4th axis

[lemic_ray]

I am curious, but can't seem to find an answer on the ShopBot site.

I see that a 4th axis can be added, and ShopBot lists all that's included with thier setup.

I do not see where it says a 4th axis controller is included or available.

is it built in already on the PRS 9648?

[Gary Campbell]

Raymond...
When I bought mine for our PRSalpha, the driver (that mounts to the CNC board) stepper and all wiring was included along with the new Y car and extrusions.

[zeykr]

You don't say whether it's an alpha or std, but either way I believe the control box has room to add another stepper controller for the indexer and a stepper control is part of shopbots indexer offering. Or you can contact them and purchase a controller separately if you are building your own indexer.

[dana_swift]

The controller and software are pre-designed to support 5 axes: X,Y,Z,A,B

The use for A and B may vary by installation. In my case one is an indexer, and I still have room for expansion. Some people have dual Z axes for instance. And A and B can be used for 5 axis machining. The software and hardware already handles all 5 axes simultaneously in real-time during cut operations.

When you order a SB it comes with a control board with all the logic for the 5 axes, however it only has a power driver for the number of axes you bought. When I purchased my indexer they provided a driver module with it and the cables to plug it into the controller.

When you talk to SB sales, they will explain this in much better detail. If you are considering a purchase they will be happy to talk to you, and not pester you for contacting them.

Hope that helps-

D

[lemic_ray]

Thanks Guys,

I would really like an indexer, but won't be able to afford one when I purchase my ShopBot.

I've heard of people building thier own, I think I'm handy enough to build one if I had a bit of guidence.

[GlenP]

Hey Dana, I have been thinking of building a indexer but am wondering about this power driver....do you mean the gecko driver? I have a PRS standard machine. I have g203 drives and would have to buy one for the 4 axis and a motor to mount on a lathe.

[dana_swift]

Glen-

Any given stepper motor system has minimum driver requirement.

Shopbot uses stepper gear-motors from Oriental Motors, and purchase (and supplies) a Oriental Motors designed driver with them. You can purchase drivers and motors from OM yourself and install them, you will have to build the controller interface cable if you do that. Or you can buy a stepper gear-motor from some other vendor and buy any number of drivers from yet another supplier. SB also appears to have used Gecko drivers on some of their products, just because SB used them does not make them the only thing that will work well.

If you are comfortable with matching specifications and doing a fair amount of reading you can put together parts from almost any combination of vendors and get exactly what you want. On the mechanical side you have to get the torque and speed you require, and on the electrical side you have to match voltage/current as well as maximum inductance requirements. Just wade in there, reading catalogs and spec sheets will cost you nothing but time.

And if you want it running right away, call the folks in Durham, they have a package that comes ready to install.

Keep us posted on how it goes!

D