Those are great if they’re in your overall budget. Depending on machine layout you could need 4 of those. Spending $400 on motors alone puts this firmly in the very expensive end of the hobby CNC spectrum.
The closed loop functionality will never come into play with properly sized motors, though.
If the machine gets to the point where the closed loop function is trying to make up for lost steps, it’s almost certainly because something has gone wrong (crashed machine into workpiece, for example). At that point, it’s actually better to halt the machine and alert the operator, which is what a lot of people end up using closed loop stepper feedback for.
New Trinamic stepper drivers have some built in functionality to detect stalled steppers, which can be used for the same effect.
Closed loop steppers definitely aren’t bad, but they’re not a must-have for hobby machines.
The closed loop functionality will never come into play with properly sized motors, though.
If the machine gets to the point where the closed loop function is trying to make up for lost steps, it’s almost certainly because something has gone wrong (crashed machine into workpiece, for example). At that point, it’s actually better to halt the machine and alert the operator, which is what a lot of people end up using closed loop stepper feedback for.
New Trinamic stepper drivers have some built in functionality to detect stalled steppers, which can be used for the same effect.
Closed loop steppers definitely aren’t bad, but they’re not a must-have for hobby machines.