7.2 gear motors

[cip]

Has anyone switched to the new 7.2 gear motors and if so what do you think of them?

[Brady Watson]

I've been running the 7.2:1 PRS style Alpha motors on my machine for about a year now. They are simply AWESOME! They put out about 2X the torque and a LOT more resolution than the 1:1 Alpha motors. It's definately a major increase in power, resolution, cut quality and overall smoothness.

-B

[cip]

Brady, did you get them from ShopBot?

[fleinbach]

Brady,

I know lots has been written about this subject in fact so much it's difficult to do a search and pinpont a few questions. So hear it goes. What all is involved with the switch over from the standard Prtalpha motors? Do you have to change the control boards also? And lastly what is a ball park cost to make the change.

[Brady Watson]

Mike,
Yes, I got them directly from ShopBot. At the time it was a 'special order' and not something that was stocked. The motors and drivers are identical to the PRS Alpha offered now.

Frank,
You'll have to remove the standard Alpha drivers from your control box and replace them with the ones that match the 7.2:1 motors. This is just a matter of unbolting, cleaning the old heat sink paste off, applying new, and installing the new drivers. Your original motor wires should work, but you'll want to check with ShopBot to be sure. The motors will bolt up to your original Alpha mounts as well. Pinions are 30T and last MUCH longer than the 20T 1:1 Alphas. As far as price, you'll have to contact SB directly. It's been a year since I installed it and I bought a bunch of other stuff too at the time.

I'm not sure if this is an upgrade that SB offers or not...Like I said, it was a special order. You'll want to give them a call to get the details.

-B

[fleinbach]

Thanks, sounds simple enough I'll check price with Shopbot.

[cip]

Frank,
The cost as I understand is $750. for 3 motors, 2x and 1y.
The procedure is as I understand it, you send SB $1500 and they send the 3 drives. When you return the old drives they credit you back $750.

[fleinbach]

Mike, did you get that price recently? Then I take it it's not nessacary to replace the Z?

[cip]

Frank,
The price is on the web site under Ted's blog and the Z is optional. The $1500. thing is something that I was told a while back by SB.

[richards]

Mike Wright,
My reading of Ted's Blog makes me think that the price is 'per motor/driver", rather than for a set of three motors/drivers. If, in fact, it is for all three motors, I'll be the first to sign up.

[brian_h]

I just lurk on this topic because I don't have the funds to make the change. However, I am *very* interested in this change-over. I'd trade quality of cut for speed any day! Thanks for asking, Frank.

[cip]

Mike Richards,
You may be correct but that was not my understanding when talking to SB a few weeks back. They told me that this was a special deal so that SB owners could upgrade. But again you may be correct considering the cost of motors and drivers.

[pfulghum]

Does anybody know the Oriental Motor Part # for the 7.2 motors?

AS_____

-- pat

[evan]

ASM98AAT7.2

[pfulghum]

Just got my 7.2 installed...

SMOOOOOOTH....
Big time TORQUE and holding power.

12 ips move speed (I don't think I will ever cut anything that fast).

If I grab a hold of the gantry as it is going down the X rails…It can literally drag me across the floor without skipping a beat.

When it is stopped I can't budge it.

One happy 'botter.


-- pat

[elcruisr]

Just installed mine on my PRT that was upgraded to an Alpha and now upgraded again with the 7.2's. Very painless upgrade! Now production cutting at 8 to 10" / sec. depending on cutters. Jogging at 30 just like before. No trade off on speed but very smooth and torque to spare. Very glad we did it!

[Brady Watson]

Just a quick note about the 7.2s & jogging...the gearboxes are not rated for jogging at 30 IPS. I believe that 20-22 IPS is max. I don't think SB has gotten around to limiting the speed yet...

Also, the 7.2s get hot, so do not be suprised if you are in production mode and the motors are hot to the touch...I've been running the 7.2s for about 18 months and they are still good


-B