Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: BigZ on October 30, 2009, 04:10:15 AM

Title: Slaving more than 2 steepers
Post by: BigZ on October 30, 2009, 04:10:15 AM

Is their anyway of slaving 16 stepper motors(yes 16 its not a typo). I am in the early stages of designing something similar to a multi rip saw for putting V grooves in internal doors.

Title: Re: Slaving more than 2 steepers
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on October 30, 2009, 10:19:56 AM

Oh yes, I think it is possible to slave 16 steppers and there is more than one way to do it.
The obvious approach is to use 16 Gecko's or similar (one for each stepper) but it is doubtful if the output from your LPT port or the output from your BOB would support a fan-out of 16. Some electronics (fairly simple stuff) would be necessary to drive the 16 Gecko's from the BOB.
Some of the steppers could be multiplexed (series or parallel) depending on the drive current available from the Gecko and the stepper spec. In all cases the steppers must be carefully step aligned with each other (so they are not fighting each other for position, particularly during microsteps).
It's going to cost a bit, but it can be done.

Tweakie.