[Lab] Marauder project (around 400 bucks and counting)

Mon Jun 6 22:51:30 EDT 2011

yikes, that user doesn't have anything for sale and they have 10 nasty
comments against their profile. I take it the one mentioning the used motor
is yours. :)

I'm not convinced all the boards are all the same. There are probably
different versions around. I've got two of those boards and I tested them
both. Surely it can't be the case that they are succeeding at selling stuff
and none of it works. Clones are everywhere.

How much does that Kinek service cost? I've been using UPS by the price
chopper which is $5/item (less for envelopes and stuff).

I got my first batch of bearings from vxb.com. Might not be the cheapest but
they're pretty fast.

On Mon, Jun 6, 2011 at 10:23 PM, John Nicol <john_nicol at hotmail.com> wrote:

> Sorry dyslexic:  chengfang2134
>
>
>
> I will probably buy the motors from longs_motor.  I have already been in
> touch with them, so if I buy the hobbyCNC controller kit, I will buy their
> motors.  They seem to be cheap enough and motors can’t be screwed up too
> much. (fingers crossed).
>
>
>
> Yes, tried the board with a different computer, no joy.  A different LPT
> hardware *might* make a difference though if the signal is clean and
> strong enough.  The computers are a similar brand mobo.  Not the exact same,
> but from the same manufacturer, so could be the same LPT port chipset.
> Again, because of the flaws in the design of the board and no isolation
> protection on the PC, I would avoid if possible, but have a read of the
> CNCZone forum for hints and tips and design review for an insight.  The dip
> settings are completely contradictory between vendors as well.  The
> instructions that came with the board are different to other stores that are
> selling the exact same board.  Sorry, won’t harp on about it anymore!
> (grumble)
>
>
>
> I got my 24V 15A PSU from onlyforever702.
>
>
>
> By the way,  I did get my hardware from McMaster-Carr.  I set up a postal
> address in Ogdensburg through Kinek and just picked up the parts across the
> border one afternoon.  I got stuck with their stupid export rules as well,
> so did that to avoid the headaches.  Even though I paid with a Canadian
> credit card, the delivery address was in the US, so no worries.
>
>
>
> I tried sourcing parts here in Canada and one company said that they could
> get the parts from M-C, but their quote was literally three times the actual
> price PLUS shipping.   I would recommend the Kinek route for any shipments.
> The savings in shipping costs alone  are worth the two hours return trip.
> There is also an excellent greasy spoon dive/diner close by the postal point
> that serves a great breakfast and is guaranteed to double your cholesterol
> in one sitting.
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* darcy.whyte at gmail.com [mailto:darcy.whyte at gmail.com] *On Behalf Of
> *Darcy Whyte
> *Sent:* June-06-11 6:33 PM
>
> *To:* John Nicol
> *Cc:* lab at artengine.ca
> *Subject:* Re: Marauder project (around 400 bucks and counting)
>
>
>
>
> I can't find chengfang1234 in ebay. Did you try the board with a different
> computer to see what happens?
>
>
>
> I bought mine from http://myworld.ebay.com/longs_motor/ for 70.00. I
> needed to buy the power supply somewhere else so I just got that on the
> cheap.
>
>
>
> I guesss the controller is 100, rather than 150 so that brings my first
> Marauder to about 350 I guess.
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 6, 2011 at 6:24 PM, John Nicol <john_nicol at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> The seller was chengfang1234.  Yep opened up a problem report, no answer.
> Next step is dispute.  They also sold me a second-hand motor and said it was
> new.
>
>
>
> I paid $129.99, which included the stepper motors.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* darcy.whyte at gmail.com [mailto:darcy.whyte at gmail.com] *On Behalf Of
> *Darcy Whyte
> *Sent:* June-06-11 6:12 PM
>
>
> *To:* John Nicol
> *Cc:* lab at artengine.ca
>
> *Subject:* Re: Marauder project (around 400 bucks and counting)
>
>
>
> I put power on it and it works fine. I'm running it at 24v. I guess we'll
> find out how long it runs for and how well it runs under load.
>
>
>
> If you bought it in ebay, you probably could have opened a problem report
> in ebay and they may respond to that. I think you can make a dispute in ebay
> too.
>
>
>
> You mean yours isn't working? What seller did you get it from?
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 6, 2011 at 6:01 PM, John Nicol <john_nicol at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi Darcy,
