"Richard J Kinch" wrote in message
. ..
Mike Young writes:

Why servos for hobbyist CNC? What benefits
do you gain for the added cost and complexity?

Superior characteristics and performance, less cost.

Hence the question. "Hobby" range PMDC motors cost about twice as much as
"hobby" steppers of roughly equal speed and torque. Simpler drives can be
used with steppers, and the encoder is optional. So what are the superior
characteristics? The only that comes to mind is static current draw for
steppers; they draw power just sitting still. That seems to be of very
little consequence.


Steppers made sense only when encoders and digital servo controllers were
expensive. Encoders and controllers are cheap now, so steppers are
obsolete, except for the smallest and lowest-torque applications.