I'm only in the initial planning of building a RepRap, but one thing that strikes me is that the z-axis doesn't need to be as fast as the x- and y-axis. Lurking around the forums, it looks like there are a lot of ideas are out there for replacing the expensive stepper motors, so I thought I'd throw anther one out: use a simple DC motor with a screw drive on the z-axis. Then at least you only need two steppers instead of three. https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,12782,12782#msg-12782 Thu, 08 Oct 2026 03:00:41 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,12782,12799#msg-12799 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,12782,12799#msg-12799 Forrest Higgs Mechanics Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:53:33 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,12782,12796#msg-12796 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,12782,12796#msg-12796 But if you feel more comfortable using a dc motor with encoder then there is no reason that it cannot be done. You will wind up with the same resolution and
probably the same speed.

Personally I hate mixing steppers and constant dc motors in the same application. Having both means that you have to have 2 different types of drive components which means more thought has to go into the boards.]]> criswilson10 Mechanics Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:32:48 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,12782,12788#msg-12788 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,12782,12788#msg-12788 Forrest Higgs Mechanics Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:32:39 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,12782,12787#msg-12787 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,12782,12787#msg-12787
Demented]]> Demented Chihuahua Mechanics Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:22:25 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,12782,12782#msg-12782 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,12782,12782#msg-12782 Anonymous User Mechanics Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:00:15 -0400