>
>
>
> The CNCZone forum listed is specifically that board you have in the photo,
> not Chinese CNC controllers in general.  It applies to the three and four
> axis controllers based on the TB6560.   I have the same three axis one that
> you show in the photo purchased of eBay about two months ago.  I am honestly
> surprised that it works for you, the design means that the motors share a
> ground with your LPT port, so there is no isolation between your PC and the
> motors, but as long as the voltages are kept low you shouldn’t blow the PC
> up.  That is an option though.  Never run it over ~34 V or you *will* blow
> the stepper drivers and risk the LPT port.  The opto-isolators are also
> wired wrong in this design and there is significant noise on the stepper
> driver IC clock that means a loss of steps for most people.   I run it at
> 24V.
>
>
>
> I have analysed the design as well (being an electronics tech in a previous
> life) and can say that I would not recommend that design.  I also tried to
> contact the company I bought it off eBay from and they have yet to respond.
> There are a few companies in Hong Kong and China that seem to deal in these
> boards.  The fixes that are listed in the CNCZone forum will work up to a
> point and a few have reported good progress.  I have found that I am losing
> too many steps and lots of hair to continue with that board.   I might try
> one more suggested fix, which is to bypass the opto-isolator on the clock
> and go straight from the LPT pin to try to get a clean signal.
>
>
>
> I have seen some newer boards out on eBay that might address these issues,
> so looking forward to some reviews on CNCZone before jumping that way
> again.  Probably just go with HobbyCNC for now.
>
>
>
> The big caveat with the above is that if it works for you, then it works
> and that is a good thing.
>
>
>
> I am just missing electrical, everything else is done and now shopping
> around for alternate controllers.
>
>
>
> John
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* darcy.whyte at gmail.com [mailto:darcy.whyte at gmail.com] *On Behalf Of
> *Darcy Whyte
> *Sent:* June-06-11 5:11 PM
> *To:* John Nicol
> *Cc:* lab at artengine.ca
> *Subject:* Marauder project (around 400 bucks and counting)
>
>
>
>
> The cnc controllers work great and the price is right. I doubt the issue
> people spoke about on cnczone is about all chinese cnc controllers. There
> will have been an incident or incidents with a specific one. I had problems
> the the cnc controllr on a mill I bought in china but they replaced the
> electronics. But that's a different piece of hardware.
>
>
>
> Eventually there will be a bill of materials with lots of different
> options. People can spend as much as they want on controllers.
>
>
>
> What are you missing for your CNC project? Just electrical?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 6, 2011 at 5:02 PM, John Nicol <john_nicol at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Marauder project (around 400 bucks and counting) (Darcy Whyte)
>
> =====
>
> Hi Darcy,
>
> Nice to meet your virtual acquaintance!  First time posting in the mailing
> list so hopefully I don't screw it up too badly.
>
> I went to your website briefly and saw the electronics proposed.  I would
> stay away from that particular Chinese design and manufacturer.  I
> purchased
> a 3-axis board + NEMA 17 motors off eBay and have had nothing but problems.
> There is even a forum discussion on CNCZone about these.  The design is
> flawed.
>
>
> http://www.cnczone.com/forums/general_electronics_discussion/110986-how_i_fi
> xed_my_chinese.html
>
> There are suggested fixes in the forum discussion and I have applied these
> (and learnt how to solder SMD at the same time, so it was worthwhile from
> that point of view), but although it improves the noise, it is missing
> steps
> all over the place.  A piece of crap.  I made the CNC described in
> Instructables here:
>
>
> http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-a-Three-Axis-CNC-Machine-Cheaply
> -and-/
>
> I have a picture of what I have made and can email separately.  All up, I
> guess it cost me $600 so far.  It would work quite well I am guessing if I
> had a "real" controller board.  I am thinking of getting a kit from
> hobbyCNC
> and buying some 6 wire Nema motors from eBay to make it all work.
>  Currently
> I have a dremel, but will upgrade that to a trim router.
>
> Regards,
> John
>
>
>
>
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