New Stepper Driver Object - A Variant Of PulseTheStepPin
idbruce
Posts: 6,197
Here ya go
{{
StepperDriver Version ?.?
Copyright 2015. Bruce Drummond.
Release Date: 01/24/2015
Usage:
X.Initialize(17, 18, 19, 0, 1, CLKFREQ / 1000000, CLKFREQ / 20000, CLKFREQ / 1600, CLKFREQ / 3200000, 2000)
X.EnableStage
X.IncreaseStagePosition(25)
X.IncreaseStagePosition(50)
X.IncreaseStagePosition(75)
X.IncreaseStagePosition(100)
X.DecreaseStagePosition(250)
X.DisableStage
or the equivalent
X.Initialize(X_DIRECTION, X_STEP, X_ENABLE_DISABLE, CW, CCW, CLKFREQ / 1000000, CLKFREQ / 20000, CLKFREQ / 1600, CLKFREQ / 3200000, 2000)
X.EnableStage
X.MoveStagePosition(0, 25)
X.MoveStagePosition(0, 50)
X.MoveStagePosition(0, 75)
X.MoveStagePosition(0, 100)
X.MoveStagePosition(1, 250)
X.DisableStage
}}
VAR
BYTE bDirectionPin
BYTE bStepPin
BYTE bEnableDisablePin
BYTE bIncreaseDirection
BYTE bDecreaseDirection
LONG lHighPulseWidth
LONG lMaxExeMotorSpeed
LONG lStartStopSpeed
LONG lRampIncDec
LONG lStepsPerRev
LONG lRampingSteps
LONG lTotalRampingSteps
PUB Initialize(DirectionPin, StepPin, EnableDisablePin, IncreaseDirection, DecreaseDirection, HighPulseWidth, MaxExeMotorSpeed, StartStopSpeed, RampIncDec, StepsPerRev)
{{
Method Description:
This method initializes global variables and sets pin parameters which will be used
by a stepper drive unit.
Parameters:
DirectionPin = This parameter is the I/O pin number going from the Propeller
chip to the stepper drive unit. This pin is an output, which sets the OUTA
register utilized by the bDirectionPin. This setting will control the direction
of rotation for most stepper drives and it should be a value of 0 (LOW) or 1 (HIGH).
StepPin = This parameter is the I/O pin number going from the Propeller
chip to the stepper drive unit. This pin is an output, which sends pulses to the
stepper drive unit, which it turn passes it on to the stepper motor, telling it when
to make a step.
EnableDisablePin = This parameter is the I/O pin number going from the Propeller
chip to the stepper drive unit. This pin is an output, which sets the OUTA
register utilized by the bEnableDisablePin. This setting will control the enabling
and disabling of the stepper motor and it should be a value of 0 (LOW) or 1 (HIGH).
IncreaseDirection = This parameter simply sets the direction of rotation for the
stepper motor as clockwise or counter-clockwise, whichever increases the stage
position. This value should be the opposite of the following DecreaseDirection
parameter and it should be a value of 0 (LOW) or 1 (HIGH), because it will be used
to set the OUTA register utilized by the bDirectionPin.
DecreaseDirection = This parameter simply sets the direction of rotation for the
stepper motor as clockwise or counter-clockwise, whichever decreases the stage
position. This value should be the opposite of the proceeding IncreaseDirection
parameter and it should be a value of 0 (LOW) or 1 (HIGH), because it will be used
to set the OUTA register utilized by the bDirectionPin.
HighPulseWidth = This parameter establishes the pulse width of the OUTA register
utilized by the bStepPin, as per manufacturers specifications of a stepper drive unit.
MaxExeMotorSpeed = The primary purpose of this parameter is to set the maximum execution
speed of the iterations utilized within the MoveStagePosition method, therefore this
parameter also directly affects the maximum speed of the stepper motor.
StartStopSpeed = This parameter is a time delay between high and low pulses going out of
the bStepPin. During the motor rotation, time will be added to and subtracted from
the global variable lStartStopSpeed.
RampIncDec = This parameter is the ramp incrementor/decrementor, and it will affect just
how fast the motor ramps up to top speed and ramps down until the motor stops. Basically
this is a setting of 1 - 25, at least for Gecko G251 stepper drives.
