I know very little about motor drivers in production applications. Is the integration of a TB6560 board for driving a 2.8A NEMA23 stepper motor advisable in consumer production? Unless certs and codes directly impact the use of this board in consumer production, I'd like to not consider them as a point of discussion in this thread please.
Of course my question depends on the application and system requirements: I need reliability for fail-safety, heat & surge protection in a setting with non-continuous use of the motor (10 seconds of continuous run before a timer or limit switch (redundant defense) turns off the motor. At maximum, < 1% of use cases would not require longer than 3 minutes of total motor run time thought any given day.
TLDR - If TB6560 is not sufficient for use in consumer home products, then would I be better off making my own PCB design of the TB6560 that includes my requirements of heat & surge protection or should I invest in a higher quality driver (Massmind, Leadshine, Stepperonline, etc.)
bengine45:
Of course my question depends on the application and system requirements: I need reliability for fail-safety, heat & surge protection in a setting with non-continuous use of the motor (10 seconds of continuous run before a timer or limit switch (redundant defense) turns off the motor. At maximum, < 1% of use cases would not require longer than 3 minutes of total motor run time thought any given day.
If his was my project and reliability mattered (and it seems to be a key requirement) I would choose a stepper driver that could comfortably operate the motor 24/7
bengine45:
I know very little about motor drivers in production applications. Is the integration of a TB6560 board for driving a 2.8A NEMA23 stepper motor advisable in consumer production? Unless certs and codes directly impact the use of this board in consumer production, I'd like to not consider them as a point of discussion in this thread please.
Of course my question depends on the application and system requirements: I need reliability for fail-safety, heat & surge protection in a setting with non-continuous use of the motor (10 seconds of continuous run before a timer or limit switch (redundant defense) turns off the motor. At maximum, < 1% of use cases would not require longer than 3 minutes of total motor run time thought any given day.
TLDR - If TB6560 is not sufficient for use in consumer home products, then would I be better off making my own PCB design of the TB6560 that includes my requirements of heat & surge protection or should I invest in a higher quality driver (Massmind, Leadshine, Stepperonline, etc.)
For any discussion of consumer products, you need to identify the country you are in and the country you plan on marketing to.
For anything relating to production, you have to have a sure, continuously available source for all components of your product. One piece of your puzzle becoming obsolete or becoming not available, or the specifications of the piece has changed, means you have to start over and find a replacement and integrate it into your original design.
Paul
bengine45:
It can provide up to 3 amps.
Marketing in the USA starting out. I would eventually expand to Canada and Europe afterward.
Then your device will have to be FCC certified and if you are using a lines powered powered power supply that is NOT plug connected to your device, your device will also have to be UL certified.
Paul
Paul_KD7HB:
Then your device will have to be FCC certified and if you are using a lines powered powered power supply that is NOT plug connected to your device, your device will also have to be UL certified.
Paul
Acknowledged.. So how about the prospect of TB6560 used in industry?
bengine45:
Acknowledged.. So how about the prospect of TB6560 used in industry?
"Industry" would never use a part that was not available through a reliable source such as Digikey, Mouser, or similar distributors. They ALWAYS show when a device is obsolete and if you are a regular buyer, will notify you when your device is becoming obsolete so you can plan for it. The TB6560 could disappear tomorrow.
"Industry" will take the time to build a board that fits their requirements. Something like a TB6560 would be used in prototyping a new product, but no where else.
Paul
Better off making your own board then, and retain complete control.
Schematic on page 29 of datasheet is not complex.
I could the electrical/mechanical footprints done in a couple of hours, have to make a few decisions on fuse rating, board size, connector types, be all done before the 2nd playoff game today.
Paul_KD7HB:
Exactly! But the OP is looking to buy complete boards using that device, over which he will have NO control.
Paul
This! Thank you both.
To make sure I understand you right, even though this stepper motor drive is from Digikey, you're saying that most players in industry would still design their own version for control and due to the fact that this drive from a could become obsolete?
bengine45:
This! Thank you both.
To make sure I understand you right, even though this stepper motor drive is from Digikey, you're saying that most players in industry would still design their own version for control and due to the fact that this drive from a could become obsolete?
Most designers like to have as much on a single board as possible to minimize the assembly cost.
Paul
bengine45:
To make sure I understand you right, even though this stepper motor drive is from Digikey, you're saying that most players in industry would still design their own version for control and due to the fact that this drive from a could become obsolete?
You are posing questions without telling us the quantities you need.
How many copies of your product are you hoping to sell each year and for how many years do you need to keep selling it in order to break even?
Can you be certain of sourcing a sufficient number of components for that production run.
There is a huge difference between producing 50 items total and producing 10,000 per year for 3 years.
The driver in your link is a complete unit that is connected with screw terminals. That might make it easier to substitute an alternative if supply were to dry up - compared with having to redesign a PCB. But substitutes might be more expensive and undermine the economics of your project.