massmind diy stepper drivers

[userandrew]

Anyone out there using the 4A stepper drivers based on the THB6064 chip on their mechmate? James Newton of Massmind sells the kit on his site. Any opinon on them. I am about to start working on the electonics part of a mechmate build and I was wondering if anyone is using these. This will be a slow build limited by time and money and I thought this might allow me to whet my appetite cheaply.

[hennie]

Hi Andrew , I am using them on my lathe up to now no problems.Straight from China.

[userandrew]

Thanks for the quick reply hennie

[danilom]

I would really avoid these integrated solutions as there are really cheap alternatives that require no assembly and work really well and cost the same.
Look for 2M542 on ebay or aliexpress its a 50V 4.2Amp drive.

[userandrew]

Thank you Danilom. what kind of bob are you using with that driver?
I've heard of some quirky issues with some of the chinese drivers so I was hesitant to buy any that would require extensive troubleshooting but it seems like you had no issues with yours.

[danilom]

Simple 5 axis bob for 15-20$ (this (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Upgraded-CNC-5-Axis-Breakout-Board-interface-for-Stepper-Motor-Driver-Mill-/251544784205?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a913ccd4d)) , you are isolated on the drives side and on inputs relays 24Vdc that's it ... installed dozen of systems with these components

Only quirky drives are those toshiba 3-4 axis boards and all those integrated ic's. Never seen a mosfet bipolar drive misbehave. And everything that can blow on them is a fuse (when reverse voltage... happens) and you blow up a mosfet with miswiring or it touches the ground (IRL540)

[userandrew]

Again thanks... I will give this arrangement a try. I'll start the ordering with a bob, a stepper and a motor to test.