Re: one lead screw or two
In my CNC router I have 2 screws (M16x1.5) on X and 2 screws on Y axis.
X axis has 2 motors and two belts - so each leadscrew has separate motor and belt - one driver
Y axis has 2 motors and one common belt for both leadscrews and motors - one driver
the danger on separate motors like my X axis is when one of them stall and second motor doesn't, then it twists the axis (what happened to me once).
Since I rebuilt Y axis as described above I never had any problems with it.
The only thing i would improve is to designate one controller to one motor only, but like always the problem is the funds :) .
I can't assure you that is the proper arrangement but it works fine for me and I think results speak by themselves.
Re: one lead screw or two
Forgot to mention motors are connected parallel to the driver and I would never go for one lead screw even in the centre of axis
Re: one lead screw or two
I would always use two motors for the X axis. Most controller pcbs should give you the option of using one of the outputs for a slave x axis. Using two drives for the x axis will increase accuracy of your machine and should allow you to drive the x axis faster than with a single drive.
Regards
Ian
Re: one lead screw or two
Definitely go for two - it's clearly the most stable option. You haven't stated how wide your gantry is though, if it's really small and light cuts you might get away with it.
You should only use one stepper motor per driver, not two on one driver. It might be ok...as long as the motors are identical, but what if one stalls? Another way to do it is to link the two ballscrews with a timing belt and just use one motor.
It is normally done with two motors connected to two drivers connected to separate outputs on the parallel port. Mach3 will, using limit switches, control both so that both drivers receive the same signal whilst the machine is running, and when homing it can move them individually to square up the gantry. The manual for Mach3 explains it - look up slave axis.
Yet another method is to use wires to link the two sides of the gantry mechanically. Think of how it's done for the ruler on a drawing board...
Re: one lead screw or two
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jonathan
Definitely go for two - it's clearly the most stable option. You haven't stated how wide your gantry is though, if it's really small and light cuts you might get away with it.
You should only use one stepper motor per driver, not two on one driver. It might be ok...as long as the motors are identical, but what if one stalls? Another way to do it is to link the two ballscrews with a timing belt and just use one motor.
It is normally done with two motors connected to two drivers connected to separate outputs on the parallel port. Mach3 will, using limit switches, control both so that both drivers receive the same signal whilst the machine is running, and when homing it can move them individually to square up the gantry. The manual for Mach3 explains it - look up slave axis.
Yet another method is to use wires to link the two sides of the gantry mechanically. Think of how it's done for the ruler on a drawing board...
does the wire version work well on a router?
Re: one lead screw or two
Quote:
Originally Posted by
johngoodrich
does the wire version work well on a router?
I don't see why not. The only issue I can think of is the extra rolling resistance/friction it causes.
Re: one lead screw or two
might just get an extra motor and ballscrew then
Re: one lead screw or two
Quote:
Originally Posted by
johngoodrich
might just get an extra motor and ballscrew then
...and stepper driver.
It's probably easiest. The extra power from the second stepper can't hurt either.
Re: one lead screw or two
Same lines I'm thinking along. Means dedicating an extra axis, though, and I'd like to have the option of retro-fitting a rotary axis (sometime) later - so a 5-axis system, then? It'll need a 5-axis break-out board, to start with. (How do you add more axes? Does it need another com/lpt/usb port; EMC supports up to 9 axes, apparently... ) and a separate driver for each motor. And that's it??
'xcuse me chipping in, hope it's okay...
...cheers, Eric.
Re: one lead screw or two
[QUOTE=E.V. MacHine;23456]Same lines I'm thinking along. Means dedicating an extra axis, though, and I'd like to have the option of retro-fitting a rotary axis (sometime) later - so a 5-axis system, then? It'll need a 5-axis break-out board, to start with. (How do you add more axes? Does it need another com/lpt/usb port; EMC supports up to 9 axes, apparently... ) and a separate driver for each motor. And that's it??
Yes that's right, driver and motor for each. Unless you drive both the X screws with one motor and some timing pulleys / belt.
The parallel port has enough outputs for 6-axis if you don't use them for anything else, such as spindle control. A 5-axis breakout board is probably your best bet...
