Steppers continued.

[sacc51]

I've started a new thred on stepper because I'm having a problem loading page 4 of the 'no go on steppers thread'. Curious, as I don't have a problem with pages 1-3. or any other threads or forums.

Anyway, here is a diagram of the last wiring I used on the stepper. Same as suggested by imr700x, It didn't work at all. I haven't tried switching the dips at all, when I connected a multimeter to the PUL terminals there was no voltage once any of the Dips were switched on.

I can see a new hobby coming on here, whilst frustrating it is very interesting and need I say - addictive, I can see steppers being useful for a number of applications. I just need one stepper to go so I can commence playing!

[Bohdan]

Looking at the circuit that you have I would expect that the '-ve' pulse terminal should be connected to the '-ve' on the 555 not the '-ve 12V'.

[sacc51]

Eureka, it goes! Managed to get the stepper moving one step at a time, this is the schematic I used with dip 1 and 2 on and 3 off. Now, how do I get the stepper to rotate continuously, I've tried all the Dip positions to no avail.

[sacc51]

I tried changing the jumper on the other other set of posts - success, continual rotation. There is a fairly long pause before the motor starts spinning, annoying, but I can work around that. Is there another driver board I can use, preferably with a speed control, so I can place the driver and generator in the same enclosure.

I may need two systems I guess as there will be occasions when I'll need to move both carriage and cross feed at the same time. so I'm thinking of one driver and generator to drive carriage and tailstock and another pair to drive cross and compound slides.

These are fun things to play with, I'll have to think of something else I can adapt them to.

[Lappa]

Excellent!

The PUL+ and PUL- are at each end of an optocoupler therefore if you connect the Ne555 output to PUL + you need to ground PUL-.
EN+ and EN-, DIR+ and DIR- are also on each end of an optocoupler so if you put 5v on one end you need to ground the other.

As you have found out, you don’t need to connect EN+ or EN-. Your connection is the same as the diagram I posted earlier.

You can change direction by connecting DIR- to GND then connection DIR + to 5v. Remove the 5v from DIR+, and it will go back to the original rotation direction.

[sacc51]

Bugger, blew the generator. Not watching what I was doing I connected positive to negative.

[sacc51]

What are the EN connections for?

[Lappa]

If you make it High ie. EN+ to 5v and EN- to GND, you can turn the steppper by hand when it is not being pulsed. When EN is not connected (Low), the stepper is locked in position when not being stepped.

[sacc51]

Great, I'll need that connection when I set everything up.

[Deanus]

I can fix your generator if you want

[BobL]

I can fix your generator if you want

And maybe add a fuse/breaker as well.
That's usually one of the the first things I add to test circuits.

[sacc51]

I had a look under a loupe and couldn't see any burnt bits, I assume it's the 555 Ic that has blown, usually the first that that goes, I wouldn't like to try replacing the surface mount resistors, so darn small now. I just ordered four generators for $1 each, amazing the price of these things from China and another couple with speed and direction control. I visited Jaycar this morning and bought some three pin sockets so hopefully I won't do the same again. I'll need to get a smaller driver though so I can mount driver and generator in a jiffy box so i can get them them out of the way.
Any recommendations for a driver, must be at least 2 amp?

[ericks2]

sacc51.....if you need any assistance feel free to contact me, i am at Aldinga beach:)

[Lappa]

Small units like the MP6500, A4988, DRV8825 etc have adjustable current control and are good to about 1.8 to 2A per phase. They are very small but some have peculiarities eg. some you can leave vacant pins floating while on others they have to be tied High or Low. You need to carefully read the instruction sheets - see Pololu site for good info.
I’m buying a lot of my gear from Littlebirds as it’s only 2km away - it’s cheaper overseas but I like the convenience and the ability to talk to someone.
I’m also currently building a box with a 12v to 5v convertor, NE555 generator systema and a A4988 driver inside.
I have it all working great with an Arduino eg ClockWise button, Stop button, CounterClockwise button and speed control but I would like it in a small boxr - I may try an Arduino Nano clone see what I have now works?

