need some help

[elcar903]

Hi am new to the forum,
I have a Shopbot buddy and I was wondering if this Indexer could be made to work with it and if so what do I need to do so.

here is the Indexer I want to put on it.
cnc router 4axis, rotary axis (http://www.ebay.com/itm/cnc-router-4axis-rotary-axis-4th-axis-A-axis-for-the-engraving-machine-/221167774248?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item337ea06a28)

thanks

[Brady Watson]

Yes. You need a compatible stepper driver and cable.

A BT Standard is easier to hook up than a BT Alpha.

-B

[elcar903]

can anyone recommend a motor driver?

[elcar903]

Would this Driver G202 Stepper Drive (http://www.geckodrive.com/g202.html) work with this motor cnc router 4axis (http://www.ebay.com/itm/cnc-router-4axis-rotary-axis-4th-axis-A-axis-for-the-engraving-machine-/221167774248?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item337ea06a28) on a ShopBot buddy?

[Brady Watson]

What is the vexta motor number (any axis) on your machine? Is it a standard or Alpha? Does it have Geckos in the control box or Oriental drivers? (RBK or Alpha)

-B

[elcar903]

its a Standard as far as I know,
Here is a picture of it:
Shobbot Picture (http://www.mechlinkv3.net/shopbot/IMG_20131119_114540.jpg)

here is a picture of one of the drive motors:
Motor Picture (http://www.mechlinkv3.net/shopbot/motor.jpg)

this is a picture of the control box that came with it:
Control Box Picture (http://www.mechlinkv3.net/shopbot/controlbox.jpg)

here is the versions of software that I have for it:

Shobot control software Ver. 3.5.9
PartWorks Ver. 1.102
PartWorks 3D Ver. 1.002

[Brady Watson]

OK - Easy peasy. Buy another Gecko G203V and put it in the empty slot, which will be the 4th channel. Then in SB3, run the VD command to enable all 5 axes. You'll have to figure out your unit value for the B axis, which will be how many pulses the motor needs to get to move 1 degree.

-B

[elcar903]

so I just need to get the G203V -Standard and not the G202, and the drive motor I listed above to get a working indexer.

Thank You very much for the help I'll post some pictures and maybe some videos of it when I get it up and running.

[Brady Watson]

Yes - If your control box has the red Geckos (G203v) then that is what you need. If you have G202s, then you need to run them because the common is different between the G202 & G203. Whatever you already have - match it & you'll be fine.

If you are running the VEXTA motor you showed a pic of, then it is plug & play. If you intend to use the stepper on the rotary axis you showed from Ebay, then you need to change the current set resistor to get max torque - otherwise, you'll be limited to 2 amps by means of the resistors that are soldered to the board for the SB motors.

-B

[elcar903]

on programming the SB to engrave with the indexer on a round cylinder, can I just draw the text in 2D on Vcarve and when I output to the SB I choose the post-processor for Shopbot(Indexer)(inch)(.sbp) would that work are do I need another software to cut with the Indexer??

[Brady Watson]

Yes. Use the rotary/wrap gadget to properly setup your material for indexer work. Then choose the appropriate post processor.

-B

[elcar903]

I hate to ask another question but how difficult is it to change out the resistors on the SB control box?

also I noticed yesterday when I opened the case to see which Gecko driver was in it, (V302 by the way) that there are 5 places to plug a controller into, currently there are 3 in for x,y,z axis , the top slot is empty the next 3 have gecko's in them and the 5th one is empty and on the Shopbot control software it shows for inputs #1,2,3,4 that input 1 is off and 2,3,4, inputs are connected. should I move the geckos up to the top 3 slots?

[elcar903]

oh never mind on the motor control positions next to the slot ts marked which drive goes where

[Brady Watson]

You can change the resistor by De-soldering the old one & solder in a new one for the motor you are using. It should be noted that Geckos driving motors more than 2A require a heat sink, with proper heat sink paste applied or you can overheat the drive. Keep that in mind & look around for an appropriate sink.

No. Leave the Geckos you have where they are. They are in those slots for a reason. When you set up your indexer, put it in the last spot (furthest away from the X driver - which will have a red stripe on the motor cable).


-B

[elcar903]

well I found out that the motor I posted before is a 3amp not a 2amp so I will have to look for another one for it but at least now I have a starting point

[Brady Watson]

A Vexta PK296-01AA or PK299-01AA would work just fine without a heat sink or messing with the resistor. Although you may have to find or machine the motor coupler so that it works with the new motor.

It is not a big deal to solder in another resistor and add a heat sink...

-B

[elcar903]

here is a picture of my control box, where is the resister located at?
Control Box inside (http://www.mechlinkv3.net/shopbot/IMG_20131121_193419.jpg)

[Brady Watson]

The arrow points to the one you need to modify for the indexer motor. There should be 5 total; One for each driver.

Don't forget to add a heat sink to the back of that Gecko.

-B

[elcar903]

this is one I found that is 2A but its specs are low
CNC Engraving Machine Router (http://www.ebay.com/itm/CNC-Engraving-Machine-Router-Rotational-Rotary-Axis-F-A-Axis-4th-Axis-TailStock-/261321858021)
4 Axis,5 Axis Drive ratio:1：3
Step-motors: 42 * 48 2-phase 2A, 0.35N.m

the 0.35N.m is what bothers me, I am only using it for engraving and cutting pockets in some 1" round tubing but do you thibk its enough?

I can get the Vexta Oriental Motor PK296-01AA (http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Vexta-Oriental-Motor-PK296-01AA-2-Phase-Stepper-Motor-1-8-per-Step-/171173358427) and build one but I dont want to for just a few projects.


are would it be better to get this one
CNC Engraving Machine Router (http://www.ebay.com/itm/CNC-Engraving-Machine-Router-Rotational-Rotary-Axis-F-A-Axis-4th-Axis-TailStock-/261321858021)

and put this motor in it?
Vexta Oriental Motor PK296-01AA (http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Vexta-Oriental-Motor-PK296-01AA-2-Phase-Stepper-Motor-1-8-per-Step-/171173358427)

[Brady Watson]

I took a quick peek @ GeckoDrive documentation - looks like you are good to 3A without a heat sink. Those drives are pretty beefy - they'll just shut down if they overheat...the 'v' means vampire, as in, you can't kill them.

Pick either one - if you are just doing surface engraving, I doubt things are going to be taxed too much.

-B

[elcar903]

Brady thank you very much for all your help, if you are every in Tyler TX let me know I'll by you lunch or a drink whatever you like.

[Brady Watson]

No problem, Adam. Glad to help.

Thanks!
-B