Closed loop motors for the apprentice?

Apprentice Series (Gen 2)
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Hi, noting that closed loop motors are on the elite series, will closed loop be offered for the apprentice as an option? Thanks.

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Interesting question/request. From what I understand, although compact in size it looks to be a very capable CNC, but configured intentionally so that it can be offered at a lower price point. Its controller and wiring therefore are specifically for open loop stepper motors.

I think the only way to get a closed loop system would be through a full upgrade kit that would replace just about everything except the basic CNC frame/linear motion hardware. It is likely not worth Onefinity’s investment to develop such a kit, and it would not be for quite some time if at all as these machines are just being launched. Still, Onefinity has a proven history of offering upgrade paths to its customers, so …:grin:

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Thanks and do get your point re an upgrade kit. Perhaps better and cheaper if had made closed loop standard in the first place? With open loop I guess need more care with feeds and speeds.

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Less expensive - which would be true when compared to any upgrade kit, but the new cost of such a closed loop Apprentice would likely be significantly more than its current price. At any rate, I imagine it was meant to be a very capable entry level machine for those just starting out in the hobby or those whose work flows/jobs are suited to the small form factor.

I believe that when intelligent and appropriate machining parameters are used, an open loop system can perform equally to a closed loop system.

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Understood. Yes, a much higher price might defeat the purpose. Thanks.

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The whole “closed loop” stepper stuff is pretty new in the hobby industry, I’ve run many hobby machine for many years with “open loop” steppers and have had no problems. I have the Masso Woodworker today and not sure I have seen any benefit, maybe I run too conservatively, I generally run speeds and feed that “sound” right as many others do.

My 2 cents

Pat

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Add my 2 cents in agreement and we’ve almost got a nickel’s worth :grinning_face:

When I was teaching I’d get the same question about “how am I going to get good results without the better technology?” whether it was open vs closed loop steppers or routers vs spindles (or 110V spindles vs 240V spindles). I’d point out that before there was that new technology, millions of projects were successfully completed using the old technology. I’d point out that CNC was a “new" technology compared to using hand tools yet no one is suggesting traditional woodworkers can’t make great things with their "old” technology.

I’d also note that in all the projects I’ve ever had screw up, for every one that would have been prevented by the new tech, there were 10 that would have been prevented by my being more careful and paying more attention to what I was doing.

Yeah, I’ve screwed up an inlay in a $100 end grain cutting board but it wasn’t scrap - I just sliced off the top 1/4 inch and my cutting board became an inch & 3/4 instead of 2 inches. No one knew but me. You can recover from mistakes and oftentimes a screw up (machine or operator’s fault) doesn’t always make scrap :blush:

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The more users vote for this feature, the higher up the priority list it is for us :slight_smile: