[Lab] Help choosing a stepper motor

Thu Nov 7 17:01:24 EST 2013

Okay, I must admit there are plenty of back-and-forths that I am interested
in too. I just wasn't sure if the people who run this list wanted it to be
used for ModLab related stuff entirely, or not. Personally I think it's a
great way for people to connect and collaborate. But as you said, there's
limits, just like in a forum.

Have a great day! (evening)

____________________
Peace, Love, Empathy

Alexander Max Rowsell

On 7 November 2013 16:59, Richard Sloan <rsloan at themindfactory.com> wrote:

> I also like seeing what people fully have to say on a project/idea/issue,
> if all we saw was a HELP message this list would be pretty boring....
>
> Richard.
>
>
>
> On Thu, Nov 7, 2013 at 4:55 PM, Tom Burns <tom.i.burns at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Considering how low-traffic this mailing list is I personally do not mind
>> hearing the decisionmaking behind which stepper motor to choose.
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Nov 7, 2013 at 4:49 PM, Aurelius R <maxrowsell at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Hey guys!
>>>
>>> I might be in the wrong here, but is this not the type of conversation
>>> that would be best carried out off-list? After the initial call for help,
>>> of course. It doesn't really bother me that much, but I'm not sure what the
>>> list rules are here. Other lists I'm on are against anything not directly
>>> on-topic.
>>>
>>> ____________________
>>> Peace, Love, Empathy
>>>
>>> Alexander Max Rowsell
>>>
>>>
>>> On 7 November 2013 01:03, Michael Grant <michael at krazatchu.ca> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I'm sure a NEMA 17 size stepper would suit purpose.
>>>> The EasyDriver is more than capable for this application.
>>>>
>>>> Michael
>>>> --
>>>> http://krazatchu.ca/
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Nov 6, 2013 at 5:37 PM, Wesley Ellis <tahnok at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> My project involves rotating the platform by small increments then
>>>>> checking if there's something in range with an ultra sonic sensor, so a
>>>>> stepper motor where I can move my platform by a fixed amount easily seemed
>>>>> like a better idea than a regular motor and deriving my distance travelled
>>>>> based on how long I had the motor on for.
>>>>>  On Nov 6, 2013 10:22 AM, "Chris de Groot" <cdegroot at adobe.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> It would be interesting to know how Wesley decided a stepper motor
>>>>>> was suitable for your use case.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> There are several of different options.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Stepper Motors are good for very precise control of fairly slow
>>>>>> rotation where you may also want to rotate by very precise amounts. They
>>>>>> have downsides, they require a lot of electronics and often some software
>>>>>> to work, are not that powerful relative to other motors, consume more amps
>>>>>> for similar work and are more expensive.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If you wanted to do something like rotate a platform continuously,
>>>>>> even reversing it backwards and forwards, and did not care too much about
>>>>>> fine accuracy or specific speeds a regular motor may be something to look
>>>>>> at. For example a windscreen wiper motor(from princess auto surplus) is a
>>>>>> nice usable package. With a small amount of electronics you can get speed
>>>>>> control and backwards/forwards motion.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Consider this simple circuit for a “most useless machine ever”
>>>>>> project. Simple and effective
>>>>>> http://9x20lathe.blogspot.ca/2010/01/components-and-schematic-for-useless.html
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Speed control is fairly easy with a regular motor. But for a stepper
>>>>>> can actually get pretty complex with ramp up and down for starts and stops
>>>>>> etc.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> C.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> *From:* Lab [mailto:lab-bounces at artengine.ca] *On Behalf Of *Bob
>>>>>> *Sent:* Tuesday, November 05, 2013 8:05 PM
>>>>>> *To:* Lab at artengine.ca
>>>>>> *Subject:* Re: [Lab] Help choosing a stepper motor
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> As a non-technical person my suggestion may be way off base, but
>>>>>> perhaps working with the guts of a scanner would fit the bill. Motor and
>>>>>> belt already to go.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Bob
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> *From:* Lab [mailto:lab-bounces at artengine.ca<lab-bounces at artengine.ca>]
>>>>>> *On Behalf Of *Wesley Ellis
>>>>>> *Sent:* Tuesday, November 05, 2013 7:28 PM
>>>>>> *To:* Michael Grant
>>>>>> *Cc:* lab
>>>>>> *Subject:* Re: [Lab] Help choosing a stepper motor
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> No, the stepper motor is going to drive a pulley to rotate a platform
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 11/4/2013, 9:52 PM, Michael Grant wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Does the mass need to be lifted against gravity?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Michael
>>>>>> --
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://krazatchu.ca/
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Mon, Nov 4, 2013 at 9:45 PM, Wesley Ellis <tahnok at gmail.com>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The mass isn't very heavy (probably 500g) and I don't need the
>>>>>> resolution of something like a cnc or 3d printer motor and speed isn't
>>>>>> super important
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Nov 4, 2013 9:36 PM, "Michael Grant" <michael at krazatchu.ca> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The easy driver is for bipolar only, it's a good choice for small
>>>>>> steppers (NEMA17).
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> There are many choices on eBay as well, about $11 will get you a
>>>>>> serious CNC driver for larger steppers (NEMA23).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Good-CNC-Router-Single-1-Axis-Controller-Stepper-Motor-Drivers-TB6560-3A-New-/251369064893?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a86c389bd
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> What resolution and speed are you looking to achieve?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The mass you are rotating, is it heavy and will you require fast
>>>>>> start and stop?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Michael Grant
>>>>>> --
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://krazatchu.ca/
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Mon, Nov 4, 2013 at 9:22 PM, Wesley Ellis <tahnok at gmail.com>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hey all,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm pretty new to electronics and I'm having trouble choosing a
>>>>>> stepper
>>>>>> motor for a project I'm working on.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm ordering from robot shotp, and it looks like this EasyDriver board
>>>>>> (
>>>>>> https://secure.robotshop.com/ca/en/sfe-easydriver-bipolar-stepper-motor-driver.html
>>>>>> )
>>>>>> will let me control whichever motor I end up choosing, but the number
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> motors on robotshop is pretty intimidating.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm going to be spinning a small platform so I don't need a lot of
>>>>>> power. Basically, I'm wondering whether I need a bipolar or unipolar
>>>>>> motor? What kind of voltage? Amperage? Any help would be appreciated
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Wesley
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> Lab mailing list
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>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Lab mailing list
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>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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