i have a y-axis stepper that is failing, looking into some of the stepper online ones but is seems none are sealed at the higher torque end of nema 23.
i am currently in the process of building a new control box using a linuxcnc type control. already have all of the components mounted just need to finish the wiring. have 7a capable drivers for x and z and5.5 for y and a. 48v supply. the control board i have is capable of reading encoders if that is an option.
You can use Nema 34 steppers if you are more easily able to find what you need there. I’m using a Nema 34 servo for my Z axis on my LinuxCNC conversion. I don’t run flood coolant, so I haven’t had the same requirement around waterproofing.
Have you considered servos? I’ve heard good things about these units, but have no personal experience with them. I picked an arbitrary one here, you might want to consider the 750W or other options.
I run my machine on Clearpath servos. I found some lightly used ones for a reasonable price on eBay. However my Clearpath servos are the IP54 models, not the IP67 that you’d probably want.
Most modern servos support step/dir control and self tune their PID loops (rather than running the encoder back to the control system). This means that you can run them off of control boards designed for steppers. I’m using a MESA 7i96S on my MR-1 conversion.
If you switch to (clearpath) servos you wont need the driver in the control panel, makes things much tidier.
Agreed, my box is a lot cleaner with Clearpath servos. You just need a power supply for them.
We’re both running IP54 versions of Clearpath (with the Molex JR connectors). The IP67 ones have waterproof M12 connectors and are less common.
That is pretty clean with the Masso, but where is your spindle drive? Here is my box for LinuxCNC:
for now i am just looking for a replacement. in the future i might try something more fancy if i can get a better handle on linuxcnc(i struggle with coding language)
i started the build on the other control box about 9 months ago got busy this summer and it got side tracked and havent touched it in about 6 months. already have all the hardware necessary. waiting for trixie to be released as bookworm didn’t work completely with mini pc as it is too new had to force a newer kernel into it which broke other things.
for the time being i would like to keep the new box plug compatible with factory so i can switch out if this becomes a paperweight. currently the “a” controller is in the langmuir box as i had one fail.
on a side note i have modified the probe to get 5v off the body if anyone is interested.
That makes sense. I didn’t love the GX connectors, so I switched everything over to pre-molded M12 connectors which made nothing plug compatible.
I’m curious to see your probe fix, and if you also fixed the tool setter. I had a fix but it was partial and still caused problems. I’ve since just moved to better quality (but still cheap) probe and tool setter.
LinuxCNC does have a pretty steep learning curve, especially on the HAL files. It totally makes sense that a lot of people are choosing simpler Masso systems instead, despite the cost. I personally like LinuxCNC, but I have a HW/SW background and am comfortable with the coding – but can admit that it’s going to be challenging for a lot of folks.
I think you went with the same one I did from memory, albeit with a different mount.
@ashford I have all my original motors, with very little use if you want to cover postage for a Y motor..
Yes, I use the same tool setter. I mounted it off of the edge of the pan though, and use leveling screws to support it against the concrete. This mounting system was one of the first mods that I did on the machine and it is great because it leaves the entire table open for work.
i may take you up on that. i cant seem to find one on langmuirs website.
They do sell them, you need to contact them directly.
I second that request to see your probe mod. BUT to respond to your original question (I too am looking for an upgraded Stepper that is more waterproof). I found these…
Possible Upgraded X Motor NEMA 23-Stepperonline.com
and this
These are interesting because they are marketed as CLOSED LOOP motors. I assume that if you wanted to run them Open loop you just don’t connect the encoder. The Closed Loop would require the purchase/install of a special driver that accommodates the Encoder.
I am really curious if these would be a less expensive solution than the ClearPath. Don’t get me wrong- I’ve used the Tecnik ClearPath motors before and they are fantastic- but they ain’t cheap. A Motor is like $280 then you need a power supply- another $100 (it will handle 2 motors), then theres the cables (power and encoder) those are another $100 ea per motor. So it’s basically about $500 per motor ($1500 for all 3 X&Y) to do the ClearPath route as opposed to these Steppers @ $70 ea and a Driver $20 so $300 vs $1500. That’s a BIG diff.
I guess I’ll give em a go when I have a minute to stop makin chips! In the meantime if anyone else has any thoughts. suggestions or advice let’s have it.
thanks for that i didnt know they had a seperate section for ip65 motors. looks like i will have to goto a nema24 for the torque though. does anyone have the dimensions for the mr1 mounts? will need to remake for nema24.
i put up my probe findings here https://forum.langmuirsystems.com/t/isolating-probe-body-from-5v/45971
Are you having a lot of trouble with missed steps on the stock steppers? I’m not sure that closed loop is as big of a help with steppers as it is with servos since most closed loop steppers just error out on following errors rather than trying to correct. I got good results from my MR-1 by upgrading the stepper drives but keeping the stock motors and running them open loop – I was able to reliably run the machine at 300ipm X/Y and 150ipm Z this way (under LinuxCNC).
There are also budget servos available. I’ve heard that the StepperOnline A6 series is pretty good, but I have no personal experience with them. They would be about $200/axis, but would be a larger wiring project.
Personally I’m very happy with my Clearpath upgrade and found good deals on lightly used ones on eBay. Every motor has a date stamped on it, so you can get an idea of how old they might be. I spent about $1000 on servos for my 4-axis (5 servo) machine, with an oversized NEMA 34 motor on my Z. This included buying two used Teknic IPC-5 power supplies. It would have been about twice as expensive new. The advanced autotuning and simple wiring of the Clearpath servos make them a no-brainer for me.
I never heard about a Nema 24 size prior to seeing these motors. So, I did a little research and the 24 is ALMOST the same as a 23. It’s just slightly larger and a few sites say that a 24 will fit where a 23 is used. I guess it would depend on the tolerances of the mounting flange bolt pattern holes (i.e. oversized enough to accomodate a slightly larger motor. Some of the dimensional drawings I’ve seen list the mounting bolt pattern at 47.14mm while others show 50mm. So if there is a 3mm difference I think it should still fit the existing mounting flange on the MR-1.
I got info on the Steppers that Langmuir ships with the MR-1. It says that 2x 420 0z/in and 1x 280 Oz/in are used (see attached screenshot). So yeah, I think you’re correct the NEMA 24 with 424.92 Oz/in are the ticket for the Y motors and I think the NEMA 23 with 283.22 Oz/in will do nicely for the X.
Thanks for posting that info- gonna check it out now!
Unfortunately NEMA 24 steppers won’t fit on a NEMA 23 bracket. They are close but aren’t the same, NEMA 23 is 57mm square and NEMA 24 is 60mm square. NEMA names are approximately 10x larger than motor size (so NEMA 23 is 2.3 inches square) – but being SAE it’s close but not exact.
I’m using one of those NEMA 24 closed loop steppers on my lathe’s electronic leadscrew and had to redesign my bracket when moving from a NEMA 23 stepper that I prototyped with.
GREAT info Alex! Thank you Sir! How do you like the performance of the closed loop NEMA 24 that you have on the Lathe? Would you reccomend?
I don’t think I can give an accurate review. It lives an easy life running at low speeds and fairly low torque, and is probably overspec’d. It’s been reliable for the 5 years that I’ve had it, I just don’t push it hard.
The Clearpath servos are great because you can get good telemetry back from them, which is very helpful in seeing how hard you are driving and how much harder you might be able to push them. The closed loop steppers don’t have any of those features. This is also why the Clearpath self-tuning is so good.
Yeah Man, I KNOW those ClearPath’s are THE BOMB- They just so freakin expensive! Thanks for the info!
