Why are 3D printers still stuck on stepper motors? Why haven’t we transitioned to servo motors with encoder feedback for positioning?

Is it just too cost prohibitive for the consumer-level? We would be able to print a lot faster and more accurately if we had position feedback on the axes. Instead we just rely blindly on the stepper not skipping any steps when we tell it to move, hoping for the best.

  • rambos@lemm.eeEnglish
    2·
    1 year ago

    But steppers can also be servo driven if encoder is providing feedback. Right?

    Im not expert, but afaik servo driven DC motor is more expensive and more complex to drive compared to stepper motor approch. I think we also need open source firmware that supports servo control (maybe it exists already Im not sure)

    • FuglyDuck@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      back in the day before BLtouch existed, my printer used a servo to deploy a bed probe. Marlin definitely can control a servo. (That was on a ramps board with no extra shields, too)

      • cynar@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        1 year ago

        That’s a big difference between deploying a probe and handing the dynamic deceleration required for a high speed gantry move.