommend against buying from ebay. They carefully filter out negative reviews and the products are nearly always chinese crap knockoffs. Find a /local/ supplier so you can go knock on their door if the driver fails.
    James hosts the single best wiki page about steppers for CNC hobbyists on the net:
    http://www.piclist.com/techref/io/steppers.htm Disagree? Tell him what's missing! ,o)

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Posts
    31

    Re: Stepper driver recommendations

    Thanks for the advice James.

    However, I don't think I've really got much choice in the UK. You're spoilt in the US with having a number of home-grown manufacturers - just about everything from UK suppliers is the same as that available on eBay but three or four times the price.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Posts
    416

    Re: Stepper driver recommendations

    Just upgraded my cnc router with these:
    Generic M542T Stepper Motor Driver 1.5A-4.5A 24-50VDC for Nema 17/Nema 23/Nema 34 Motor M542T | eBay

    I purchased the kit on ebay (this is a US ebay store which was less expensive for me then their regular site):
    US Ship 3 Axis CNC Kit 439oz.in Nema 24 Stepper Motor & M542T Driver DIY CNC | eBay


    You can order directly from their site
    Stepper Motor & Stepper Motor Driver - StepperOnline

    Got them up and running last night. Very happy so far.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538

    Re: Stepper driver recommendations

    You're spoilt in the US with having a number of home-grown manufacturers - just about everything from UK suppliers is the same as that available on eBay but three or four times the price.
    No, it's the same here. You can buy from Ebay, or buy the same stuff from someone else for more money.
    You might want to look at AM882's on Ebay. James says they're fakes, but a lot of people are very happy with them.

    Lots of good reviews on the M542 as well.
    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)

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    1397

    Re: Stepper driver recommendations

    My point is being missed here, sorry if I wasn't clear.

    If you buy from an ebay store which is based in China, or is a local front for a company in China, you have no way of knowing if the product is good or bad.

    If you buy for any store (ebay or otherwise) which is actually based locally, no matter if they are sourcing from China or Mars, they have done the nasty work of filtering out the crap mfgrs from the good mfgrs. They have their nuts on the line because they are local. You can show up at their doorstep with a shotgun (in America) or a billy club (in the UK) if they sell you crap.

    Ebay is evil only in that: 1. they make it harder to tell if it's a "real" local company and 2. they make it damn near impossible for customers who have been screwed to leave negative feedback.

    If the local store sells on eBay and competes with the pricing of the crap from China by dropping their pants on eBay, then by all means, take advantage of that. And if other people have purchased from a /specific/ Chinese supplier on eBay and had good results, /as reported here/ then fine. But DON'T buy direct from China based only on positive reviews on eBay. Your chances of getting burned are high.

    My personal example of that is buying the THB6064AH chips I use in the drive kit I supply. Yes, my chips come from China... but they come directly from the MFGR, and NOT from some knockoff store. Here is what happens when I tried to buy from another source (at about half the price):
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zva2QvXRFA
    James hosts the single best wiki page about steppers for CNC hobbyists on the net:
    http://www.piclist.com/techref/io/steppers.htm Disagree? Tell him what's missing! ,o)

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Posts
    31

    Re: Stepper driver recommendations

    Hi James. Thanks for taking the time to post. I actually watched your video a while ago. I'm aware of the issues with buying direct from China, but I've had greater problems with UK based eBay suppliers recently - both Chinese run warehouses and real indigenous British suppliers. In both cases I got a full refund and for one I left -tive feedback.

    If I was in the US I'd buy GeckoDrive or better still ClearPath. There are two firms in China - JMC and Changzhou Jinsanshi Mechatronics (whom I think trade as RATTM motor) - who seem to produce reasonably good products, but I don't see any reviews on forums such as this - and that's what I was hoping for.

    I am a little cautious about buying products of unknown provenance, but I can't afford to spend £100 GBP per drive - don't mind spending £50 GBP though.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    1397
    Well, try those mfgrs out and let us know how it goes.
    James hosts the single best wiki page about steppers for CNC hobbyists on the net:
    http://www.piclist.com/techref/io/steppers.htm Disagree? Tell him what's missing! ,o)

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Posts
    31

    Re: Stepper driver recommendations

    Quote Originally Posted by James Newton View Post
    Well, try those mfgrs out and let us know how it goes.
    If I do I certainly will post my findings here.

    I'm just surprised that on this and any other forum there doesn't seem to be many who admit to using the cheap drives successfully or otherwise (wjbzone excepted). A couple of friends of mine who are very experienced with, what I would call, micro CNC (DynaMyte size) use the dreadful cheap DIV268 drivers with great success. I tried them for my larger project and they failed catastrophically.

