Bench test

[BillB]

So I'm got my cnc computer, have my Acorn and relay board installed in my enclosure and ready for the bench test. The bench test video says to do the bench test on a none conductive surface but My question is, is it ok the do the bench test with my boards already mounted in the enclosure? Or should I take them out and do It on bubble wrap or peace of foam. They are mounted on brass stand offs. But I assume there is no conductivity from board threw the stand offs into the mounting back plate. It's isolated right.

[martyscncgarage]

You are fine, make sure the enclosure is grounded for safety which it should be if you wire the ground in your power cord.
Marty

[BillB]

Cool thanks

[ShawnM]

I'm not sure what drives you are planning on using but if they are typical stepper drives they will wire up to the DB25 via a breakout board. This will plug on to the Acorn board and you have a fan directly to the left of the DB25 connector. Not sure what that distance is but you may have to move the Acorn board to the right a little if you will be using the DB25.

[BillB]

I'm not sure what drives you are planning on using but if they are typical stepper drives they will wire up to the DB25 via a breakout board. This will plug on to the Acorn board and you have a fan directly to the left of the DB25 connector. Not sure what that distance is but you may have to move the Acorn board to the right a little if you will be using the DB25.

I'm using the standard Sherline 4 axis driver box which connects via DB25 printer cable. I've made sure there is clearance between the fan, connector and cable.

https://www.sherline.com/product/8760-c ... river-box/

[cnckeith]

I'm not sure what drives you are planning on using but if they are typical stepper drives they will wire up to the DB25 via a breakout board. This will plug on to the Acorn board and you have a fan directly to the left of the DB25 connector. Not sure what that distance is but you may have to move the Acorn board to the right a little if you will be using the DB25.

I'm using the standard Sherline 4 axis driver box which connects via DB25 printer cable. I've made sure there is clearance between the fan, connector and cable.

https://www.sherline.com/product/8760-c ... river-box/

that sherline box contains some pretty old driver technology, i couldn't get good results out of it. better off with a G540 or leadshine equivalent if you are looking for an all in one solution.

[BDubs]

Bill,
Don't underestimate what Keith advises. It will neither play well with Acorn nor perform to your satisfaction. Sherline's specification page for those drivers state it requires a 22 millisecond delay between pulses (really slow) and the drives are unipolar...the 80s called, they want their drives back...

[BillB]

Really? I just ordered the drive box. I'm also planning on running my Sherline mill with 4th axis which I'm also retrofitting to cnc as part of this whole project.

Honestly I want a reliable set up. I never wanted to spend all this time on a cnc build I need to design parts, make parts, sell products, build new company. The fact that I'm doing this as a partial DIY is not at all what I wanted to do in the 1st place. I really wanted a turnkey solution BUT the old mightybuck forced me into going the DIY route. Believe me the electronics part of this is way outside my wheel house. AND by the time I'm done will I have been better off going with the Sherline Masso drive? That was about $1700.00?

So IF I were to go with a gecko drive or leadshine what does that entail???? Does that mean I have to rewire all the Sherline bought steppers? And how much more DIYin will it require?

Can you provide links for the lead shine I'm familiar with the G540 we have one on my work router.

I want whats best, what kind of issues will I have with the sherline drives.

[cnckeith]

the issue you would have with the sherline box is ...it won't work with Acorn.

sherline themselves are not using that box on their new machines, they offer it for sale just as a replacement for older system with failed drive boxes.

they are using these on their new machines.

[BillB]

the issue you would have with the sherline box is ...it won't work with Acorn.

sherline themselves are not using that box on their new machines, they offer it for sale just as a replacement for older system with failed drive boxes.

they are using these on their new machines.

sherline_new.PNG

John and karl at Sherline have told me it will work. John just told me he has an Acorn sherline mill runing with no issues.

Karl tells me the new industrial controller the are working in is going to be like 5K retail.

If I were to go the route your suggesting what would the cost be? And what is involved can you give me an idea?