Are the Motor Driver PTH's too small?

Happy New Year

I have purchased what I believed to the latest from the 3DChameleon githuib repository. I've purchased both the A4988 and DRV9925 drivers. I have a couple of questions.

Which of the two drivers, A4988 or DRV9925, is the preferred or correct driver board to use?
Is there any change, parameter, variable in the code that specifies which stepper driver to use (A4988, DRV9925)?
It seems a correction is needed in the gerber files to increase the platted through holes, PTHs, for the stepper-motor drivers. Or do I need to locate a compatible 2x8 socket that I can solder into the board?

I could probably force the driver PCB through, then attempt solder, but that does not seem right.

Any advise would be welcomed from anyone that has gone through this board stuffing exercise. Thanks in advance!

2025/01/23 - Any thoughts? Anyone?

2025/02/19 - In viewing the gerber files (with gerbv) from github, they appear to be smaller. Perhaps the board fab uses a different file for tool to use. BTW - I am not challenging the design., rather I am asking whether these boards look correct, and if not is there a recommended work around.

2025/02/20 - I am not belaboring this issue, but am compelled to illustrate what I have here, to share with this community. I am able to reconcile there are 26x0.047000in holes and 32x0.032000in holes specified in the Drill_PTH_Through and Drill_PTH_Through_Via DRL files from github. I'll figure out a workaround, and may or may not post it here. It is clear to me the proper drill was used per the callout.

2 comments

2 Comments

Bill

Feb 19

Considering that over 3000 units were sold of just the Mk4 alone (and over 10000 since the first Mk2 that used this board design), I'd say it's not an issue with the design. Perhaps the board house messed them up, or the drill file was not followed. Looking at the holes in your board, the all the other holes look correct, but those do look smaller, but they should all be the same size.

Bill

truegret

Feb 19

Replying to

Thanks for the response. I do appreciate greatly it.

I obviously realize there were many units sold, and likely without issue. I simply followed the guidelines of making the purchase, uploaded the gerber package, and received the boards (5 minimum rqd for the order). In looking at the files with gerbv (gerber file viewer) they (see attached) appear to be smaller. That's not my area of expertise, but observation. I downloaded the gerber files from github

Given all that, I could not imagine the board fab (JLCPCB) place getting it wrong.

Backstory: I've followed you for yrs, and weighing whether to pull the trigger and purchase a Chameleon for my CR10S, but it was ~ the same price. Obviously a better option/$/deal than a Palette or AMS. When I finally decided to pull the trigger, you stopped (I think it is a good move for you and the community) selling them ... I jump in and give it a go to "build my own".

Thanks again, Bill. I appreciate what you do for the community. Cheers