Easy Servo Drive?

[Tenson]

I guess the parallel port was never really intended for time critical applications.

I ordered the ethernet easy stepper (ESS) from Amadeal last night and they already shipped it! I can't afford any down time on my machine for some weeks so I will have to try it out later on.

I also bought an 80V driver for the X axis that matches the ones on the Y axis. I'm sure it doesn't make much sense to run Y axis on 80V and X axis on 50V as I currently am.

How big a PSU do you guys usually run for Y and X axis? Currently my Y axis is powered from a 500watt toroid with 10,000uF smoothing caps (no SMPS here!). I wonder if it has enough headroom to power the X axis too, or if I need to get an additional PSU. A basic electricity meter shows my machine draws about 250watts for both Y and X together under normal use, but the meter will not show peaks (then again PSU caps should supply peak current draw).

[JAZZCNC]

How big a PSU do you guys usually run for Y and X axis? Currently my Y axis is powered from a 500watt toroid with 10,000uF smoothing caps (no SMPS here!). I wonder if it has enough headroom to power the X axis too, or if I need to get an additional PSU. A basic electricity meter shows my machine draws about 250watts for both Y and X together under normal use, but the meter will not show peaks (then again PSU caps should supply peak current draw).

500W will run all the axis no problem.

Also the ESS works fine with Slaved axis and homing. The install time is minutes with no rewiring required. Just install plug-in and away you go.
You may want to retune the motors for better performance.

[Blackrat]

you need +5v to the ESS iirc

[komatias]

Yes, that is correct. Unlike the USB you need to feed the ESS

[Tenson]

It's a bit late now I've got the ESS, but what do you think of the PoScope Jazz? Looks like more functionality for a lower price.

http://www.poscope.com/PoKeys57CNC

[JAZZCNC]

It's a bit late now I've got the ESS, but what do you think of the PoScope Jazz? Looks like more functionality for a lower price.

http://www.poscope.com/PoKeys57CNC

I've got one and it's ok but not has good as the ESS. Also to get the full functiinality you have to use USB rather than Ethernet which is a let down.

[Tenson]

I'd like to say thanks to Jazz for recommending the smooth stepper to me, even though my original post on the subject was about servo motors!

I've got it installed now and cut a few things. The increase in accuracy is quite noticeable, even running at a higher speed. :)

At the same time as installing the ESS I did also upgrade one of my motor drivers so that will no doubt help, but I've gone from rapids at 6m/s to 10m/s and cutting from 4m/s to 6m/s and still seeing higher accuracy.

Worth every penny.