PICStep Firmware Updated

[Garfield2]

Hi all,

I've just released V1.0 of the PICStep firmware. It now works correctly on a PIC16F628A microcontroller and has some nice new features.

You can see all the details on my website at :

http://www.fromorbit.com/

Have fun,
Alan.

[santiniuk]

Alan,

My first post on this great forum.

I spent ages browsing your site. The picstep controller is now on my to do list. I'm just in the process of evaluating all of the designs out there. I basically would like to make some form of pc controlled router / engraver.

I hope to start building the picstep next week. Then hook this upto TurboCNC.

I'll let you know how I get on !

I'm hooked already

[Garfield2]

Originally Posted by santiniuk Alan, My first post on this great forum. I spent ages browsing your site. The picstep controller is now on my to do list. I'm just in the process of evaluating all of the designs out there. I basically would like to make some form of pc controlled router / engraver. I hope to start building the picstep next week. Then hook this upto TurboCNC. I'll let you know how I get on ! I'm hooked already

Glad you like it.

Send photos of what you've done please!

Cheers,
Alan.

[CNC Darren]

I too have been looking at this controler. I would need one board for each motor right? and they are for bipolar motors?

[santiniuk]

Well it appears that the LMD18245 i.c's are not that common in the UK. I managed to track some down at Farnell.

Unfortunately got diverted this week but still eager to make a start.

I'm very keen to hear if anyone else has built this controller.

Thanks

[Garfield2]

The LMD's can be had from DigiKey.com for relative expense.

I've imported 32 of the things to Australia for a fairly minor charge considering the distance. Farnell's locally want 6 times the price I got them from the USA for!

Look around, they can be had fairly cheaply.

Alan.

[santiniuk]

Thanks Alan,

I checked out the Digikey link. Looks like I can save quite a bit sending from the U.S to the U.K.

Cheers

[Garfield2]

Great glad to hear.. I've modified the board to include mounting holes and removed quite a few redundant wire links once I re-routed a few things. Should be a bit neater to construct now.

Cheers,
Alan.

[santiniuk]

Great stuff Alan,

Components on order and due this week. Unfortunately I'm away with work for a week so things have slipped.

The new board layout is top notch, and the fewer links the better

Cheers

Shaun.

[santiniuk]

Well I had quite a surprise today.

Returned from a work trip all fired up ready to build the Picstep boards only to find that the details have been removed from Alan's site.

It appears that someone is selling details or kits of the Picstep controller. Very Very dissapointing.

So, I have etched boards and that's it. Hopefully Alan will restore his site as thats's all I downloaded.

http://www.fromorbit.com/projects/picstep/

For the details....

[Garfield2]

Hi all,

Yes I'm suspecting something fishy is going on with regards to my PICStep design. Reason for my uncertainty is I've received a number of emails from users who have alledgely purchased boards/kits from me. Since I've only sold boards to Australia, and all the emails are from locations near Brazil I'm kind of curious where these people got them from, and got the idea that I sold them/support them.

A few of the emails where quite pushy and insinuating that I've "sold them a dud", which I take real offense to given that I've never sold them anything!

Anyway, all is not lost. If you wish to access the PICStep details please email me via the link in my navigation bar on my website. I'll post you a URL to the new location of the details.

If you have any information that can shed light onto this development, please let me know.

Thanks,
Alan.

[santiniuk]

Cheers Alan,

email sent.

I hope you find the person involved.

Thanks,