The kit includes everything needed to drive and synchronize the motion between 5 axes:

1. the spindle with a stepper motor,


2. a stepper motor for movement along the Z axis
   (often used for stepper motors on the cross slide or for a curvilinear slide),


3. a stepper motor for movement along the X axis
   (often used for stepper motors on the cross slide),


4. a stepper motor for movement along the M3 axis
   (a configurable axis, often used for a rosette phaser/multiplier), and


5. a stepper motor for movement along the M4 axis
   (a configurable axis, often used for a spherical slide).

ELFOS uses a touch screen to control the activity. It also allows for using limit switches to stop movement when the desired cut has been achieved.

The kit's spindle stepper motor is attached to a bracket which gets installed in the lathe's headstock.

It comes as two parts: a case which fits neatly below (or beside) the lathe's bed, and a touch screen connected to the case via a long cord.

This system is based on:

• Teensy microcontroller 3.2 (as the Teensy 3.5 is not available),
• Nextion 7” touch screen display, and
• StepperOnline DM542T stepper motor drivers which are designed to handle plenty of current, allowing for selection from a good range of stepper motors.

Kit Contents

Mechanical Items

• Mounting bracket to attach the spindle stepper motor to the headstock
• Bracket has idler attached
• Includes all the necessary bolts, nuts, washers, and spacers
• Spindle pulley
• Spindle stepper motor pulley
• Spindle drive timing belt

Assembled Electrical Items in Base Box

• StepperOnline NEMA 23 spindle stepper motor with cable terminated into a GX-16 jack (for the spindle)
• Teensy 3.2
• Printed circuit board with electronics soldered into place
• StepperOnline DM542T stepper motor drivers (4)
• Mean Well LRS-100-24 AC/DC Power Supply
• SPST power switch
• MDF box to hold everything
• Includes power and signal cabling

Assembled Electrical Items in HMI Display Box

• Nextion 7” Display
• Includes the cable to attach this box to the Base Box

Assembled electrical items are programmed and tested with the stepper motor.

This kit can also be used with an original MDF Rose Engine Lathe. (The MDF box will have to sit to the side or behind the lathe.)

Uprading from the Pololu Tic Drive?

If you have the Spindle-Only Stepper Motor Control Kit, this upgrade will replace the controls to be an ELFOS.

Printed circuit boards (PCBs), Teensys, & Nextions: Which One to Use for ELFOS?

PCB V003

If you choose to build your own ELFOS, you should consider the directions being pursued as we move forward with new versions of ELFOS. It is recommended that you getting started begin with:

• Teensy 3.2 or 3.5 - the Teensy 4.1 is not supported by any version at this time, the Teensy 3.6 is more sensitive to voltage issues.

  The Teensy 3.2 is available, and is a viable alternative if the Teensy 3.5 or Teensy 3.6 cannot be found for a reasonable cost. The Teensy 3.2

• Supports the Nextion Enhanced 4.3”, Intelligent 5”, Intelligent 7” displays
• Supports 5 axes of stepper motors
• But it has not been tested with usage of limit switches, and the reduced number of pins make this difficult.


• 5-axis, V003 printed circuit board (PCB)
• has some nice power control features introduced with this board, and this is especially needed for the Nextion Intelligent displays
• supports up to 5 axes
• supports Teensy 3.2, 3.5, and 3.6, and will support the Teensy 4.1 once the software makes that support available)


• Nextion 7” Intelligent - the larger size is nicer to use, and at this time, the Nextion 4.3” Enhanced is not supported by ELFOS version 3.0.8
  & later.

Starting with ELFOS version 3.0.8, the hardware which is supported has changed. The items recommended above are highlighted in the table below in  green .

*   The 5-axis PCB is recommended

** The 5-axis PCB is strongly recommended.