USBSteppers Card!

[iwik]

Jack,
A stepper i think still needs to know where to start from. This is why at startup it always does one revolution and then stops. Im afraid o/c stepper needs this sensor. Even if it doesnt have a sensor it still needs something like a home switch to tell it where to starty counting from.
Just follow the manual and you cant go wrong. We are here when you get stuck.
Also suggest when you have done this use the Compass example to test, i can verify it works.
Les

[Boeing 747 Flyer]

Thanks for the replies Les & David.

That EXACT optical sensor is being fitted to my setup as I type (I had one lying around).

Once fitted, I take it the first thing to do is run IOStepper.exe and see if it does a 360 degree turn and then stops?

Also, as an extra note, I made this script:

Var 0112, name Switch7, Link IOCARD_SW, Input 222 // EVAC Toggle Switch
{
 IF &Switch7 = 1
 {
  &BlinkLed = 60 // begin value of timer
  &BlinkLed = TIMER 0 -1 100
 }
}

Var 0001, Link USB_STEPPER, name Chrono, Output 1, PosL 255, PosC 24, PosR 4, Type H

Var 6, name BlinkLed
{
 L0 = &BlinkLed
 L1 = 60 - L0
 &Final_Value = L1
}

Var 7, name Final_Value
{
 L0 = &Final_Value * 0.6
 &Final_Chrono = L0
 &Final_Deg = &Final_Chrono * 10
}

Var 8, name Final_Chrono

Var 9, name Final_Deg // This is the EXACT degree value of the Chronograph - IE: When Final_Value = 15s, Final_Deg = 90 degrees

Basically, a 60 second (which is what a Boeing chronograph represents) timer is triggered by a switch flick. Then, through numerous calculations, we can use the "Final_Deg" value to tell the Stepper motor where to go.

For example, after 15 seconds, the needle will have moved exactly a quarter around the display. As such, Final_Deg will equal 90.

Cheers,

Jack

[fordgt40]

Jack

Quick progress

Perhaps I am having another senior moment, but I do not see in your example any code to make the stepper actually move? Perhaps the stepper name is wrong as it is not referenced anywhere else in your code?

Good luck

Regards

David

[Boeing 747 Flyer]

Hi David,

The script is just to calculate the degree of movement agsinst seconds elapsed. I haven't done any script to interface to the actual motor yet (I don't even know how yet!).

Jack

[fordgt40]

Jack

Ok

If you run config_sioc and look up usb stepper in the Help section there is a full explanation of the parameters to set for the stepper motor. You just then assign a variable to it and send the values to make it move.

Regards

David

[737NUT]

Hello,
This is all you need for your project! It is what I use to drive my real Boeing clock which has stepper motors. Only 19.95!!
http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/1183 Drives it in open loop mode in continuous rotation.

Rob

[Boeing 747 Flyer]

Hello,
This is all you need for your project! It is what I use to drive my real Boeing clock which has stepper motors. Only 19.95!!
http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/1183 Drives it in open loop mode in continuous rotation.

Rob

Thanks for the advice Rob!

Unfortunately, things aren't looking good for the USBStepper Motors Card.

I installed a light sensor, which fully works (completely tested with a multimeter; the 0v/5v logic works perfectly), but not with the USBStepper Card. After starting IOStepper.exe, the Stepper just continued to turn like it did previously.

Also, after a few tries, the card suddenly became urecognised. Interestingly, I tested the pins on the card with a mutlimeter. The multimeter showed "overload" before completely blowing. The USBStepper Card also blew the front 2 ports on my PC!

The power supply is just a normal 5V PSU, like on all my other OC Cards.

[fordgt40]

Jack

Very sorry to hear that! Lets hope that your computer is not overly damaged.

Regards

David

[Boeing 747 Flyer]

Luckily, protective circuitry in my PC automatically disables the front 2 ports incase of a surge. I had to re-activate them by unplugging the USBStepper Card, and restarting the PC.

Will use a very tought multimeter tonight to test why I got the Overload readings and why it blew my PC.

[fordgt40]

Jack

Good news. I assume the current draw from one stepper is less than 1 amp?

Regards

David