Gecko G203v Commercial Build Breakdown...

[@23TrevorE]

I bloody love your videos, mate. I'm in Australia and building a large CNC Plasma table and, because of the way you share your knowledge, it's going to be the best damn Plasma in Australia. Thank you so much for imparting so much useful information. I will be buying some gear from you, as well, as I know your time is valuable and I would like to at least give a little back to you.

[@corvetteguy50]

Trevor, thank you for your support. I really appreciate it. Plasma systems are different animals, and require a large amount of attention to detail, but it will certainly be worth it in the end. I'm glad to have helped you, and if you need any components just let me know. Thank you, Vince

[@dest101101]

I have been using gecko drives for the past 8 years. I have bought at least 8 G203V's and recently 2 GR214V's. I have been VERY happy with GeckoDrives. Fantastic product, fairly easy to wire up and configure. Good support, excellent warranty service (needed once when I cooked a G203V (severe user error)) and excellent build quality. Cant say enough good things about this company. Really happy for the USA made and Designed aspect of their products. I can unreservedly recommend GeckoDrives. As in the last 4 machines I converted, the next one will have GeckoDrives as well!!

[@corvetteguy50]

dest101101, thank you for your support, and you wrote it best :) Thank you, Vince

[@halfstep67]

I am in the process of building my first CNC milling machine and have been doing a lot of research and buying some things as I go. The mill is a PM940 and it is on order and should be here within the month. I've watched a lot of videos from guys who seem to know their stuff but watch them mount the VFD inside the same box as their other components which I thought was not a good idea. Then I watched your vids on mounting the VFD outside of the main control panel and into it's own box several feet away. That's makes more sense to reduce the EMI. Also, I have seen them use shielded wire without hooking up the drain which is defeating the purpose of using a shielded cable. I've seen some just cut a gapping hole in their box and run all the communication cable thru the hole instead of using EMI blocking connectors. I have found some L-Com EMI blocking connectors for USB, DB25, HD15 and the sub panel mounting plates for these connectors that I will be using. I am amazed at how expensive a used enclosure is. I have been looking for a while and ran across an unused Hoffman 27x20x8 enclosure at a great price. It's a NEMA 11,13 enclosure so it is a good heavy duty sealed enclosure. After doing a lot of research, I can see why these complete units cost as much as they do. I few months ago, I would have thought someone who be crazy to spend 4G on a control box but knowing what I know now, I think that is a fair price. It takes a lot of knowledge and research to be able to put together a control unit that is dependable. One has to educate themselves on every detail of everything involved like wiring, connectors, drivers, motors, controllers, CAD/CAM, power supplies, EMI blocking components, enclosures, VFD's, spindle motors, limit/home switches, relays and everything else like ball screws, mounts, tooling. There is a lot to learn and know. That is why I am up at 1:00 in the morning doing some research. Thanks for the videos and sharing your knowledge. It is very helpful.

[@corvetteguy50]

Halfstep67, thank you for your support I really appreciate it. There are many unrealized details as you pointed out to properly building a motion controller. These units are popping up everywhere on the web, and KZbin, and many of them unfortunately fall short on being built correctly because many vendors/end users simply copy what everyone else is doing rather than researching the components their working with, and understanding how to properly install them to support their applications, and business model. These systems are amazing when built properly, but can also be just as amazing at defeating their purpose when simply thrown together like so many of them are online as you pointed out. Education starts from the end user utilizing every resource they have available, and if they aren't able to use the web properly for it, and or don't have the time to invest they are far better to have the system properly built for them. The price on a motion control system built, and engineered properly is reflected by many variables, as every clients requirements are different. The amount of time I spend in labor, while investing my years of engineering knowledge on the project is where the price easily exceeds 2k for a built turnkey multi-axis individual drive system especially when including my added after sale support which virtually all of my clients will require at some point. I know my clients that pay to have the system built turnkey realize the price is an investment in "peace of mind" considering these systems will offer a point of leverage only larger factories used to be able to afford. Another point seldom discussed anywhere online is all of these systems built by the end user, or professionally are business tax write offs, and really should be one of the easiest investment choices when realizing the massive advantage of that when your a startup, or established company. Thank you, Vince

[@barbaramarino543]

Vin, very impressive video.

