Those motors have integrated drivers. How are the ones on the machine wired?
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They are the same motors on the machine and they are not wired to anything yet.
Stepper mounted on Y-axis
The original pictured motor is for the Z-axis which I have not installed yet
Hmmm… The X controller has stepper drivers and outputs pulses to steppers. To use those drivers/motors (look like closed loop drivers), you need step and direction info that comes as direct signals from a microcontroller. Was the previous owner using the X controller? What other electronics did you get with it?
I’m assuming he was. I got the x-controller and he gave me 3 “extra” power supplies. There are also 3 or 4 of what looked like some kind of power supply interface PCBs. (I’m out of town atm and can’t go look). But other than that… that’s it. The old stepper motor data cables, cable for the spindle, etc. But no cables that look like they would have gone to these stepper motors.
If he wasn’t using the x-controller, how do you think he would have done it?
I found a wiring tutorial on youtube but it was in German and only further confused me lol.
On a side note, I have tried messaging the seller on Facebook with no response.
I’m guessing he updated from the X controller. The X controller has built in motor drivers that take input from the MCU and output signals directly to the steppers. Your steppers (servo hybrid) have an integrated driver that require the input directly from an MCU. I don’t believe you can use external drivers with the x controller.
The power supplies are most likely for the steppers. Where the specs on the PSUs?
With a different controller that allows for external drivers.
I assumed so. I’m sorry about that.
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I’m Interested to see the back and inside of the X-Controller.
As Neil said, those steppers won’t work with the stock X-Controller, But that’s not to say that the prior owner didn’t gut it and re-use the box and install new controller board, which may explain the extra power supplies…
Here’s a reference to what I suspect may be inside of the X-Controller box: ( from one of Neil’s prior comments even 
) One could wire into Arduino Uno pins 2-7 to be able to use those steppers with integrated drivers **BUT the closed loop part makes it a little more tricky as a 3rd Enable wire is also required (not shown in the wiring schematic, BUT it is present on the Arduino board Pin #8) **
Here’s some data and tons of photos of the internals of the stock X-Controller to kinda compare yours too and provide some guidance (following the assembly guide backwards) on how to open it up.
When I get home today I will get pics of the X-controller.
I really appreciate you guys racking your brains for me.
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These are all of the electronics he gave me.
And here is back and inside of the X-controller
I think @NeilFerreri1 is probably right that he abandoned the X-controller. I’m just surprised he would have all these components loosely laying around and wouldn’t have had some sort of containment for them.
But maybe he did. As I stated in my original post, I think he forgot to give me a box. I was given zero wiring for a setup other than the X-controller.
Well, looks like you have options.
Those (the two that are the same) look like Ethernet CNC controllers… Definitely not Grbl. Maybe Mach 3/4?
I think your 3 power supplies are 5v for the controller, 24v for a spindle ( did you get that too? Looks like some sort of pwm controller for that maybe) and 36v for the steppers.
None of this is standard Xcarve.
It really depends on what you want to do as to what your options are.
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With a VFD?
Well that’ll be the source for connecting things.
What’s the green board with the screw terminals?
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That makes things easier. Are you planning on using Mach3 or Mach4?
What’s your experience level with CNC and digital electronics?
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CNC experience - lvl 0
Digital electronics - lvl 2 of 5
I’m pretty handy and I should be able to get it figured out once I get headed in the right direction.
Mach 3 or 4? At this point I guess it really doesn’t matter. Is one preferred over the other? I would assume Mach4 to be the better option.
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I’d agree.
You’ll set up your pins in the software. Then it’s a matter of connecting your smooth stepper to the motor drivers and any inputs (switches, probes, etc) and outputs (vfd, coolant, etc) and lots of configuration on the PC side.
You’ll probably want to find a different forum for help with those details.
Alternatively, you could sell that stuff, get some stock NEMA 23s (and a couple of dinners at a fancy restaurant) and use the Xcontroller and gain full access to @SethCNC and all of his helpful videos.
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I thought about going back to nema 23s and maybe upgrading to this in the future once I’ve got a grasp of everything. He upgraded from belts to acme screws, would nema 23s be sufficient?
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For sake of simplicity, you could get this (these are the same torque specs used on the newest X-Carve so they wouldn’t overload the controller at all & can push those lead screws just fine):
Nema23 269oz 3 Pack: https://amzn.to/3zIMwAn
Nema23 269oz Single: Amazon.com
Terminal Block: Amazon.com
Order one of Each and you’d be in $120 and you’d just cut off the long connector from the existing cables you were given and use the terminal block to connect the new steppers (they have bare wires at the end but are like half the price of the Inventables ones with their custom long connector).
This would allow you to use the stock X-Controller and not have to worried about any other custom wiring, setting up Mach, and the closed loop stuff.
You could save all of those other electronics in case you wanted to look into that in the future OR sell it off to fund this but you could probably get like $400-500 for those close loop, driver integrated steppers alone, plus those boards and extra power supplies.
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I think that sounds like a good plan.
I really appreciate the guidance from you guys!
@NeilFerreri1 @SethCNC @RussellCrawford
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Will I still be able to use the spindle that I have?
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