    However, there are thousands of the sort of drivers that I listed in my original post sold every year, but virtually no reviews of them good or bad. I guess it could well be that if they work OK then people are too busy with their projects to post positive comments, but I'd expect plenty of "don't buy these" posts if they were as bad as the DIV268 drivers - and indeed there's plenty on this forum about the latter.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538

    Re: Stepper driver recommendations

    I think that there is more info here than you think, but it tends to be buried deep in threads. I've seen quite a few references to them, but no detailed reviews.
    I know some people in the UK that have used a lot of the AM882's, and they are supposed to be very good. I've purchased 4, but haven't used them yet.
    Leadshine AM882 Digital Stepper motor Drive 80VDC 0.1A - 8.2A protect function | eBay

    I've purchased two spindles from RATT Motor, and while the fit and finish was marginal, the spindles both work well so far.
    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)

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Posts
    31

    Re: Stepper driver recommendations

    Quote Originally Posted by ger21 View Post
    I think that there is more info here than you think, but it tends to be buried deep in threads. I've seen quite a few references to them, but no detailed reviews.
    I know some people in the UK that have used a lot of the AM882's, and they are supposed to be very good. I've purchased 4, but haven't used them yet.
    Leadshine AM882 Digital Stepper motor Drive 80VDC 0.1A - 8.2A protect function | eBay

    I've purchased two spindles from RATT Motor, and while the fit and finish was marginal, the spindles both work well so far.
    Many thanks Gerry. I'll do a little more digging!

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Posts
    31

    Re: Stepper driver recommendations

    Still fretting over which drivers to buy. Good advice on here to go with Leadshine AM882 but I have to say that I take on board Jame's counsel and I don't feel at all confident about buying from China. Most don't seem to be offering proper warranties and I don't want to waste good money on stuff I'm not confident about.

    So, I'm thinking about a complete change of thinking and buying Geckodrives from Charter Controls in the UK. I spoke to Geckodrive tech support and they advise that G251X (3.5A) will do the job, but I would also consider pushing the boat out to the G201X (7.5A).

    My motors are Astrosyn L709-2 4.8V, 2.8A, 4.8Nm (holding torque).

    Anyone have any strong opinions of why I should buy Leadshine over Geckodrive or vice versa?

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538

    Re: Stepper driver recommendations

    From what I've heard, the top of the line Leadshine digital drives (EM series) are superior to Gecko's. Of course, Gecko will tell you otherwise.

    Why did I buy AM882's?
    Gecko G201x = $127
    Leadshine EM705 = $129
    AM882 from Ebay = $60-$80

    I got two AM882's, plus two spares, for just a little more than two Gecko's or Leadshine EM's.


    I just received my 58V power supply, and hope to test out the AM882's this weekend on the bench. I also received my RS-232 cable to test their Pro Tuner software with the drives.

    I'll post what I find out.
    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)

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538

    Re: Stepper driver recommendations

    OK, i wired up my 58V power supply to one of my AM882's and a 570oz stepper. I set all the dip switches to software configure, and fired up the Pro Tuner software to configure it.

    All worked as it should. Smooth, quiet, and powerful.

    While I can't test it on a machine, I'm happy with my purchases, and would buy them again, based on the 90 minutes I just had it running for.
    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)

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    203

    Re: Stepper driver recommendations

    what type of options does the pro tuner have. I haven't used those driver yet.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538

    Re: Stepper driver recommendations

    The AM882 manual covers it, but their website is down right now.
    You can set current and microstepping. There are a few anti resonance settings, and a few other settings. Can't remember off the top of my head right now.
    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)

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Posts
    31

    Re: Stepper driver recommendations

    I think the best deal I get on Leadshine AM882s is via Rongsheng-biz on eBay and they'll come out at about £71.00 GBP each shipped with UPS and including the VAT and clearance charge. Still somewhat reticent about going down this route.

    Alternatively, I think I can get three unused - but no warranty - Geckodrive G201Xs for £70 each. Or, at just over £100 for three, these DM556 clones look like a good deal - [EU SHIP] 3pcs DM556D Digital Stepper Motor Driver 5.6A 50VDC For CNC Router | eBay

    Must make a decision!

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538

    Re: Stepper driver recommendations

    Here's a video of my AM882 in action.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dGwyM5Pyt8
    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)

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Posts
    15
    I buy all the stuff on AliExpress. You can often tell the quality by how many parts the seller has sold and how long he has already listed the item. I bought M542H drivers 2 years ago for 20€ (now 19€) each and the driver is still available from the same link today.
    In another case I bought some Nema17 Motor and it was damaged when I tried running it. Just opened a dispute, uploaded a video and payment was refunded promptly.
    Ali keeps the payment until the transaction is completed.

    I can buy the same drivers locally for over 50€ and pay for shipping or buy them for 19€ free shipping.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Posts
    1195

    Re: Stepper driver recommendations

    Why did I buy AM882's?
    Gecko G201x = $127
    Leadshine EM705 = $129
    AM882 from Ebay = $60-$80
    The price is cheaper for AM882, how about technology wise ? For stepper driver tech is almost the same ?

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