Just Got A Bunch Of Stepper Motors & Would Like To Do Something With Them - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: NoUsername
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 14, 2016, 06:42:37 am
content: Hello! I just got a bunch of stepper motors handed to me and I would like to do something with them.(Please see the attached photo for reference)The five large motor's model number is "34T1BEHH" and are made by Bodine Electric Company, the six medium sized ones part number is "1-19-3402" and the three small ones part number is "1-19-4203" both are made by Howard IND.Any ideas on what I should use them for or should I just sell them?Thanks

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2016, 06:50:57 am
content: 3d printer? cnc machine?

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2016, 06:55:00 am
content: Price of the motors (even good ones) is nothing compared to controllers and drivers. So it seems rather silly to invent a project and invest more money just to use stuff you have.I'd say sell them, unless you are already have a project for them.

author: RobertoLG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2016, 07:30:47 am
content: maybe some wind generators, at least with the bigger onesherehttp://www.gotwind.org/diy/stepper_motor.htm

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2016, 07:42:33 am
content: It's pretty easy to build your own drivers out of discrete transistors.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2016, 07:45:08 am
content: Quote from: NiHaoMike on February 14, 2016, 07:42:33 amIt is, if you are willing to invest time into that. And it is very questionable if it is worth it, when you can buy drivers for $15.

author: awallin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2016, 07:57:18 am
content: Quote from: Mechatrommer on February 14, 2016, 06:50:57 am3d printer with steppers - OK, because it has almost zero variable/unpredictable forces on the printing head. Same for laser cutter.cnc machine - not so OK with steppers. There are huge sudden changes in cutting forces and you always end up wanting a closed-loop servo system with encoders that actually tell you where the machine is.

author: Fred27
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 14, 2016, 09:42:14 am
content: Steppers are fine for a CNC mill. Most mills use them. Whilst there are some advantages with servos, especially on really big stuff, steppers are not a problem.

author: han
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2016, 10:28:36 am
content: Sell it.. if you didn't know what to do with it, then you will never need it...

author: meeder
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2016, 10:45:08 am
content: This for example ;-)https://youtu.be/Kow4OyrOBbA

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2016, 10:31:17 am
content: Quote from: ataradov on February 14, 2016, 06:55:00 amthe my A4988 stepper driver here is less than $2 per module. where as the cheapest china nema17 stepper motor i can find is more than $10 per motor, so i dont get where you get it.Quote from: awallin on February 14, 2016, 07:57:18 amthats why there is engineering. if you put stepper motor driving into unpredictable force magnitude without some form of positional feedback, then you are fooling yourself. stepper is used to move gantry fast when in non-cutting mode, easy positional handling from sw side, but if one is not take care of whats going on, then... your statement is valid.. dc motor with encoder feedback seems the right job for it, until you code for positional precision and momentum overshoot handling.

author: ConKbot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2016, 12:34:18 pm
content: Quote from: Fred27 on February 14, 2016, 09:42:14 amWhat? No. Little hobby grade benchtop stuff, sure. "Most" CNC mills? Definitely not.

author: dom0
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2016, 03:45:01 pm
content: Yep. The servos used in industry CNC equipment are often so impressive, that any stepper motor will grow legs and run scared.(Figuratively speaking)

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2016, 04:32:09 pm
content: Quote from: Mechatrommer on February 16, 2016, 10:31:17 amThe big motors on the picture has 3.1 A rating. Good luck driving it with those cheap and cheesy Chinese knock offs of A4988.

author: Fred27
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 16, 2016, 04:38:25 pm
content: "What shall I do with the steppers" says he was thinking more along the hobby grade lines to me.Sorry - I could have been clearer. Would you agree that steppers are fine if you're building a CNC mill for fun and are trying to find a use for some steppers?