Hooking up one stepper motor to test wiring

Hi

I purchased the Openbuilds controller along with the power supply. I plan on using the controller on my HD3 Shark CNC. However, I want to be able to switch back to use my 4th axis. So I plan on making a patch cables to attach my steppers to so I can go back and forth. Can I make one cable and then hookup that stepper to the Openbuilds controller to test to see if it works or do I have to make all 3 cables and hook them up at once?
I read somewhere that if you only have one stepper connected it can cause a problem and destroy the controller board. So I thought I would ask before hooking everything up.

Thank you.

 

Peter

Thank you, but I know that and fortunately I have not learned it the hard way! I made one patch cord and connected it to a stepper motor that I had replaced.
It rotated it and that was followed by cheering. I am now moving everything to my workroom where my CNC is located. I will make 2 more patch cords and then
use my old controller to place the X,Y and Z axis in the middle of the machine. I will then turn that off, disconnect the steppers, connect them to the Openbuilds controller,
turn that one and test each motor. Once they all work and in the right direction. I start to calibrate each one. Then a test cut. Later, mainly because I need to do more research I
want to connect my shark laser. Once that works, then I will try the Vectric laser modular that works with GRBL to do a 3D stuff. Thank you for your help.

 

Peter What I want to do is laser over a 3D object (4) NEW Vectric Laser Module | Vectric Hybrid CNC and Laser Software - YouTube I purchased the software to be able to
have a laser follow a 3d path. It works with GRBL and some other vendor CNCs. When it first came out, Next Wave had a post processor to do this. They have since removed
their name from that list. Do you know how I can hookup Next Wave 2-Watt laser? There are 3 wires that connect to the old HD3 controller. I'm hoping that one wire is ground, one
is voltage and one is signal but at this point I am not sure.
Thank you for your help.
Harvey

 

That is what I was hoping for.