Controller hardware suggestions for first DIY build

I am looking for electronic hardware suggestions for my first DIY build. This build will be used to control a 4x4 plasma table. The table is currently equipped with four 300oz motors left over from a CandCNC system. There are no other electronics with this table, as I moved them to my new table.

Where to start? Seems like the Mesa 7i96 is super popular. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed, but don't want to haul off and buy something incompatible. Thanks in advance!

Try this shopping list.

1 x Mesa 7i96,
1 x THCAD-5 (for 50:1 divider) or THCAD-10 for others,
1 x thcad-5 for ohmic sensing (Hypersensing)
Mesa DIN rail mounts
Mesa Common x 2 bus rail with their din Rail mount
1 x 2 amp 24v Meanwell DIN RAIL power supply for field power
1 x 2 amp or similar 5v power supply for logic
1 Meanwell HDR 15-24 isolated power supply for ohmic sensing
1 x 25 k 5 Watt resistor for ohmic sensing
1 x 390k resistor for ohmic sensing
3 x 90 ohm x 5 W power resistors for reliable arc OK
An IEC connector with built in RFI filter for mains power input
Stepper motor power supply to suit
Stepper drives to suit.
Mains fuse,
estop switch
Odroid H2+ with 4 gb RAM (8gb optional)

You might use some relays but really the 7i96 has them built in so there is no need to add more components and failure points.

rodw wrote:

Stepper motor power supply to suit
Stepper drives to suit.
Mains fuse,
estop switch
Odroid H2+ with 4 gb RAM (8gb optional)

What stepper drives would you suggest? My current CandCNC has Gecko G251s ... I think. What would you go with for stepper PSU and stepper drives?

I have a similiar PC that I plan to run Mint 19.3 on. I was thinking I should start by getting the motors to move properly before diving in any further.

Thanks again!

I'm using Lam Technologies but I don't think there is a US supplier.
Paired with 64 volt AC toroid
do you have a link to a drive data sheet?

www.geckodrive.com/support/g251x-rev-9.html

The LAM documentation is really nice, if my machine work i pretend use it now im using cheap stuff from aliexpress

txtrone wrote:

www.geckodrive.com/support/g251x-rev-9.html

Sorry, I should have asked for a link to motors. Mainly to work out the voltage you need.

All I see on the motor is '60HS66DF1T'

Their is not a whole lot of info about it on CandCNCs website either:
www.candcnc.net/store-home/300oz-motor/

Normally if a motor has no data sheets, I'd say buy another motor but heck you have got them now.
I would probably get Longs Motor DM542A drives

The G251x is limited to 50 volts. So get a 10 amp 48 volt Meanwell Switch mode power supply.

I know those drives work well and are hard to kill as I originally used them on my machine. I ran them with a Mesa card with 20x stepping

If you still have the G251's see if you can measure the current limiting resistor to see what amperage they were running the motors at and set the drives up for that. at a guess, they will be in the 2.8 to 3.2 amp range.

The G251x is limited to 50 volts. So get a 10 amp 48 volt Meanwell Switch mode power supply.

I would not use 48V on a 50V drive. The back EMF could kill them.

40v would be safer. Just my opinion