dual drive x-axis?

[John S]

Two motors, two drivers and slave the axis.

Two motors on one driver is asking for problems, a belt and pulleys over 1.3M is also asking for problems.

Your size basically restricts your choices.

Using two motors / one drive makes the driver the weakest link which they normally are, any problems will take the drive out so you will have to buy a new drive, that's the cost of doing it correctly in the first place.

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[fasteddy]

Thanks John..

Does that mean I will need a 4 axis controller? 1 for the z, 1 for the y and 2 for the x-axis? If so, could you recommend one or do I have to decide on which motors first..? This is my weakest area of non-expertise so any advice would be v helpful..

[fasteddy]

Sorry everyone, just noticed the thread by Hiltonsteve, 3 below mine, asking exactly the same thing..! There are more than enough answers there to sort me out... Sigh.. Looks like I was wide asleep again!!!

[fasteddy]

Have finally settled on a single motor, single leadscrew, but with extra bearings and rails under the gantry. I know I know... Pictures..! I will try to put a couple of sketches together tonight and post them..

Have listened carefully to everyone's if, buts and maybe's about dual driving and have to agree that a single drive is much less prone to errors, and belts are, in my experience, another added layer of mischief..

But I do think it important to stabilize the gantry as any yaw will not be acceptable. To this end I have come up with a way of using additional track and bearings (as these are so cheap) to give extra guides to the gantry...

Pics later..!