StepsPerRev = This parameter establishes the number of steps per revolution for the stepper
motor, regardless of full steps, half steps, or microsteps
Example Usage:
X.Initialize(17, 18, 19, 0, 1, CLKFREQ / 1000000, CLKFREQ / 20000, CLKFREQ / 1600, CLKFREQ / 3200000, 2000)
Expected Results:
When using a Gecko G251 stepper drive with an Applied Motion HT23-400 motor, the proceeding
parameters will really make that motor ZING. However, please keep in mind that all of the
timing related parameters are pretty much at a maximum level. Please expect every motor and
driver to have different timing. Start out with slow speeds and work your way up.
*After writing this, I began experimenting with a NEMA 17 with the following initialization and
that motor was really zinging. Which just goes to show me that some of my theories are wrong
about the maximum values stated above. All I can say is that you will have to experiment.
X.Initialize(X_AXIS_DIRECTION, X_AXIS_STEP, X_AXIS_DISABLE, 1, 0, 80, 2500, 20000, 200, 2000)
Additional Notes:
Besides the mandatory settings as determined by your requirements or specified by
manufacturer datasheets, the main parameters for affecting motor operation are MaxExeMotorSpeed,
StartStopSpeed, and the RampIncDec. By altering the values of these three parameters,
a wide variety of ramping and operating profiles can be achieved.
}}
bDirectionPin := DirectionPin
bStepPin := StepPin
bEnableDisablePin := EnableDisablePin
bIncreaseDirection := IncreaseDirection
bDecreaseDirection := DecreaseDirection
lHighPulseWidth := HighPulseWidth
lMaxExeMotorSpeed := MaxExeMotorSpeed
lStartStopSpeed := StartStopSpeed
lRampIncDec := RampIncDec
lStepsPerRev := StepsPerRev
lRampingSteps := (lStartStopSpeed - lMaxExeMotorSpeed) / lRampIncDec
lTotalRampingSteps := lRampingSteps * 2
'Set the directions of the direction, step, and disable pins
'for the stepper driver as outputs.
DIRA[bStepPin] := 1
DIRA[bDirectionPin] := 1
DIRA[bEnableDisablePin] := 1
PUB EnableStage
{{
Method Description:
This method enables a stepper drive unit.
Example Usage:
X.EnableStage
}}
'Enable the motor. Depending on the stepper driver utilized, the following value
'may need to be 0
OUTA[bEnableDisablePin] := 1
PUB DisableStage
{{
Method Description:
This method disables a stepper drive unit.
Example Usage:
X.DisableStage
}}
'Disable the motor. Depending on the stepper driver utilized, the following value
'may need to be 1
OUTA[bEnableDisablePin] := 0
PUB IncreaseStagePosition(TotalSteps)
{{
Method Description:
This method passes the direction of motor rotation and the total number of steps to
the MoveStagePosition method.
Example Usage:
X.IncreaseStagePosition(5000)
}}
'Move the stage
MoveStagePosition(bIncreaseDirection, TotalSteps)
PUB DecreaseStagePosition(TotalSteps)
{{
Method Description:
This method passes the direction of motor rotation and the total number of steps to
the MoveStagePosition method.
Example Usage:
X.DecreaseStagePosition(5000)
}}
'Move the stage
MoveStagePosition(bDecreaseDirection, TotalSteps)
PUB MoveStagePosition(Direction, TotalSteps) | Counter, RampingSteps, RunningSteps
{{
Method Description:
This method will ramp up a stepper motor until the maximum speed
is obtained and it will maintain that maximum speed for a determined number
of steps, at which point it will begin a ramp down of the stepper motor
until it comes to a stop.
Parameters:
Direction = This parameter sets the OUTA register utilized for bDirectionPin.
This setting will control the direction of rotation for stepper drives
and it should be a value of 0 (LOW) or 1 (HIGH).
TotalSteps = This is the total amount of steps or microsteps that you want the
motor to rotate, and this should be equivalent to the number of high pulses
sent to the stepper driver unit.
Local Variables:
Counter = This variable is used to hold the value of the System Counter for
timing accuracy of the stepper driver.
RampingSteps = After computations, this variable will contain the number of pulses
required to obtain the highest speed possible with the provided parameters.
RunningSteps = Providing TotalSteps is larger than the value of the global variable
lTotalRampingSteps, this variable will contain the number of maximum speed steps.
However, if TotalSteps is smaller than the value of the global variable
lTotalRampingSteps, the value of this variable will become either 1 or 0.
Example Usage:
This method can be called directly as follows:
X.MoveStagePosition(0, 5000) or X.MoveStagePosition(1, 5000)
or it can be called through the IncreaseStagePosition and DecreaseStagePosition methods.
