Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Brian Baudier on October 05, 2007, 05:05:01 PM

Title: moveing z axis up and down
Post by: Brian Baudier on October 05, 2007, 05:05:01 PM

does anyone know about a stepper driver  , that will drive a stepper motor forward and reverse with out the use of a computer.   with a manual push button controller ,,:forward button and reverse button and speed.. simple and cheap...   to manual control my z axis..seperate from the computer driveing the x and y

Title: Re: moveing z axis up and down
Post by: Lakeside design on October 06, 2007, 10:55:55 AM

I think but not sure you could use a PLC

Title: Re: moveing z axis up and down
Post by: Whacko on October 06, 2007, 02:17:05 PM

Do you want to microstep? A simple step sequence can be implemented with a few components and no computer. "Elaborate", so I can "evaluate" what you want to do, then we take it from there!

Whacko for real

Title: Re: moveing z axis up and down
Post by: Chip on October 06, 2007, 03:42:19 PM

Hi, Brian

There are several boards that will do that for small steppers.

If you have a stepper control box you can use a 555 timer with a var. pot/resistor for puls/speed and control dir with 5 volt's.

Can you Fix LC  latest ver. Arc Errors ?.

Thanks, Chip 

Title: Re: moveing z axis up and down
Post by: Brian Baudier on October 07, 2007, 11:10:48 AM

what about a gecko driver could this work?   has anyone done this before.   ,  the 555 timer sounds promising but sounds above my head.

Title: Re: moveing z axis up and down
Post by: Chip on October 07, 2007, 07:16:25 PM

Hi, Brian

What about a gecko driver could this work?,  Yes

Has anyone done this before ?, Yes, Used in several small stepper board kit's.

The 555 timer sounds promising but sounds above my head ?, Couldn't Happen !!

The timer board, 1 555 timer, 2 resistors 1 var. resistor 1 capacitor, 5 volts in, 5 volts puls out.

2, Push button switches N.O. DPST , UP Down.

All parts should be at Radio-Shack

Sent you a PM

Thanks, Chip

Title: Re: moveing z axis up and down
Post by: jimpinder on October 08, 2007, 06:31:44 AM

Brian -

Since Art has done all the work for you, why do you want to build something seperate. All you need is a couple of push buttons connected on the input side of Mach3 and run a Macro. I assume your Z axis is already connected to a stepper (or you wouldn't need a stepper driver).

You can even do it without the push buttons by doing a Macro for the jog, and use the current jog buttons.