Current favourite stepper drivers

**GND** · 04-03-2017

Thanks Guys - it's always useful to get a sense of what is going to do the job, and is well proven by real experience. I'd picked up on the EM806 and the AM882 from previous mentions, but hadn't appreciated how they related together, nor into the grander scheme of things. Sounds to me - with an eye to good value - that the AM882 is the way to go.

So, the next question is where do you guys suggest I get them from? Google and Ebay don't seem to throw up any options in the UK, so is it a case of ordering from a trusted supplier in China? Slightly fearful of counterfeit ones, so a reputable source is important here I guess. Either way, any suggestions gratefully received!

Jazz - thanks also for the answers to my voltage and current questions. That makes sense! I recall now that you have to include a bit of margin on voltage for the back EMF, but knowing that 10% is reasonable is a great pointer. Hence 80v drives for my 68v supply seems ideal. Good points also on the current - if the driver limits this, then it is essentially under its control, so less need for much margin. I like it when things all make proper sense!

**Justin Pentecost** · 05-03-2017

I have AM866's here so I must have bought them from Gary at Zapp Automation. However his site is not showing any only the EM806's. You can be sure it's not a knockoff if it comes from him ..

Justin

**JAZZCNC** · 05-03-2017

Originally Posted by Justin Pentecost

I have AM866's here so I must have bought them from Gary at Zapp Automation. However his site is not showing any only the EM806's. You can be sure it's not a knockoff if it comes from him ..

Justin

Never heard of AM866 you sure got that right.?

Graeme I've bought 100's from China and never seen Copy of the AM882 or EM806 so don't worry about buying from china. Ali express is the place to find them.

**Justin Pentecost** · 05-03-2017

Originally Posted by JAZZCNC

Never heard of AM866 you sure got that right.?

Graeme I've bought 100's from China and never seen Copy of the AM882 or EM806 so don't worry about buying from china. Ali express is the place to find them.

No I meant AM882, I would try and blame fat fingers but it's not even close enough for that .. Shall we settle for stupidity?

**GND** · 05-03-2017

Thanks Jazz - there are certainly plenty of AM882's listed on there. Curiously no EM806's though. Sounds like I shouldn't be worrying about non genuine ones, which is good to know. I've not yet used Ali express, so was just a bit cautious. I have however bought kit from China on eBay, so not complete beginner in this!

So something else occurred to me. I'm more then happy that the 80v drive is the way to go for the 68v PSU router. For the mill - which for the record is going to be something along the lines of a Sieg X2 conversion using 2Nm steppers - does this require such a high voltage drive? My understanding is that it won't need the feed and rapids speed that a router does, and so a lower voltage for the drives is more in keeping. And that in turn means less expensive stepper drives. Or have I missed the point?