Please test this firmware with high torque

[mk2lehe]

Anyone would like to test this firmware?
It is for picstep v4.0 and PIC16F628A @ 20 MHz.

Modes are as follows: Full, half, 1/4 and 1/10.

In 1/10th mode (both jumpers set), the high torque is enabled.
Further, an interrupt service takes care of stepping pulses. It is triggered on a high-to-low transition.

Take care and let me now how it goes

Henrik

[zoltan]

Hi,

On picstep the modes are: 11-Full stepp (both 3&4 pins grounded), 10 -1/2 step (3 pin grounded, 4 at +5V), 01 - 1/4 step (3 pin at +5V, 4 pin grounded) and 00 - 1/8 step (both 3&4 at +5V - NO JUMPERS). What are your rule when you are saying both jumpers set. Is this set of rules changed? Have you tried this firmware after you made it? If Yes, what is your opinion?

I will try it. Is only the re-programming of pic involved or I should also do something additional?

Thank you,

Zoltan

[mk2lehe]

Hi Zoltan,

Well, it wasn't my intention changing step jumper settings. Sorry. With this firmware:
11-1/10 step(both 3&4 pins grounded) using high torque.
01-1/4 step
10-1/2 step
00-Full step. (No jumpers)

Yes I tried it, works fine for me, but I only have one old stepper @ ~1 amp to test with. And, I only have one picstep board. A perfect test rig would be two identical setups where this firmware is programmed on one of them.
Be aware, the motor will produce a slightly more amount of heat.

A reprogram is all there is to it.

Thanks,

Henrik

[santiniuk]

Henrik,

I'll give this firmware a try this week. Probably tomorrow.

Can I ask why the stepping mode changes from 1/8 to 1/10 ?

I'm curious. Is this part of the higher torque requirement.

Also I would prefer not to mess around with my jumper settings. Can you not change your software to keep the jumpers as per Alans original design ? Yeh I'm lazy

(And I dont have any jumpers handy !!!)

Thanks, will let you know what I find.....

[mk2lehe]

Hi!

The main reason changing from 1/8 to 1/10 is that the angle error introduced by the 4-bit DAC inside the LMD18245 would be almost the same. So why not a little extra resolution?
Also, it seems as many commercial drives have this setting rather than 1/8 (<- but that's just an assumption by me!).

You are right, it was stupid of me fiddling with jumper settings. It never was my intension , nevertheless I have my excuses (rewrote firmware without hardware, just being stupid, etc etc). This bug will be fixed in the next release.
Right now I am going for Alan's next wishlist fix: Full step using burst patterns. And, possibly, a current decrease when motor hasn't been running for a second or two. And, of course, the jumper setting bug will be fixed

Henrik

[Garfield2]

Originally Posted by mk2lehe Right now I am going for Alan's next wishlist fix: Full step using burst patterns. And, possibly, a current decrease when motor hasn't been running for a second or two. And, of course, the jumper setting bug will be fixed

I've already got a current decrease on the current firmware and the jumper bug doesn't exist with mine either!

I'd work on the full step bursting, but I've just received my shiny new ICD2 (thank you paypal donators everywhere!) and a bunch of 18F2550 USB enable microcontrollers, so PICServo has taken off! And I'm toying with the idea of a tiny USB only controller. USB == Fun!

-A.

[zoltan]

any update? & any upgrade?

Zoltan

[zoltan]

Hi,

Is somebody here who tried this firmware? What is the conclusion? What about Alan's high torque firmware the first version had a problem I tested myself; no, yet, any upgrade/or fix of the issue?

Thank you,

Zoltan

[santiniuk]

Zoltan,

To be honest I have been waiting for a version that did not need any jumper changes.

Henrik posted he was going to release a version but he must be busy

Alan's release did not work for my setup but I know he tested it himself and it worked for him so maybe it's dependent on more factors.

Cheers.

[mk2lehe]

Sorry for the long away, I've been busy indeed. I'm studying and working and recently moved. And from what I could tell, no one bothered to try my firmware so I figured I just had to do it on my own non-existing setup

There will probably be an update but not until my mechanical parts are built, which will take a while. But a friend has offered me help with putting pieces together .

I'll let you know when/if there will be any progress.

Henrik

[vladdy]

Actually, I 'kind of' tried your firmware. When I had mostly completed my boards, another person I know programmed the pics for me with the hi torque version. However, I have some problem with the boards in general, in that they just jerk a little, no proper movement...
About two weeks ago I bought a pic programmer kit, and am waiting for a zif socket off of Ebay to see if I can find where the problem is..
All three boards exhibit the same 'jerk', so it will take a bit of troubleshooting..
I know the steppers themselves are ok as I had run them with an older driver module..