Author Topic: Just Got A Bunch Of Stepper Motors & Would Like To Do Something With Them  (Read 6161 times)

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Offline NoUsernameTopic starter

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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 :)
 

Online Mechatrommer

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Re: Just Got A Bunch Of Stepper Motors & Would Like To Do Something With Them
« Reply #1 on: February 14, 2016, 06:50:57 am »
3d printer? cnc machine?
Nature: Evolution and the Illusion of Randomness (Stephen L. Talbott): Its now indisputable that... organisms “expertise” contextualizes its genome, and its nonsense to say that these powers are under the control of the genome being contextualized - Barbara McClintock
 

Offline ataradov

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Re: Just Got A Bunch Of Stepper Motors & Would Like To Do Something With Them
« Reply #2 on: February 14, 2016, 06:55:00 am »
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.
Alex
 

Offline RobertoLG

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Re: Just Got A Bunch Of Stepper Motors & Would Like To Do Something With Them
« Reply #3 on: February 14, 2016, 07:30:47 am »
maybe some wind generators, at least with the bigger ones

here http://www.gotwind.org/diy/stepper_motor.htm
« Last Edit: February 14, 2016, 07:41:12 am by RobertoLG »
 

Offline NiHaoMike

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Re: Just Got A Bunch Of Stepper Motors & Would Like To Do Something With Them
« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2016, 07:42:33 am »
It's pretty easy to build your own drivers out of discrete transistors.
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Offline ataradov

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Re: Just Got A Bunch Of Stepper Motors & Would Like To Do Something With Them
« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2016, 07:45:08 am »
It's pretty easy to build your own drivers out of discrete transistors.
It 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.
Alex
 

Offline awallin

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Re: Just Got A Bunch Of Stepper Motors & Would Like To Do Something With Them
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2016, 07:57:18 am »
3d printer? cnc machine?

3d 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.

 

Offline Fred27

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Re: Just Got A Bunch Of Stepper Motors & Would Like To Do Something With Them
« Reply #7 on: February 14, 2016, 09:42:14 am »
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.
 

Offline han

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Re: Just Got A Bunch Of Stepper Motors & Would Like To Do Something With Them
« Reply #8 on: February 14, 2016, 10:28:36 am »
Sell it.. if you didn't know what to do with it, then you will never need it...
 

Offline meeder

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Re: Just Got A Bunch Of Stepper Motors & Would Like To Do Something With Them
« Reply #9 on: February 14, 2016, 10:45:08 am »
This for example ;-)

https://youtu.be/Kow4OyrOBbA
 

Online Mechatrommer

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Re: Just Got A Bunch Of Stepper Motors & Would Like To Do Something With Them
« Reply #10 on: February 16, 2016, 10:31:17 am »
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.
the 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.
3d 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.
thats 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.
Nature: Evolution and the Illusion of Randomness (Stephen L. Talbott): Its now indisputable that... organisms “expertise” contextualizes its genome, and its nonsense to say that these powers are under the control of the genome being contextualized - Barbara McClintock
 

Offline ConKbot

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Re: Just Got A Bunch Of Stepper Motors & Would Like To Do Something With Them
« Reply #11 on: February 16, 2016, 12:34:18 pm »
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.

What?   No. Little hobby grade benchtop stuff, sure. "Most" CNC mills? Definitely not.
 

Offline dom0

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Re: Just Got A Bunch Of Stepper Motors & Would Like To Do Something With Them
« Reply #12 on: February 16, 2016, 03:45:01 pm »
Yep. The servos used in industry CNC equipment are often so impressive, that any stepper motor will grow legs and run scared.



(Figuratively speaking)
,
 

Offline ataradov

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Re: Just Got A Bunch Of Stepper Motors & Would Like To Do Something With Them
« Reply #13 on: February 16, 2016, 04:32:09 pm »
the my A4988 stepper driver here is less than $2 per module.
The big motors on the picture has 3.1 A rating. Good luck driving it with those cheap and cheesy Chinese knock offs of A4988.
Alex
 

Offline Fred27

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Re: Just Got A Bunch Of Stepper Motors & Would Like To Do Something With Them
« Reply #14 on: February 16, 2016, 04:38:25 pm »
"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?
 


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