}}
'If maximum speed can be obtained, determine the actual number of
'ramping and running steps.
IF TotalSteps > lTotalRampingSteps
'Copy the global amount of ramping steps
RampingSteps := lRampingSteps
'Determine the number of full speed steps.
RunningSteps := TotalSteps - lTotalRampingSteps
'Else ramp upto the half-way point and then ramp down.
ELSE
RampingSteps := TotalSteps / 2
RunningSteps := TotalSteps // 2
'Set the OUTA register to match the desired direction of rotation.
OUTA[bDirectionPin] := Direction
'Set up the CTRMODE of Counter A for NCO/PWM single-ended.
CTRA[30..26] := %00100
'Set the output pin for Counter A.
CTRA[5..0] := bStepPin
'Set the value to be added to PHSA with every clock cycle.
FRQA := 1
'Set APIN as an output.
DIRA[bStepPin] := 1
'Get the current System Counter value.
Counter := CNT
'Ramp up the stepper motor to maximum speed.
REPEAT RampingSteps
'Send out a high pulse on the step pin for the desired duration.
PHSA := -lHighPulseWidth
'Wait for a specified period of time before sending another
'high pulse to the step pin.
WAITCNT(Counter += lStartStopSpeed -= lRampIncDec)
'Maintain maximum speed
REPEAT RunningSteps
'Send out a high pulse on the step pin for the desired duration.
PHSA := -lHighPulseWidth
'Wait for a specified period of time before sending another
'high pulse to the step pin.
WAITCNT(Counter += lStartStopSpeed)
'Ramp down the stepper motor and come to a stop.
REPEAT RampingSteps
'Send out a high pulse on the step pin for the desired duration.
PHSA := -lHighPulseWidth
'Wait for a specified period of time before sending another
'high pulse to the step pin.
WAITCNT(Counter += lStartStopSpeed += lRampIncDec)
DAT
{{
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ TERMS OF USE: MIT License │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Copyright(C) 2015. Bruce Drummond. │
│ │
│Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and │
│associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, │
│including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense,│
│and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so,│
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│portions of the Software. │
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│THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT│
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│WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE. │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
}}
Comments
NEMA 17 Motors: Applied Motion HT17-275
Linear Travel: 12 IN
Belt Pitch: 2 MM
Timing Pulley: 18 Teeth
Stepper Driver Module: Gecko G251X
In conjunction with the previously attached stepper driver object, the following code provided 40 feet of linear travel between the two actuators in approximately 55 seconds. 40 feet of travel could have been accomplished with this driver in much less time than 55 seconds, but then I would not have the smooth operation that I am now seeing.
CON _CLKMODE = XTAL1 + PLL16X _XINFREQ = 5_000_000 'Clock Frequency Equation CLK_FREQ = ((_CLKMODE - XTAL1) >> 6) * _XINFREQ {{ Propeller Pin Assignment Constants }} 'Z Axis Pin Assignments Z_DISABLE = 0 Z_STEP = 1 Z_DIRECTION = 2 'ESTOP And Limit Switches Pin Assignments ESTOP_AND_LIMIT = 3 'Serial LCD Display Pin Assignment SERIAL_LCD = 4 'Homing Switch Pin Assignments X_HOMING = 5 Y_HOMING = 6 Z_HOMING = 7 'Propeller Memory Card Pin Assignments DI = 8 'IO0 / DI / MOSI / CD Pin DO = 9 'IO1 / DO / MISO Pin WP = 10 'IO2 / WP Pin HOLD = 11 'IO3 / HOLD Pin SD_CS = 12 'CS Pin For MicroSD Card Memory FLASH_CS = 13 'CS Pin For Flash Memory SRAM_CS = 14 'CS Pin For SRAM Memory CLK = 15 'CLK Pin 'Daughterboard Pin Assignments PLATFORM_HEATER = 16 EXTRUDER_HEATER = 17 EXTRUDER_FAN = 18 'E Axis Pin Assignments E_DIRECTION = 19 E_STEP = 20 E_DISABLE = 21 'X Axis Pin Assignments X_DIRECTION = 22 X_STEP = 23 X_DISABLE = 24 'Y Axis Pin Assignments Y_DISABLE = 25 