4 axis BOB

[sprockett]

After browsing through Pminmo.com Idecided on the 4 axis BOB and the discrete unipolar combination. (Then i spotted the L297Uni, now I will build these and put the Discrete Driver in the spare parts box. But thats another story).
I built the archived unipolar board as it had good documentation and as i am a newbee to steppers i thought that would be a good starting point.

The BOB went together without a hitch, and tested ok.
Just a few questions though...

What is the function of JP5, I remove it to use the logic probe, but what does it enable/do?

How does the E-Stop function. When I short the X6-1/2 terminal the led7 turns on, but does not latch, so what is the function of the reset button. and should it send a signal to the computer? I am testing with "Parallel port monitor" but i see no indication, and i see no connection in the schemantic to the parallel port. I know it has something to do with pad J and L.

I also see in the photos on the site from "David Anderson" he has a jumper from pad 14 to pin 1 on all the axis headers what is this jumper for, and it appears he has a piece of heat shrink on the jumper, is this conceeling a resistor? Is this the "Enable" and if so do i need to use it for either the "Old DiscreteUnipolar" or the "L297 unipolar" boards?

Thats all the BOB questions I have for now.

I opted to shelve the Discrete unipolar board in favour or the L297 unipolar, and as the current limiting resistors for 4 steppers were going to cost a bit as i have several motors at my disposal and i would need several diferent combinations for testing pourposes and the L297 wouldn't need them and it also has half-step. I have many questions about the l297 but i will build the first driver and see how i go.

Cheers

Sprockett

[stormelf]

i made tihs bobo card and unipolar controller but i couldnt ran it?
please help me?

[pminmo]

Comments through out.

What is the function of JP5, I remove it to use the logic probe, but what does it enable/do?

JP5 when inserted connects pin 1 of the db25 to the Aux driver which doubles as the troubles shooting probe. i.e. if you want to use the aux channel for troubleshooting, don't connect a relay to X5, remove JP5 and use either the pad labelled pin 1 or the associated post on JP5.


How does the E-Stop function. When I short the X6-1/2 terminal the led7 turns on, but does not latch,

Something is wrong, as it should latch. led7 should stay illuminated until rst (x7) is shorted. The fact that the led lights, means half the latch and led driver works. Check C2, Q2, R13 and R8. When you short X6, the junction of R13 and R8 should go to near 5V.


so what is the function of the reset button. and should it send a signal to the computer? I am testing with "Parallel port monitor" but i see no indication, and i see no connection in the schemantic to the parallel port. I know it has something to do with pad J and L.

You need to jumper either pad J or pad L to one of the input pin pads for the PC. Depending on software it could be 10, 11, 12, 13, or 15.
See http://pminmo.com/pport/pport.htm for help on the data direction of the PC parallel port.




I also see in the photos on the site from "David Anderson" he has a jumper from pad 14 to pin 1 on all the axis headers what is this jumper for, and it appears he has a piece of heat shrink on the jumper, is this conceeling a resistor? Is this the "Enable" and if so do i need to use it for either the "Old DiscreteUnipolar" or the "L297 unipolar" boards?

Most of the boards on my website use pin 1 of the 10 pin axis connectors as enable. They need to be pulled logic low or ground. By connecting pin 14 to each of the pin 1's, you can disable/enable all the drives via software. The old version of the Discrete board does not use pin 1, the new version does as well as the L297 Unipolar. BTW the L297Uni board is a much better choice!


Thats all the BOB questions I have for now.

I opted to shelve the Discrete unipolar board in favour or the L297 unipolar, and as the current limiting resistors for 4 steppers were going to cost a bit as i have several motors at my disposal and i would need several diferent combinations for testing pourposes and the L297 wouldn't need them and it also has half-step. I have many questions about the l297 but i will build the first driver and see how i go.

Cheers

Sprockett[/QUOTE]


Hope this helps, if not ask, the only reason I won't answer is I don't see the question.

[pminmo]

Originally Posted by stormelf i made tihs bobo card and unipolar controller but i couldnt ran it? please help me?

Stormelf,
Help me here, I need to know more than "I couldn't run it" . What works, what doesn't what boards, power supply, computer software..........

I see you gave me more information in another thread, I'll anser there.

[pminmo]

I updated the document some. I need to do that when questions come up.

[Mcgyver]

keep 'em coming Phil, great stuff. just going through figuring out the various J's & X's myself!

[mohaon]

hiiiiiiiiiiiiiii for ll