Rotary table stepper software, anything free available?

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Rotary table stepper software, anything free available?

This topic has 31 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 18 September 2014 at 21:20 by Ian P.

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7 June 2014 at 11:30 #154640
Ian P
Participant
@ianp
I have a small rotary table coupled to a stepper motor I also have a commercial stepper driver which just needs step and direction etc inputs.

What I need now is something like 'Division Master software' to make it a usable tool. I have thought of writing my own programme using a Picaxe IC but don't really want to reinvent the wheel!

I have a feeling I have seen published projects using PICs and AVR chips but I would rather use something I already know.

Ian P
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7 June 2014 at 11:30 #15042
Ian P
Participant
@ianp
Just need step and direction signals maybe from PC
7 June 2014 at 12:14 #154642
jason udall
Participant
@jasonudall57142
Depends on what you need from sw..
Since you have driver for stepper ( I take that from only needing direction and step)…

Well in the ‘old’ days under w98 you could readily write to printer ( parallel) port..so if your stepper driver is good for 5V levels inputs, a minimal interface would be three wires ..

Then you could count etc. Display angle ( and do step/angle arithmetic)….even do rate control…..
7 June 2014 at 12:55 #154645
RobC
Participant
@robc77385
It's probably overkill, but there is GRBL which is free and used on to comtrol all sorts of machines in the 3D Printing community. It might be possible to adapt it.
7 June 2014 at 15:33 #154673
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Can you program in basic? If so BBC Basic for Windows and a parallel port breakout board should do the job.

Neil
7 June 2014 at 16:56 #154680
Les Jones 1
Participant
@lesjones1
Hi ian,

There is a design using a PIC18 series chip that seems to be almost a clone of the divisionmaster. You have to buy the pre programmed chip for about 9 pounds if Ii remember correctly. I am holiday in Turkey until the 10th with only my Nexus 7. When I get home I will post the details which Ii have on my PC.

Les.
7 June 2014 at 17:22 #154682
Ian P
Participant
@ianp
Posted by Neil Wyatt on 07/06/2014 15:33:31:

Can you program in basic? If so BBC Basic for Windows and a parallel port breakout board should do the job.

Neil

I can just about cobble a programme together using Basic which is why I was going to use a Picaxe. I do have an old laptop but by the time the stepper, a box containing a PSU and laptop etc are all cabled together its a bit unwieldy to use on a cluttered bench/milling machine.

I was hoping I could find some existing software I could use or adapt.

Ian P

the stepper driver
7 June 2014 at 17:25 #154684
Gone Away
Participant
@goneaway
This might help.

I built one and it works well.
7 June 2014 at 17:33 #154685
Ian P
Participant
@ianp
Posted by Les Jones 1 on 07/06/2014 16:56:50:

Hi ian,

There is a design using a PIC18 series chip that seems to be almost a clone of the divisionmaster. You have to buy the pre programmed chip for about 9 pounds if Ii remember correctly. I am holiday in Turkey until the 10th with only my Nexus 7. When I get home I will post the details which Ii have on my PC.

Les.

Les

Division master and its clones generate the stepper waveforms in their processor and output signals to drive the motor coils, I already have stepper drivers which have logic inputs for motor direction and step so unless I had access to the source code (and the skill to change it!) their outputs would be incompatible.

Ian P

Edited By Ian Phillips on 07/06/2014 17:35:17
7 June 2014 at 17:39 #154686
Ian P
Participant
@ianp
Posted by OMG on 07/06/2014 17:25:15:

This might help.

I built one and it works well.

That is definitely worth investigating, thanks

Ian P
7 June 2014 at 19:45 #154693
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
The Arduino version is covered here

Without re-reading it I think JS has built one.
8 June 2014 at 06:01 #154732
Les Jones 1
Participant
@lesjones1
Hi I an,

The link that OMG has posted is the design that I was thinking of but I did not realise it contained the hex file to programming the PIC chip. looking at the schematic it does not contain the drivers for the stepper motor. The output signals are step and direction which is what most stepper driver boards require. When I get back from holiday I will build one to try out. I think I will have all the parts in stock.

