I have built an OX MAX cnc router that uses Nema 23 motors, stepper drivers (can't remember the make) and a HYCNC-4L USB breakout board. It works well but on a few occasions it has suddenly lost a load of steps (like about 10mm) in the x-axis and then judders constantly. The x-axis is slaved because it is the gantry driven axis. So I wondered whether interference somewhere is causing either the x-axis or the slave motor to get out of step and then they are fighting each other afterwards. Having read a few posts I have moved the position of the wiring that carries power to the router so that it is no longer running parallel to the other wires. At the moment the USB breakout board and stepper drivers are mounted on the gantry and the power and USB cable run through IGUS chains to the edge of the machine. I'm wondering if anyone knows whether it's better to have the breakout board and sepper drivers off the side of the machine and just run the wires to the motors or whether this is more susceptible to interference. Any help greatly appreciated!
The secret to avoiding electrical noise issues is correct Shielding of inputs wiring and correct Grounding of their shields. But, having said that USB cables are often poorly shielded so, in your case I would suggest mounting the control electronics to the side and just running your motors and switches wiring through the Igus. Please take a look at Electronics101, which gives some basic information on machine wiring, as this may be of some assistance to you at this stage. http://openbuilds.com/threads/electronics-101.693/ Hope this helps. Tweakie.
Wow. So helpful and such a quick response! Thanks Your Electronics101 raised another good point about the wiring I'm using to the motors. Can you point me in the direction of something I can use to calculate the wire thickness I need for the Nema23 motors rated at 2A?
Wire gauge calculator site http://www.electricaltechnology.org/2014/04/electrical-wire-cable-size-calculator.html
Thanks for the link. It seems to relate to wires carrying mains voltage but I'm trying to work out the right wire to carry the low voltage DC signals from the stepper driver boards to the stepper motors. Can I use the same formulae?
Brilliant! That's confirmed the wire I have will have a loss of 2 to 3% over it's length so I guess that'll be ok
Steve D. Thanks for the Quick help there. Hope you don't mind, but I've put a Copy of the "DC calculator", in the Helpful Tools section. Another Great time saver! Many Thanks Gray
