Gecko G540 or?

[JAZZCNC]

Im still a bit confused about the motion control detail though. I can se why people like the Gecko G540 kit as it seems like an overall mid-level good compromise.

Ok well first the G540 isn't a motion control card at all, it's just 4 drives combined with a BOB. The drives are limiting regards motor amps and while they are nicely made they can't match the AM882 in performance terms. I've used both and I wouldn't buy another that's all I'll say.!

Yes but a Porsche 991 works damn well to go shopping with. Question is, are there any disadvantages doing light work with a muscular cnc... Someone once told me so but i cant remember why...

For a family of one maybe but try taking 4 kids and all the baggage that goes with them.!! You need a Porsche Cayenne for lugging kids and baggage around.

Think of the CNC machine as either Porsche 991 when optimised giving great performance at what it does best but limiting at other things.! OR . . Cayenne is still a Porsche and supposedly performance vehicle which will get your there with all your baggage and kids safely but not very excititng and rubbish around the nurburgring.!!
The Cayenne is the one with the Big engine not the 991. It's oversized and under performs because it's optimised for ever lugging kids around. This comes at a cost in both performance and Expense.? Your paying for performance vehicle which fails to deliver.!

The tuned and optimised porsche 991 does ONE job well and thats going fast. It's limited at moving kids but was never designed for that purpose so wrong to expect it too.

Now this gets more complicated with CNC due to way steppers work. Large steppers bring an all new set of problems which to get performance from requires expensive drives and motors.
This is why it's best to target the machine use and design to that with a generous safety margin and nothing more. More is less really is true when it comes to steppers. Anything above the safety margin is just wasted money.!