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International Links
19:30 24/04/2006 |
International Suppliers
Gecko drives (CNC motor drivers)
My first driver was cheap and was I ever sorry for it. A nightmare of trouble-shooting missed steps, noise, and EMF later.. and I
realised that a good quality driver is the heart of a good CNC system. Gecko really are IMHO a top choice for the hobbiest. They're a bit pricey but infinitely reliable, well-built and modular. It might come as a surprise that Gecko actually provides
units OEM to real CNC manafacturers - so it's very good that we can get them at such a considerably low price (check out the generic brand of drivers sometimes and you'll see what I mean...) They make great stepper drivers, and also a servo driver that acts like a stepper (you can move it in discrete "steps") but doesn't stall like a stepper if it falls behind.
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UK Links
12:20 PM 4/19/2006 |
UK Online Suppliers
Chester UK (Machine tools / lathes / mills)
A machine company based in (surprisingly) Chester, UK. They are the lowest priced for new import (chinese)
machine tools. I bought my Eagle-25 vertical mill and
my lathe from here and am very happy with their service. Their web
prices include both VAT and delivery and significantly undercut anyone else in price. A big temptation
(and my first mistake) is to try and buy some old "used quality machine" on EBay rather than going for
"those cheap new Chinese machines" - the truth of the matter is that these machines are very well-made,
and probably are going to be a lot more accurate than the worn-out POS you picked up (unless you're
very lucky, or payed a lot, or both)
Chronos Ltd (Cutters / Fixtures / ModEng / Metal)
These guys are great! Mainly a model engineering supply place - lots of varied items for your lathe
and mill: a bewildering selection of "things you'd really love to buy!" Includes cutters, toolposts,
and some really useful things you didn't know existed. Also does small off-cuts of metal
in various forms and materials (brass/bronze/steel etc).
RDG tools (Cutters / Fixtures / ModEng)
Lots of really good tools, a varied selection of items and accessories (including cutting tools)
for lathes and mills. Very good bargains are to be found here, as well as a smattering of the
lesser seen varieties of tools. Well priced rotary tables and indexable lathe tools.
Arc Euro Trade (CNC/Cutters / Fixtures / ModEng)
A model engineering and machines accessories site with a CNC twist. They sell bearings of many different
kinds (angular contact which are needed if you want to use ballscrews..) as well as (as far as I know) the
cheapest stepper motors and drivers you can buy new in the UK. Another pleasant surprise is their cheap
dovetail and T-slot milling cutters.
RS-Online (Electronics / Automation / Industrial)
A massive online (and realworld) supplier of electronics, industrial, and automation supplies. Pricey!
But very good components - also probably the finest E-commerce company I've had the pleasure of
dealing with. Orders always arrive the next day. Requires registering, but has a lot of datasheets
on all components and products. Probably a bit expensive to try and build your robots from their
motors and drivers though, but for all the electronics, power-supply and other such needs (even
cutting tools) they're fantastic.
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