Thread: Gecko drive

What else have you got so far?

Ball screws and ball screw mounts?

PSU?

Anything?

Resistors to set the current for your motors, no idea what current the shark motors are running.

Upgrade to a 48VDC PSU (Not a requirement but I've heard of big improvements going from 24VDC) (You'll need to check your motors can handle the voltage)

Wiring? if needed.

An enclosure unless you can use the sharks.

A several amp, 48 volt power supply perhaps?

I have still got the complete Shark just want to use Mach 3 instead of the proprietary control box.
I was told I need a smooth stepper but I have no idea what it is
Got the speed control I won at the BBQ.

A smooth stepper allows you to control your CNC device from a USB port rather than a parallel port; if you've got a pc with a parallel port then you dont need it.

The Shark runs from a USB port, maybe I already have it in there, who knows?
Maybe I just need to replace the proprietary software?

Originally Posted by SAISAY

I have still got the complete Shark just want to use Mach 3 instead of the proprietary control box.
I was told I need a smooth stepper but I have no idea what it is
Got the speed control I won at the BBQ.

Hi saisay

You don't need a smooth stepper, because you won the G540 from Peter Homann

You don't need a BOB (Break out board), because you won the G540 from Peter Homann

The shark has motors on it. These motors would be controlled by the Gecko which plugs directly in to your computers parallel port. See here

Apart from this, you need a power supply to actually drive the motors. See here

Wires to actually connect things together.

The wiring diagrams for all this can be downloaded here.

Don't forget the current limit resistors. These may have been given to you with the G540 and with any luck, Peter also gave you the DE9 shells as well.

Look at this page as well

Get back to us if you have any further questions

PS I forgot this link too for the wiring

If you've got an already functional CNC setup, I'd recommend that you stick with that until you've figured out what you want to do on your CNC, and mastered whatever vector program you use to create (whatever it is you want to do on your cnc).

ie learn all the cnc basics, and think about upgrading when you've identified what you see as shortcomings in the Shark setup.

Mastersplinter

I think I have mastered Aspire4 reasonably well to produce fair quality work.
TheGirlsLighted.jpg
KimFavier.jpg
DoctorEd.jpg
FinishedEyeLight.jpg
I already know all the shortcomings, that's why I have rebuilt it in 20 mm aluminium.
All I want now is to get away from the proprietary power box and use Mach3 instead.

Bob
Thanks for your reply
When I am allowed out of bed in a couple of days I will check out all those links.
I am going to deliver the faulty power supply for the 2040 to Russell when we go to Cairns on Thursday to have the epidural.
Hopefully, I will then be able to straighten up and be as tall as Dorothy

Does this mean that you have been delivered of the babies, or that you are going to have them on Thursday?

I have great hopes the triplets will be delivered then.
Just found out it is tomorrow, not Thursday

With magnetic coils , when you double the voltage ( same amps ) you get four times the power , the voltage is squared in the equations , so it would be well worth updating to a > 7amp 48volt PSU ( if your shark has a 24volt PSU )
The amps are what give you the heat , i think ( dont take this literally ) a gecko can handle 66 volts , with back EMF voltages from switching fast magnetic field introducing voltage spikes , you can only use 1.4x less
The Magnetic field decomposing will introduce a voltage on the wiring ,, 1.4x the voltage that made the magnetic field , so dont go above 48volts

It would only be a dolphin with with a 24volt PSU

Originally Posted by SawDustSniffer

It would only be a dolphin with with a 24volt PSU

Never mind, I like dolphins too

Originally Posted by Bob Willson

Hi saisay

You don't need a smooth stepper, because you won the G540 from Peter Homann

You don't need a BOB (Break out board), because you won the G540 from Peter Homann

The shark has motors on it. These motors would be controlled by the Gecko which plugs directly in to your computers parallel port. See here
The Gecko drive came with a lot of paperwork plus the connector hardware

Apart from this, you need a power supply to actually drive the motors. See here
Got 3 spare power supplies

Wires to actually connect things together.
Got that

The wiring diagrams for all this can be downloaded here.
Came with the G540

Don't forget the current limit resistors. These may have been given to you with the G540 and with any luck, Peter also gave you the DE9 shells as well.

Look at this page as well

Yes, the shells came as well but I have no idea whet "the current limit resistors" are
Get back to us if you have any further questions

PS I forgot this link too for the wiring

Hi Bob
The triplets were delivered today, at least it looks like it, now for the leftover parts but I am walking tall at the moment

What a day.
Left home for Cairns at 7 am and came back just after 6 pm.
First a visit to the thorasic specialist, he ordered a sleep test.
Then onto the hospital for a CT scan of my hips, a special X-ray of my spine, then a 2 hours wait for the prep and CT guided epidural, finishing with an hour of ops in bed before I was allowed to go home.
We are both exhausted.