My z motor is slipping steps after I added some extra stiffening to the z access on my lowrider 2. I am using nema 17 steppers with my skr pro 1.2 board. Can I swap them out for nema 23 and still use the 2209 drivers that I have? Just wondering if I have to add separate drivers for them. I have a 12 v 16 amp power supply.
You can use TMC 2209 drivers with your NEMA 23 steppers, but it is likely the NEMA 23 steppers could take significantly more current than the TMC 2209 can provide, largely negating the reason to go to NEMA 23 steppers in the first place. Stepper drivers limit the current going to the stepper motor. The TMC 2209 drivers have a maximum of 2.8A Max and 2.0A RMS on the current. I’m guessing that, if you ran them up to the limit, you would have overheating issues, so probably 85% of max is safe. Going with NEMA 23 steppers will require you to rework parts of your Lowrider.
I’ve seen Lowriders shown on this forum with larger routers and other changes that increase Z mass still run successfully with NEMA 17 motors, so before jumping on the NEMA 23s, consider.
- Make sure you don’t have any binding or friction associated with your Z movements. It is common to see issues on the forum of lost Z steps being solved by addressing binding and lubing issues.
- Check your grub screws on the connectors between the Z steppers and the lead screws.
- Make sure you are limiting your Z feedrate to something appropriate for your machine. The max feedrate for Z is less than the belt-driven X and Y.
- Changing to a 1-start lead screws will increase your Z torque by 4X at the cost of max Z feedrate. This assumes you are using the common 4-start leads screws now.
- Replace your power supply with a 24V power supply. This can help for steps lost during quick (rapid) movements.
- Upgrade your NEMA 17 steppers. NEMA 17 steppers with 84oz.in of holding torque are common these days, and steppers with 100oz.in are available.
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I put a very heavy vise on my Z and it still lifts it with nema17 and tmc drivers. It should have plenty of power with the stock drivers and settings. Something is probably wrong.
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@jeffeb3, using 4-start lead screw with 12v PSU and Steppers from V1E store, or Steppers with the same rating as V1E’s?
Here is what I am using
STEPPERONLINE 5PCS Nema 17 Stepper Motor Bipolar 2A 84oz.in 48mm 4-Lead.
BTF-LIGHTING AC100-240V to DC12V16.5A Max198W Suit for DC12V 1A~16A Switching Power Supply
If I supply a slight pressure upward it never skips. It’s right on the edge of working/ not working.
Here’s what I am thinking will work. Similar current ratings but more torque. I will print some remixed xz brackets to fit.
I honestly don’t know what steppers they are. I bought them from Ryan about 5 years ago.
I am using 24VDC, but only because I had the psu and had no where else to use it. If doesn’t increase the torque at low speeds.