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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Australind ,WA
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    58
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    849

    Default BOB/ driver solution

    Hi Guys,
    I am planning a possible strong CNC Router build and am looking at using better quality components than my X61500GT Router uses, I have no experience with any other devices.
    I want to use USB or Ethernet to interface to the PC and do not want to have any connection to parallel ports.
    Gecko are the obvious choice for motor driver, but I believe they require a LPT connection to the BOB, correct?

    Does anyone have any experience with any setups that might fit the bill?
    Happy to spend good money on good gear, without going nuts....lol

    I stumbled upon the Aussie product, TinyG but that only supports up to 2.5A per winding. It does not seem to be enough.....( a I wrong? )

    I want to run dual steppers and ball screws on the Gantry for max rigidity.

    Will look towards using Mach4 as I think it will be the future for our hobby, I think, although I've read a little about UcCNC, so maybe that's an option as well.

    Steve

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Rockhampton QLD
    Age
    68
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    2,335

    Default

    Steve I'm sure some of the CNC folk will be along to lend a hand.

    Ross

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    769

    Default

    Smooth stepper works well - I have the Ethernet version on my Carving CNC router. It does tie you in to Mach3/4 though.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Australind ,WA
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    58
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    849

    Default

    Rustyarc,

    How do you interface with your stepper drivers and what drivers are you using?

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    769

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Sterob View Post
    How do you interface with your stepper drivers and what drivers are you using?
    I just used an IDC to 25 pin D connector to plug into the parallel port socket on the control box, and used the factory-supplied stepper drivers - probably similar to the ones in the X61500GT, although this earlier unit runs at 24V.

    In my case, the aim was just to eliminate the parallel port, the rest of the hardware seemed fine for the machine. If I was going from scratch I'd probably use Gecko drivers.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Oxley, Brisbane
    Age
    79
    Posts
    3,041

    Default Driver solutions

    PMDX.COM - Products for CNC and motion control applications

    This BOB uses a USB connection to the computer and is highly thought of in CNCing


    PMDX.COM - Products for CNC and motion control applications

    I am considering replacing my perfectly usable setup with this because of the ability to just plug in my Gecko G203V drives to a motherboard


    PMDX.COM - Products for CNC and motion control applications

    You can also get this controller box for everything.
    Bob Willson
    The term 'grammar nazi' was invented to make people, who don't know their grammar, feel OK about being uneducated.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Australind ,WA
    Age
    58
    Posts
    849

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Willson View Post
    PMDX.COM - Products for CNC and motion control applications

    This BOB uses a USB connection to the computer and is highly thought of in CNCing


    PMDX.COM - Products for CNC and motion control applications

    I am considering replacing my perfectly usable setup with this because of the ability to just plug in my Gecko G203V drives to a motherboard


    PMDX.COM - Products for CNC and motion control applications

    You can also get this controller box for everything.
    Thanks Bob.
    We basically came to the same conclusion. I have, sort of , settled on a PMDX BOB with a Gecko motherboard. I think I was looking at the PMDX-424, as I wanted dual steppers on the gantry.
    It looks like a nice neat solution.
    Steve

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Oxley, Brisbane
    Age
    79
    Posts
    3,041

    Default

    The 414 handles 4 axes, so unless you have decided that you need dual steppers on both X and Y axes, then that has sufficient capacity for you and is $100 cheaper.

    I have dual steppers on my X axis, but it is not required for the Y axis as that is not moving the weight of the transom backwards and forwards; just moving the Z axis sideways.

    I tested my y axis by having both myself and a friend hold onto the spindle while trying to move the head. May as well have been ants trying to stop an avalanche.

    I also accidentally tested the X axis when I left a screwdriver in one of the holes of the baseplate. The CNC didn't even slow down, just bent the 8mm screwdriver in half.
    Bob Willson
    The term 'grammar nazi' was invented to make people, who don't know their grammar, feel OK about being uneducated.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Australind ,WA
    Age
    58
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    849

    Default

    I bought a 4th axis when I bought my Chinese CNC Router,which I haven't used yet.....It might get a run in the future.

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