Hey guys. I've been trolling the forum for awhile and like many others before me, I'm finally getting my 4'x5' Plasma/router table together. By day, I work as a robotic storage system technician so I am blessed to have a lot of nice equipment and spare parts at my disposal for this build. Some of which is beyond my current understanding and that's what I'm hoping to get your help with. Originally, I purchased the high output Nema 23's and planned to build my gantry from aluminum. The more I think about it, the more I wonder about building it from steel and using some of the extra spare motors we use on our robotic system. They're possibly massive overkill, but since we have quite a few spares I thought, why not? They are made by a German company called DunkerMotoren and they are brushless DC. I am going to attach a product link and pictures below. Basically what I'm hoping to understand is if it is possible to use these or what it would take, and what board would I be able to connect the built in encoder up to? I'm doing as much research as I can for the electronics, but I'm thinking these motors might be too advanced to be worth the trouble. It would definitely be a nice beefy machine if I could use these though so any thoughts or help with this is really appreciated. Thanks for y'alls time:)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/e7kz65tcc2z1c ... 9.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6xmbehhmc2s47 ... 8.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/jzjt4zndvy24e ... 7.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3uouvcz4zn7fg ... 4.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dunkermotoren.com/en/produc ... nJEALw_wcB
Help with utilizing advanced motors and electronics for my table build
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LucasWorx
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- Location: San Antonio, Texas
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robertspark
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Re: Help with utilizing advanced motors and electronics for my table build
Hi, interesting servo motors.
I suspect that they are without integrated controllers from the model numbers and possibly without encoders.
https://info.ammc.com/hubfs/Partner%20D ... 0Guide.pdf
Given this is your first venture into cnc / plasma, I'd suggest an easier route will probably be the one with less argo and delay to get a machine up and running. You may benefit from selling some of the bits you have (and any others you collect) to finance your first plasma setup.
Most plasma tables and cnc machines use stepper motors, simply because they are cheaper and to some extent .... they are easier.... I would suggest that you still considered building the table (or specifically the gantry) out of aluminium and not heavy weight steel....
plasma tables like acceleration, and have no cutting forces so making something really heavy and rigid is probably not the best plan. However there are a lot of examples of heavy plasma cutter tables (gantries) about, some of which are commercial offerings.
if you are dead set on using those servos or planning to use them in the future, then linuxcnc would be a recommended route to use them with some Mesa hardware, because linuxcnc will control all sorts of servos and not just via step and direction signals (like a stepper motor). I only run 1 servo as a lathe spindle so don't have the knowlege on them, but linuxcnc and mesa hardware will control analog servos and those with resolvers as well as encoders. basically, if you spend the time, linuxcnc will control it.... but the learning curve can be steep, especially for unusual setups.
I started with Mach3, then used Mach4, then UCCNC and now linuxcnc..... really I should have started with and stuck with linuxcnc as it would have saved a whole load of cash, not because it's free, but because it works and the I would be much further along than I am at present having wasted time with other offerings and hardware that is poorly (or slowly) supported.
One of the best writups would be Rods Spaceship: https://forum.linuxcnc.org/show-your-st ... tter-build
For a build, I would suggest using Rack and Pinion for the drive, and a reduction drive (3:1 tends to be the recommended route).
A user on here Acourtjester has made some nice tables using a chain drive, and shared motor for the gantry which has the benefit of not getting out of alignment and never racking. he does sell his designs and I'm sure they would be useful for you to have a look through to give you ideas as he has built quite a few.
good luck, and welcome to the forum, let us know how you get on.
I suspect that they are without integrated controllers from the model numbers and possibly without encoders.
https://info.ammc.com/hubfs/Partner%20D ... 0Guide.pdf
Given this is your first venture into cnc / plasma, I'd suggest an easier route will probably be the one with less argo and delay to get a machine up and running. You may benefit from selling some of the bits you have (and any others you collect) to finance your first plasma setup.
Most plasma tables and cnc machines use stepper motors, simply because they are cheaper and to some extent .... they are easier.... I would suggest that you still considered building the table (or specifically the gantry) out of aluminium and not heavy weight steel....
plasma tables like acceleration, and have no cutting forces so making something really heavy and rigid is probably not the best plan. However there are a lot of examples of heavy plasma cutter tables (gantries) about, some of which are commercial offerings.
if you are dead set on using those servos or planning to use them in the future, then linuxcnc would be a recommended route to use them with some Mesa hardware, because linuxcnc will control all sorts of servos and not just via step and direction signals (like a stepper motor). I only run 1 servo as a lathe spindle so don't have the knowlege on them, but linuxcnc and mesa hardware will control analog servos and those with resolvers as well as encoders. basically, if you spend the time, linuxcnc will control it.... but the learning curve can be steep, especially for unusual setups.
I started with Mach3, then used Mach4, then UCCNC and now linuxcnc..... really I should have started with and stuck with linuxcnc as it would have saved a whole load of cash, not because it's free, but because it works and the I would be much further along than I am at present having wasted time with other offerings and hardware that is poorly (or slowly) supported.
One of the best writups would be Rods Spaceship: https://forum.linuxcnc.org/show-your-st ... tter-build
For a build, I would suggest using Rack and Pinion for the drive, and a reduction drive (3:1 tends to be the recommended route).
A user on here Acourtjester has made some nice tables using a chain drive, and shared motor for the gantry which has the benefit of not getting out of alignment and never racking. he does sell his designs and I'm sure they would be useful for you to have a look through to give you ideas as he has built quite a few.
good luck, and welcome to the forum, let us know how you get on.
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LucasWorx
- 1.5 Star Member
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- Joined: Wed Sep 08, 2021 9:32 pm
- Location: San Antonio, Texas
Re: Help with utilizing advanced motors and electronics for my table build
Thank you sir! That is some good info and much appreciated. The motors I referenced do have built in encoders, but you're right, the learning curve on making them work for me could be time consuming. I am also on the same page as you with controls. I plan to start with Linux and Mesa hardware providing I can grab a 7I96 board when they restock. Thanks again!
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robertspark
- 4.5 Star Elite Contributing Member
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- Joined: Mon Jun 12, 2017 6:43 pm
