On Wednesday 24 March 2004 08:09 am, George Sacco scribbled:
> I have been down the same path.   Building your own controller / driver=
 is
> fun, but also a lot of work.  I have built a 3 axis desktop miller usin=
g a
> purchased driver that runs off a PC parallel port, using GCode sharewar=
e.
> It is extremely functional and was easy to integrate.

FWIW, I just found one at www.hobbycnc.com, that seems good, and another =
at=20
www.acscontrol.com .

> See www.stepperworld.com for the driver.  I use the FET -3 Product.   T=
hey
> have a link to the shareware,  Kam3.   It is amazing how inexpensively =
this
> can be done.

Wow, this looks like awesome bang for the buck!  $135 for the controller =
and=20
3-axis driver, with more power than I will need for my app.  The FET3/Cru=
iser=20
package looks even better ... FET3, 3 150-oz in motors, and PS for $350. =
 If=20
it's as good as it seems, then it would not be worth my time/effort to bu=
ild=20
controller.

Actually, one of the reasons I wanted to build a controller/driver was to=
 add=20
a feature where I could directly control the steppers with left-right and=
=20
fore-aft switches (sort of like power windows :-) where I could adjust th=
e=20
lathe without using G-Codes.

I'll probably go download/install the software first to evaluate it.  I w=
as=20
also looking at the DAK software and EMC (under Linux).  I feel comfortab=
le=20
running things like this under Linux (or ever DOS), rather than under=20
Windows.

> The fet-3 requires unipolar steppers, which means that the coil current=
 is
> driven one way, not two way as in bipolar.

Gotcha.  That's fine with me since they would provide the matching motors=
, and=20
the net result torque (150 oz-in) is plenty enough for the mill/lathe.

Thanks,
-Neil.

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