Anyone recognize this motor?

[GOC]

Which is what I said worded in a different way.

- I'm sorry about that, I misinterpreted your reply. I though it was implying that you could run 24v across a lower voltage stepper motor (ie: 5v) without any efficiency reduction.

[Mjolinor]

- I'm sorry about that, I misinterpreted your reply. I though it was implying that you could run 24v across a lower voltage stepper motor (ie: 5v) without any efficiency reduction.

You can use a 24 volt supply with a 5 volt stepper without any damage at all. This is achieved by regulating the current with the stepper driver adjustment to a value that the 5 volt motor can handle, the stepper driver will regulate the voltage to 5 volts automatically, that is the whole reason to use current controlled drivers.

[GOC]

Good info, I will have to do some playing around with my multimeter. I guess I still got some learning to do.

[Mjolinor]

Assuming the correct motor type, eg: 6 wire, 4 wire, 8 wire then the questions in the correct order are:

Is the motor the right size physically?
Does the motor have suitable torque?
Is the specified current of the motor within the adjustment range of the stepper driver?
Is the specified voltage of the motor lower than or equal to my power supply?

[BLKKROW]

Assuming the correct motor type, eg: 6 wire, 4 wire, 8 wire then the questions in the correct order are:

Is the motor the right size physically?
Does the motor have suitable torque?
Is the specified current of the motor within the adjustment range of the stepper driver?
Is the specified voltage of the motor lower than or equal to my power supply?

So where should I begin?

My motor is the right size, but I have no info on the previous motor.

Would measuring the current while the machine is on, help? If so would you place the multimeter in the same place to check voltage?

After some research I purchased the motor (12V 0.4A) from the link below:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/331084351443...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

So after reading the responses above and trying to remember my electricity and magnetism physics. It sounds like them motor I purchased has low torque and draws low amps, compared to what was originally in the machine?

After more research I have found that the board to control everything is based on the Makerbot MightyBoard:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:16058/#files

[oklok]

looks like Steppar 42!?

[BLKKROW]

I do believe its a Nema 17 motor.

Any input on what I should purchase? I feel like the current motor I have has a low amperage, compared to what the stepper drive is delivering. So it is then overheating.

[Mjolinor]

Adjust the current

On the mighty board you can do this in software.

In your Gcode you should have a line like this:
G130 X0 Y0 A0 B0; set stepper motor vref to lower value while heating

Later in your Gcode you should have this:
G130 X127 Y127 A127 B127; set stepper motor vref to defaults

The first line turns off the steppers and the second line turns them on again.

If you change the second occurrence of the line to:
G130 X64 Y127 A127 B127

it will drop the current for the X stepper to about half what it was.

The lower you make it the lower the current will be but also you will lose power so probably you cannot print as fast as you could. Try lots fof increasing values until you get a reasonable speed without skipping steps. Once you get there make sure the stepper is not getting too hot.

[Mjolinor]

Those lines should be in your start.gcode so you can save the value you decide on to make it permanent.

[BLKKROW]

This is the beginning of the Gcode that I have. I see the first option you mentioned but not the second. Where should I add it?

Never mind I see it now! Right now its set at Y127. Its the Y motor that is over heating. So should I lower it to Y100?