The Arduinos are cheap and very easy to program for what you want to do but it’s a larger package.

[Lappa]

As mentioned in my previous post, I have full control of my stepper motor now in regards to speed, rotational direction and start and stop. I am, as the title suggested, using an Arduino. This will be the basis of my router lift stepper motor setup although I will be using a rotary encoder rather than a potentiometer so I can position the router height. When I have the prototype up and running, I will post it on the Router Forum.

Thanks to saccs1 for inspiring me to delve deeper into the world of steppers:D (I sincerely mean it)

Heres a short video of my set-up.
https://youtu.be/scrBBHxxXCw

[sacc51]

$150 an hour I charge, when can I expect payment? If you need me to abuse you that'll be another $50 on top. I'm very good at abuse, I practice it - a lot!

[Lappa]

Believe it or not I was being genuine.
I’ve been working with pulse generators for years to drive ignition systems and simulated crank angle sensors etc. I’ve also been driving PWM actuators by varying duty cycles but I wanted to start driving stepper motors which are becoming more common. When I saw what you were trying to do it was the same as what I was starting to do.
I can now do it easily, but not with the accuracy I require and the bundling of a driver board, a 5v converter/supply and a pulse generator in one box is messy. I even started designing a circuit board to incorporate the 5v converter and 555.
Hence my move into Arduino which has made life so much simpler and given me the accuracy I require. Still some way to go to get a package but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The router lift lift will be an offshoot of this program.

Cheers

[sacc51]

There is a generator on ebay rated at 12 volts, I sent off for one yesterday.

[Lappa]

Just make sure that the output signal on the generator is limited to a max. of 5v.
Logic ports such as STEP, SLEEP, PUL, DIR, EN etc. are limited to 5v MAX.

[imr700x]

sacc51 I might be talking out of school here but I can't help but feel that your thread has become derailed. Perhaps if you tell me exactly what it is that you want to do I might be able to point you in the right direction. Using 555 timers and pwm pulse generators is akin to using a calculator to add two and two. Making your stepper go one way then another is easy, would cost less than ten bucks but making your stepper move whatever you want to move 10.001 mm will cost the same for parts. However, there is a learning curve but it is nowhere as steep as the curve to get 0.001 tolerance on manual cut on a lathe.

[imr700x]

[QUOTE=sacc51;2070313]What are the EN connections for?[/QUOT


EN stands for enable ...ignore it

[Deanus]

Hi IMR700x,
Don't ask him that for christ sake, check the other posts for the answer.

[sacc51]

Hi IMR700x,
Don't ask him that for christ sake, check the other posts for the answer.

Correct, I'm not user friendly, most should have accepted that by now, I call it GOM syndrome, others just call it plain rude, probably why forums like this ban me from time to time. Correction, try to ban me - I'm still here!

Stepper wiring is all sorted now, just waiting for a couple of boards and generators to arrive so I can put them in place.

[Deanus]

Hi Tony,
Sounds like we're brothers, I'm called grumpy old man by pretty much everyone.
The offer on the PM to help still stands by the way.
I was 30yrs in electronics.

[sacc51]

I'm not the sociable type and I never accept favours, thanks for the offer though, I'll muddle through.

[DaveVman]

Heres a short video of my set-up.
https://youtu.be/scrBBHxxXCw

Thanks for the video. I'm your first subscriber.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[Lappa]

Thanks Dave.
I don’t plan on doing a Kuffy :D
I only upload to Youtube because I can’t upload a video directly to this forum.

[JayGee59]

HELLO: IF you're going deep into this hobby then you need this link: https://www.instructables.com/howto/stepper+motors+controls/
Go to the link - set up a free account - then go crazy learning ALL about Stepper Motor Controls!
HEY! Come up for a breather once in a while! :-)