[@corvetteguy50]

Thank you for your support :)

[@FrustratedBaboon]

Hey corvette guy, I am a newbie and just learning may way in. I have big drivers and arduino shields however I am running into trouble with very small micro stepper motors where I cannot turn down the voltage and current to avoid toasting the micro motors. Can you do a video on the micromotors? Or any advice on drivers? Thanks.

[@corvetteguy50]

FrustratedBaboon, Thank you for your support. Unfortunately I don't work with Arduino based systems, and micro motors. Thank you, and Happy New Year! Vince

[@madfish211]

Great videos thank you so much i have learned alot

[@corvetteguy50]

Madfish211, Thank you for your support. I really appreciate it. Have a great weekend! Vince

[@postiemania]

Nice design Vince although I do not use aviation plugs for my cables. My reason is direct connection is better for me as I want IP65 rating. I have no fans either as I use a very large heatsink with temperature monitoring. Your cooling system is very good and I like how you have simplified the construction for ease of maintenance.

[@corvetteguy50]

Robert, thank you for your support, and kind words. Vince

[@warrenmaker798]

hi, love your videos, you are so pro... may I ak why use 72v to the gecko drives when most stepper motors are rated at 50v max.? thanks

[@corvetteguy50]

Hey Warren, thank you for your support. The 72v option for power is designed for use with my motors, however many steppers will support using it. Here's the tutorial on power supply selection from Gecko Drive. SECTION 7: MOTOR HEATING AND POWER SUPPLY VOLTAGE covers it here www.geckodrive.com/support/step-motor-basics.html Overdirve ration is allowable up to 25x the motors rated voltage. Remember more voltage equals better resolution, and more power Thank you, Vince

[@jeffiscool1805]

Wouldn't it be better to have more surface area on your fan filter?. Not judging, just asking. I am using disposable 8"x6" 3M Easy trap duster sheets doubled up for filter media because those foam ones looked way too restrictive. Hey, it works. My repurposed computer case has 4 quality japanese 4" fans. 2 pushing air out of the case and 2 pulling air in. The intake routes cool air across my drivers first. My heatsink/driver base is similiar in size to yours and was salvaged from an old Hitachi stereo. Need all the help I can get with my imported tb6600 drivers. My power supplies (yes 2) are up top as well. Only running two seperate ps's because the pc case supply was almost new and I do not want to run my imported stepper power supply at anywhere near what they claim for output watts. The 12 volt pc ps is all for case fans, stepper fans and led spindle lighting. Big heatsinks with fans for all my nema 23's. Cool electronics are happy electronics. Happy to see my layout is similiar to yours. Good work.

[@corvetteguy50]

Jeff, Thank you for your support. The 60mm metal fan filters are designed around the size of the fans intake which provide perfect filtering, and being their metal have no restriction. You couldn't be more right coll drives are drives that will have the most longevity. Thank you, Vince

[@MuRaT_C]

looks great Vince... if i finish my Projekt i will share it also with everyone. Great job question... i know aviation connectors who you fix it with a quarter turn. every one i see have to screw. do you know which i mean?

[@corvetteguy50]

Murat please do.Yes. The GX-16 connectors are screw lock connectors which at the most safe to use in this type of commercial applications. Typically screwing them together requires nothing more than a full turn, and a half to lock them together,Thank you,Vince

[@MuRaT_C]

corvetteguy50 Ok Thanks... do you know how Ampere that i can pass through this connectors? do change that 3-pin or 8-Pin?

[@corvetteguy50]

The connectors are rated to 380v at 5a. The ones I use are 5 pin to attach the shield drain to the 5th pin as the motors are only 4 pin. I then attach the shield drain to the Earth Ground terminal in the controller to properly diffuse any EMI.Thank you,Vince

[@MuRaT_C]

corvetteguy50 thank you very mutch Vince... regards from switzerland

[@manipulators2007]

Great work!! What breakout board did you use?

[@corvetteguy50]

I used my own 6 axis KISS system. Here's the video link kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4S6i5WGdpWUmpZ9 also offer it in my store here www.ebay.com/itm/6-Axis-Breakout-Board-DIY-Bundle-Watch-the-video-link-to-review-the-difference-/142319224100?ssPageName=STRK:MESE:ITThank you,Vince

[@manipulators2007]

Great! thank you. I promise I will patronize your store

[@PhoKingLitMedia]

Hello I would like to purchase one of your builds to upgrade my shapeoko xxl can you send me information. thank you,

[@corvetteguy50]

Branson, Thank you for your support. Please message me at [e-mail] for a quote. Vince