Thread: Cheap gecko drives

What did postage set you back?

I was trying to work it out and only way to find out is to sign up and put a CC card up on file.

If you order and it's an overseas address, you get the option to request a quote - which is what I did. They seem to respond pretty quickly to email.

The other problem was that the price given on the website was different to that listed in the checkout, the checkout price was $46 instead of $31. I've asked about this too.

I've enquired of a few other US companies re postal charges. If they use USPS and go for the standard parcel size, it should be about $US39 for a maximum of 20 lbs weight.

In case you haven't been following the threads on cnczone.com, there is a G251 available shortly. This is slightly more expensive but includes screw terminals and a built in heat sink.

Yeah just be aware that the G250 must be mounted on a heatsink and must also be insulated from that heatsink.

This is not for the uninitiated. Any electrical contact with the heatsink and the drive is toast.

The G251 is much better suited to those without this sort of experience.

Greg

Originally Posted by Greolt

Yeah just be aware that the G250 must be mounted on a heatsink and must also be insulated from that heatsink.

This is not for the uninitiated. Any electrical contact with the heatsink and the drive is toast.

The G251 is much better suited to those without this sort of experience.

Greg

The optional heat sink, hard anodised aluminium, for the G250 is only $4 and is probably worth it.
I plan to mount 4 drives on a single heatsink, providing I can get some suitable insulators. The anodising on these Jaycar heatsinks is thin and too easily scratched.

My Gecko G250 drives have arrived!
Ordered Monday, arrived today, damn good service.

These things are tiny, that's a 50c piece in case it's not that clear.

I am going to get some G251s. How did the postage work out?

They don't have international postage set up on on their site.

Greg

Originally Posted by Greolt

I am going to get some G251s. How did the postage work out?

They don't have international postage set up on on their site.

Greg,
I sent an email and they provided a quote - $28 via FEDEX. Based in the size/weight of these things, it wouldn't make any difference how many you got! - provided they fit in the standard FEDEX small package.
It would have been a bit cheaper by USPS but not sure if they offer that option.

Ok my turn to ask the silly question.

What are these drives microstepping at when it states:

Microstep to full step morphing at higher speeds

What microstep do you set for motor tuning?

Just when I thought I was getting on top of this mumbo jumbo they have to go and do something like this.

Rod

Gecko drives are ten microsteps. This is set and not configurable. Mariss says that more than ten is no advantage.

Microstepping becomes a liability at higher motor speeds and somehow the drive morphs to full step at higher speeds. Don't ask me how.

Also they have mid band resonance damping. Another thing I have no clue about.

Greg

The step setting on the G250/251 is 10 microsteps, there's no jumper option to set this.
No idea what they mean by morphing in this context.

As a new customer, I shall ask the question of Gecko.

Edit: Just checked cnczone.com and morphing is explained here.
I'm still looking for an explanation of this explanation - more coffee required I think

There's a paper from Gecko that covers midband resonance. Find it here.

Thanks

Wow that white paper is a bit much for this uneducated carpenters brain.

Greg

Just a heads up to anyone wanting to take advantage of the introductory low price on the G251 drives.
The special ends at 5:00 PM Pacific time which (according to this site) is 10:00AM tomorrow local (Sydney) time.

The special price on the G250's has already finished.