Hello everyone; first post here! I am over-researching CNC router table builds and making/pricing out my own for when I am ready to make the plunge. I think I am sold on the Workbee1010 (I was going to get a Shapeoko 3XXL but like this design and...nerd level a bit more). In researching and pricing the build, the "high torque" variant of the NEMA 23 is offered for this, but looking at specs, it doesn't seem like it would run well with the "packaged" CNC xPro V3 controller. The motor's lowest voltage rating is 24V (max of the bundled power supply) and 3A. The standard NEMA 23, has the same voltage range but max of 2.8A, which already seems like is taxing the system (and probably not performing to its max). Looking to run a lot of aluminum projects, I would like the high-torque variants, but this being my first CNC experience I want to keep the build price reasonable and while I dont mind complex, I don't want to go TOO crazy. I am thinking that it may be worth stepping up to a 48V power supply and running an Openbuilds Mk3/4 controller and four DQ542MA drivers (cant quite swing the money for a Gecko540 and its required adapters to not run a parallel port). My fear with this is that limit switches and probing require 12V, and therefore I will need a second power supply for the controller as well (though if I am wrong, please let me know). Anyway, long question longer...anyone running setups like this and what are your results? Thanks!
You can run those same DQ542MA drivers using a $20 arduino board. I suggest a real one not a clone. For the price of the entire build, $12 more for a genuine Arduino is not a lot to spend for peace of mind in quality. I tried a cloned board first. I had problems. I replaced it with a genuine and have had no issues since. That is just my 2 cents. Here is how you hook it up: gnea/grbl
I have been looking at that option as well; I am probably wrong, but is it only capable of 3-axis and 3 limit switches? The Workbee1010 lead screw variant has four motors, so I would need the 4th axis ability (cloned or otherwise) and it would be nice to have four limit switch pins/ports (and the ability to run 8 limit switches). Would I be able to do all that with an Arduino and shield/hat?
There are only three axis (X,Y,Z). An Arduino will work for controlling the Workbee. If you want limit switches on all three axis (six switches), wire them like this: gnea/grbl. Both Y axis get their signals from the same pin (cloned). You do not need a shield with the Arduino to control the four DQ542MA drivers. However, a screw shield makes the connections easier. I used one similar to this in my build. https://www.amazon.com/Aideepen-Ass...45015745&sr=8-4&keywords=arduino+screw+shield Read through that entire GRBL wiki. It will answer most questions you have regarding using GRBL.
Also, check out the lower part of this post by Kyo. It has the diagrams for connection the arduino to the driver. C-Beam cnc
