Quote Originally Posted by pequod View Post
I'm slowly collecting parts to convert my Sieg X2 to CNC.
I've ordered the stepper motors and controllers from Zapp, so no matching problems. The question is - is screened cable necessary to connect the motors to the controllers (4 core bipolar parallel). Working in the electronics industry, I know (a little) about noise in electronics. What I've seen on the you-tube sites, this is not used, or is it taken for granted? Has anyone got views, or experience on this?
Some sites recommend it. A lot depends on the length of the cables, the motor current in use and the sensitivity of the electronics around it. For home/hobby use with <2m or cable and typically 2-4A motor current I can't see it being necessary. For longer runs/higher currents I might consider it.

BTW if you do used screened cable, only ground it to the protective ground (mains earth) at one end, to avoid creating ground loops (which can be worse than no screening at all)