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Author Topic: Motion Controller recommendation  (Read 6968 times)

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Motion Controller recommendation
« on: December 01, 2017, 06:31:47 PM »
I'm looking for a motion controller that supports MACH4 and has the following features
4-axis
supports 36v or higher
Spindle control
5v output to control stepper drivers

Any suggestions?

Thanx.
- Robert Beaubien
- Drone Plastics
-
“Dear Algebra, Please stop asking us to find your X.  She's never coming back and don't ask Y.”
Re: Motion Controller recommendation
« Reply #1 on: December 01, 2017, 06:46:48 PM »
36 volt or higher for what?

Mike
We never have the time or money to do it right the first time, but we somehow manage to do it twice and then spend the money to get it right.
Re: Motion Controller recommendation
« Reply #2 on: December 01, 2017, 06:47:49 PM »
Every motion controller that I am aware of for Mach4 will support 4 axes.

I assume the 36 volts is for the stepper motor drivers. The motion
controller will not see or care about this voltage. It delivers 5 volt
logic signals for Step and Direction to the stepper drivers.

Spindle control can be simple On/Off or can be an analog voltage to
control spindle speed using a VFD or other variable speed drive. For
PMDX SmartBOB motion controllers, the VFD interface would be
an optional PMDX-407.

The PMDX SmartBOB family offers several motion controller that could
do the job.  You can compare them here:

http://www.pmdx.com/SmartBOB-compare
Steve Stallings
www.PMDX.com
Re: Motion Controller recommendation
« Reply #3 on: December 01, 2017, 06:57:25 PM »
So I don't have to have multiple power supplies.  How do you provide power to the motion controller if it doesn't work on the same voltage as the drivers? I currently have the WiXHC Mach4 controller that only supports 24v as far as I can tell.
- Robert Beaubien
- Drone Plastics
-
“Dear Algebra, Please stop asking us to find your X.  She's never coming back and don't ask Y.”

Offline ger21

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Re: Motion Controller recommendation
« Reply #4 on: December 01, 2017, 07:02:50 PM »
Afaik, no motion controllers will run from the stepper motor power supply, unless it's a board that requires 24V, and you happen to be running your steppers at 24V.

Most motion controllers run on 5V, or sometimes 12V.

Your chinese board has an integrated breakout board, which is why it requires 24V.
Gerry

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Re: Motion Controller recommendation
« Reply #5 on: December 01, 2017, 07:10:47 PM »
The PMDX-424 SmartBOB operates directly from 120 to 250 volts AC.

The other products in the SmartBOB family are powered from the
USB connection to the host computer.

Steve Stallings
www.PMDX.com
Re: Motion Controller recommendation
« Reply #6 on: December 02, 2017, 05:50:36 PM »
Im currently setting up the Pokeys57cnc and its nice.
All i can definitely recommend is NOT going with the XHC Mach4 board. Its *********. Doesnt support f*%k all Mach 4 features.
Re: Motion Controller recommendation
« Reply #7 on: December 02, 2017, 06:06:14 PM »
What doesn't it support?  I mean, I've already purchased this one so the features it doesn't support would have to be worth something to me.
- Robert Beaubien
- Drone Plastics
-
“Dear Algebra, Please stop asking us to find your X.  She's never coming back and don't ask Y.”
Re: Motion Controller recommendation
« Reply #8 on: December 02, 2017, 07:58:58 PM »
You have purchased the XHC USB mach 4 board?

This board will only run using wxMach.exe and will not run with wxMachGUI.exe.
Basically this means NONE of the MAch4 screen editing works. This means you cant use the "auto Tool Zero" or anything. Check a few topics down i posted a warning about it. Its a nice board but they havent developed the plugins enough.
Re: Motion Controller recommendation
« Reply #9 on: December 03, 2017, 12:55:01 AM »
This is a version specifically for MACH4 (all versions): http://www.cdxhctech.com/html/eProduct/view_216_406.html .  The place I got it from even bundles it with MACH4 Hobby version if you want.  I think you are talking about a different board.  It is the MK4-M4, not the MK3-M4.  They even have screen shots and videos showing MACH4 configuration using the GUI.
« Last Edit: December 03, 2017, 01:00:54 AM by RBeaubien »
- Robert Beaubien
- Drone Plastics
-
“Dear Algebra, Please stop asking us to find your X.  She's never coming back and don't ask Y.”