That new page doesn't work on this side of the Atlantic yet.

Try this http://www.geckodrive.com/product.aspx?c=3&i=14460

and if that don't work try this


G203V

• 7A 80VDC
• Short-circuit protection
• Reversed-polarity protection
• Over-temperature protection
• Over-voltage protection
• Optoisolated Step, Dir and Disable Inputs
• Optoisolator Common is ground
• 2.5V, 3.3V and 5V logic compatible inputs
• Recirculate mode while motor is stopped
• 350 kHz maximum Step pulse frequency
• Top settable Adjust trimpot
• Power and Error LED indicators
• No user settable jumpers inside
• Internal socketed fuse
• Power-on reset
• 20 kHz switching frequency
• Same size and terminal pin-out as the G201

• The G203V is available in a G203V-Vacuum version as well. This changes the auto current standby to 0% as opposed to 70%, allowing it to operate in a vacuum environment with minimal heating problems.
• The G203V is also available in a G203V-CW/CCW version. This means that rather than taking a step and direction input it takes a CW and CCW input on the step and direction terminals.
• If you would like either of these options, please specify so in the comments section of your order. Unless noted, all G203Vs will be shipped out with the standard firmware.

G203V Manual (PDF)
How the G203V Gets the Most Out of Your Motor
http://www.geckodrive.com/images/dot.gifStandard$147.00Qty: http://www.geckodrive.com/images/dot.gifVacuum$147.00Qty: http://www.geckodrive.com/images/dot.gifCW/CCW$147.00Qty: http://www.geckodrive.com/images/dot.gif

Oh, those things were mentioned on their yahoo forum a couple of days ago.

We, together with most of their customers, would use the "Standard" version for Mach3.

On their forum:

http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/grou.../message/15745

Quote:

Our new drives are CPLD based and have about 8 or 10 macrocells
unused. Recently someone wanted a CW/CCW interface instead of a
STP/DIR one. Piece of cake. Marcus changed 6 lines in Verilog, used up
2 macrocells and after a half-hour of work delivered the interface.
Not one hardware part had to be changed on the target G203V. STP
became CW, DIR became CCW.

Another time a big laboratory need standby current to go to zero
because the motors operated in a vacuum chamber. Vacuum is not world
famous for effective heat dissipation. Again, a couple of lines in
Verilog was changed and presto, zero current during standby.
Furthermore, the windings were shorted during standby to make the
motor resistant to being back-driven.

Seems only firmware changes so I've gone with the standard.

201x changes make it a better candidate for MM?
 

I have 0 experience with drivers so I may ask a dumb question. Please point them out to me so I learn.
I am wondering if anyone has had a chance to look at the changes made to the 201x and if the changes make it a good/better candidate for the MM than the 201.

I have read that this was built around the 203v design but from what I can tell, it is missing the Short-circuit, Reversed-polarity, Over-temperature, Over-voltage protections of the 203v. Is this the killer?

7A 80VDC power rating
10 microstep fixed resolution
Optoisolated step / direction
Mid-band resonance damping
Silent 20kHz PWM switching
No low-speed vibration
STEP and DIRECTION is +3.3VDC and +5VDC compatible at 2.5mA
Recirculate mode during STANDBY greatly reduces motor heating
No external 470uF capacitor is required
Power-on RESET
DIRECTION is clocked in on the active step pulse edge
No internal jumpers
No current set resistor required
All settings done using a 10 position DIP switch
Universal step and direction COMMON

The 201X is the new replacement design for the 201. At this point you would not be able to buy a 201 new. You are correct that the 201X does not have all the safety features of the 203V. If your motors fall within the drive capabilities of the 203V then that drive, in my opinion would be a better choice. The 201X might drive a higher inductance motor though.

201X with PMDX-132?
 

Anyone tried the 201X drives with the PMDX 132? I like the layout of the 132 until i noticed that there was no way to tune the motors when using the 203V. But the 201X has the adjustment on the back of the drive, instead of the top.

Just wondering...

-Cody

Cody,
Look again at the PMDX 132 BOB board. The tuning screw is opposite of the pin header. Depending if you mount the BOB vertical or horizontal, tuning that drive might not be a big issue. If you mounted it close to the edge of the case, you might be able to register a pin hole with dust grommet for each drive so you could tune with the enclosure door shut and "hands away from power". Just thinking!

Are you planning for next year already or a summer project?

Sean

Just wishing.
 

No real plans yet. Just thinking. I was/am thinking about building a small footprint machine using the mm box, and then building the big machine later, as I don't have anywhere to put it right now.

Also thinking of maybe doing my thesis on multiple-axis machines and control, and maybe incorporating servos or steppers into that.

Mainly just spinning gears...

-Cody

Gecko 213v
 

Are the new 213V drives what we should be ordering? Better for direct drive machines? Gecko's info is not clear why you should use these

you should use the 203v, the 213v adds no new benefits for a mechmate machine, unless you want to use it with half step or anything different from 10 microsteps, and its also more expensive! :)

Gecko 213v
 

Thanks Pablo,

Still don't know what the benefits of micro stepping are though? more research required!

Microstepping helps keep the motor motion smooth at lower speeds, and thus produces more useful torque. Think about riding a bicycle using one leg instead of two, or running an engine on fewer cylinders than designed - there is a cogging effect.

Microstepping smooths this, but it requires more pulses (like 8x or 10x or 16x), and thus you need a faster pulse train for the same motor speed.

Because the pulse train can be limited by factors in the computer hardware, you can add a step multiplier back in, giving you the smoothness advantages of microstepping without limiting your top speed. That's one of the things added with a G213. However, it isn't generally needed on a MechMate.

Some Geckodrive stepper drivers, like the G213v have a pulse multiplier built in. The pulse multiplier gives 1, 2, 5 or 10 output pulses for every input pulse. Those drives with pulse multipliers are normally used when your pulse source can only produce a slow pulse train or when you need extremely fast movement (which means hight temperatures and low torque).

Most people will find that moving the motor at 1,000 RPM maximum is plenty fast for a CNC router. With a 1.25-inch spur gear and a 7.2:1 gear box, that will be about 550 inches per minute. That will also require about 33,333 pulses per second. Depending on the power supply and the motors, that speed is not difficult to achieve.

With a standard G203v, you will get about 0.00027-inch per step resolution. With a step multiplier board, you would get 2x, 5x, or 10X worse resolution.

Does the coming G215 have adventages over the G203v for MM builders ??

Here is the link G215. http://www.geckodrive.com/images/fck...on%20Sheet.pdf

Guillermo,

The G215 is targeted towards "simple automation" (running a repetitive task without the need of Mach 3 or other software). From the little information that is available, and from the video on YouTube, it looks like that drive would be better suited for non-CNC applications. The G215 contains special circuitry to allow it to create its own pulse stream, to sense "limits", to automatically reverse its direction. In short, it would be an ideal stepper driver for process control applications where a fixed-cycle repetitive movement needs to be controlled.

The G203v and the G201x, along with Mach 3 as the pulse generator, would be more than adequate for varied movement CNC applications.

Thanks Mike

I'll second the "Thanks, Mike."