Hello!

Just got through my new Gen6 board and I have a question. I am using a normal DC motor for the extruder and was hoping that I could use the Gen6 board to drive the DC motor. However, the extruder motor control looks like it is another port for a stepper motor. Is there a way I can either convert the extruder stepper motor output on the board to work with a DC motor or write some custom firmware to support this? I guess I am hoping that someone else has already done such a thing....

any help would be much appreciated.

best regards
me

I am sorry, GEN6 is not designed for DC motor control.

It is possible to use some spare IO (I2C connector for example) to do this, but you'll have to write the firmware yourself.

May I suggest that you build a stepper extruder? I personally think that this has a lot more control and quality than an open-loop DC motor.

Hello,

Thanks for your reply. I have been looking at stepper motors that could replace the GM3 motor I originally have. The extruder i have built is the ponoko laser cut reprap extruder. If i can find a stepper motor which is small and yet powerful enough to replace it then I am laughing. If anyone has done this upgrade please let me know as I would like to know which stepper motor you used. I agree that the stepper motor extruder gives much better control. The trouble is I am nearing completion of the project so need a motor ASAP!

I didnt know which electronics driver board I would be using when I started so I kept everything standard to the instructions. oh well only £8 down the drain and I can use the GM3 for something else...

Which stepper motor to use that will fit comfortably and be powrful enough?

The below link is the one which i have built...
http://reprap.org/wiki/PonokoExtruderAssembly

Many thanks and any further help is much appreciated.