Les.
8 June 2014 at 09:06 #154742
John Stevenson 1
Participant
@johnstevenson1
Still over in China for a couple of weeks but I do have some spare boards for Steve Wards controller and some programmed chips but I can't do anything until I'm back later this month.
8 June 2014 at 14:59 #154769
harold
Participant
@harold
Posted by Ian Phillips on 07/06/2014 17:39:33:

That is definitely worth investigating, thanks

Ian P

Ian, over on CNCzone there lives the original thread where Steve Ward ( 'Kwackers' ) posted his design, Currently running at 62 pages. ISTR Steve has posted here on the MEW forum.

HTH,

John

Edited By harold on 08/06/2014 15:00:37
8 June 2014 at 15:52 #154773
Gone Away
Participant
@goneaway
Posted by Les Jones 1 on 08/06/2014 06:01:48:

When I get back from holiday I will build one to try out. I think I will have all the parts in stock.

If I can build one and get it to work, Les, you certainly can. I pretty much did it from scratch … etched and drilled the PCB and programmed the PIC.

It was a while ago but as I recall, the only problematic thing was actually finding the PIC.
9 June 2014 at 03:50 #154824
joegib
Participant
@joegib
There are Utube videos of various versions of Steve Ward's PIC-based controller here:

Malcolm Parker-Lisberg

— and here:

Chris Raynerd

Joe

Edited By joegib on 09/06/2014 03:52:06
9 June 2014 at 10:25 #154832
Ian P
Participant
@ianp
Definitely going for Steve Ward's design. I will wait until JS gets back to see if he wants to sell his bits otherwise will buy just the programmed chip and make a Veroboard (or wirewrap) version.

Thanks for all the replies.

Ian P
11 June 2014 at 10:39 #155011
Les Jones 1
Participant
@lesjones1
Hi All,
Back from holiday. Made a start on building Steve Ward's design. I have found a PIC18F452 and programmed it.

Les.
11 June 2014 at 13:07 #155020
John Stevenson 1
Participant
@johnstevenson1
Ian,

I have everything you need. Will PM you when I get back.
11 June 2014 at 15:49 #155035
Ian P
Participant
@ianp
Posted by John Stevenson on 11/06/2014 13:07:51:

Ian,

I have everything you need. Will PM you when I get back.

Thanks John.

Have a good trip.

Ian P
13 June 2014 at 14:25 #155202
Gone Away
Participant
@goneaway
Steve Ward has just posted here (top post on page-1) that he has modified the design slightly, updated the files and has new PCB's in stock.
14 June 2014 at 06:12 #155262
joegib
Participant
@joegib
Actually the announcement of the change is in Post No 741 on Page 62 of of the CNC Zone thread (i.e. the latest post as of today's date) here:

Announcement

Joe
14 June 2014 at 15:17 #155295
Gone Away
Participant
@goneaway
Hmm …. for me #741 is the top post on Page-1. Your link, Joe, leads me to Page-62 and the earliest messages.

i haven't checked but it probably depends on personal settings – whether you sort newest or oldest messages to the front (and what the default is for guests). Whatever, Post #741 is the one to look for.
15 June 2014 at 03:56 #155332
joegib
Participant
@joegib
Apologies, OMG. When joining a forum I always accept their 'system default' settings so assumed this presented the screen in the same way for everyone who does likewise. Plainly, that's not the case. Anyway, we're now looking in the same place.

Joe
17 June 2014 at 12:35 #155561
Les Jones 1
Participant
@lesjones1
Hi Ian,
I have just tested Steve Wards rotary controller design built on Veroboad now that the 20 X 4 LCD display has arrived. (I did not have one of this type in stock.) I am only testing it with a stepper motor from an old printer and a TBA6560 based driver that I bought on Ebay. It seems to be working as expected. The only slight problem I had was sorting out the connections to a keypad which I removed from a phone. I will now have to order a stepper motor that is large enough to drive my 6" Vertex rotary table and possible a larger driver module.

Lees.
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