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Need help / advise using servos for 3D printer

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(@mnewhart)
Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 2
Topic starter  

Hi everyone. This is my first post other than my introduction. I have a set of X, Y, and Z servo powered ball screws attached to machine ways that I salvaged from an optical measuring machine. I would like to use these to build a DIY 3D printer. I don't have a lot of experience with motor controllers so I was hoping to tap the expertise of the folks on this forum. The attached pics are what I'm trying to work with. All three servos are identical and appear to have brushes. At this point I'm just looking for Ideas and a place to start regarding a compatible controller & software setup. I'm assuming that the setup will have to be suitable to also run a stepper motor for the printer extruder speed control. My initial question is: can anyone here tell by looking at the closeup pic of the servo motor nomenclature tag what type of controller board and software I should be looking for?

 Thanks Much!

Manny

 

IMG 0667
IMG 0669
IMG 0668

 


   
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(@zeferby)
Member
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 355
 

Hum, wondering...

Every setup for 3D-printing I've seen has been based on stepper motors.

Eric


   
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(@pugwash)
Sorcerers' Apprentice
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 923
 

I don't honestly think these motors are suitable for use in a 3D printer. Why?

Because the stepper motors that @zeferby mentions can be very accurately controlled, but there doesn't seem to be a way of getting the position feedback needed by the microcontroller from the servo motors.

But there may be a solution, by attaching a rotary encoder to each shaft.

As this is a non-standard method, then you would need to construct your own controller and program it.


   
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(@mnewhart)
Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 2
Topic starter  

Thanks for replay, it made me take a closer look. I have never seen an NC ball screw operated machine without a rotary encoder either. So, what I found is that this uses a "sealed linear encoder rail" that works in conjunction with a sensor located on the movable part of the way (see pic with red arrow). Looking at the tag for the rail I found that the company that makes them is still around and still sells them. With any luck, maybe they have some insight on a modern controller that could be compatible. I'll give them a call tomorrow. Just for giggles I added a pick of the ancient tech controller boards that this machine came with. The three boards are about a foot long each and over an inch thick! Seems like they are from the 1990s. At one point I thought I had got lucky and found a rotary encoder tucked away on the Z axis but it turned out to be an inertia brake ? (last two pics)

Manny

mag strip
IMG 0683
IMG 1626
IMG 0684
IMG 0685

 

This post was modified 4 years ago by MNewhart

   
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