Y_STEP = 26 Y_DIRECTION = 27 'I2C Pin Assignments I2C_SCL = 28 I2C_SDA = 29 'Full Duplex Serial Pin Assignments TX = 30 RX = 31 {{ Additional Constants }} 'X Axis Driver Constants X_PULSE_WIDTH = CLK_FREQ / 1_000_000 '= 80 X_MIN_SPEED = CLK_FREQ / 5_714 '= 14_000 Rounded X_MAX_SPEED = CLK_FREQ / 16_000 '= 5_000 X_RAMP_INC_DEC = CLK_FREQ / 26_666_666 '= 3 Rounded X_INC_DIR = 0 '= Counter-clockwise rotation X_DEC_DIR = 1 '= Clockwise rotation X_STEPS_PER_REV = 2_000 '= 200 Full steps * 10 microsteps 'X Axis Stage Constants X_MAX_STEPS = 16933 '12 inches of linear travel 'Y Axis Driver Constants Y_PULSE_WIDTH = CLK_FREQ / 1_000_000 '= 80 Y_MIN_SPEED = CLK_FREQ / 5_714 '= 14_000 Rounded Y_MAX_SPEED = CLK_FREQ / 16_000 '= 5_000 Y_RAMP_INC_DEC = CLK_FREQ / 26_666_666 '= 3 Rounded Y_INC_DIR = 0 '= Counter-clockwise rotation Y_DEC_DIR = 1 '= Clockwise rotation Y_STEPS_PER_REV = 2_000 '= 200 Full steps * 10 microsteps 'Y Axis Stage Constants Y_MAX_STEPS = 16933 '12 inches of linear travel 'Full Duplex Serial Driver Constants COMM_MODE = 0 COMM_BAUD_RATE = 115_200 'FAT Engine Assignment for unused pins or RTC. Please refer to the 'FAT16/FAT32 Full File System Driver Documentation for proper usage NEG_ONE = -1 VAR 'The following variable holds the G-Code file line characters. It has been 'established that the G-Code file used as a guide in this code, had a maximum 'file line character count of 72. To be on the safe side, the maximum file 'line size has been increased to 100. BYTE bChBuffer[100] 'The following variables are intended to store G-Code into various fields. 'For more information about these fields, please refer to RepRap G Code 'Fields at: http://reprap.org/wiki/G-code . Additionally, these are the 'only known fields to be supported by the KISSlicer. Please note that the 'maximum character count may change in the future, because I am not exactly 'sure on bFieldElement_8 maximum character count, but support for 7 characters 'should be sufficient. The maximum character count should support a build 'volume area of 999.99mm(X) X 999.99mm(Y) X 999.99mm(Z). BYTE bFieldElement_0[2] 'G Field BYTE bFieldElement_1[3] 'M Field BYTE bFieldElement_2[1] 'T Field BYTE bFieldElement_3[3] 'S Field BYTE bFieldElement_4[7] 'X Field - Floating Point BYTE bFieldElement_5[7] 'Y Field - Floating Point BYTE bFieldElement_6[7] 'Z Field - Floating Point BYTE bFieldElement_7[7] 'F Field - Floating Point 'BYTE bFieldElement_8[7] 'E Field - Floating Point Temporary comment BYTE bFieldElement_8[8] 'E Field - Floating Point BYTE bValidFields[9] 'The following G-Code commands are currently the only known (by me) commands 'supported by the KISSlicer, therefore these are the only G-Code commands 'that I will currently support. { G1: Controlled Move G Field - bFieldElement_0, X Field - bFieldElement_4, Y Field - bFieldElement_5, Z Field - bFieldElement_6, F Field - bFieldElement_7, and E Field - bFieldElement_8 filled during line parse G20: Set Measurement Units To Inches G Field - bFieldElement_0 filled during line parse G21: Set Measurement Units To Millimeters G Field - bFieldElement_0 filled during line parse G28: Home Axes G Field - bFieldElement_0 filled during line parse G90: Set Absolute Positioning G Field - bFieldElement_0 filled during line parse G91: Set Relative Positioning G Field - bFieldElement_0 filled during line parse M82: Set E Codes Absolute M Field - bFieldElement_1 filled during line parse M83: Set E Codes Relative M Field - bFieldElement_1 filled during line parse M104: Set Extruder Temperature With No Wait M Field - bFieldElement_1 and S Field - bFieldElement_3 filled during line parse M106: Fan On M Field - bFieldElement_1 filled during line parse M109: Set Extruder Temperature And Wait M Field - bFieldElement_1 and S Field - bFieldElement_3 filled during line parse M107: Fan Off M Field - bFieldElement_1 filled during line parse M140: Set Bed Temperature M Field - bFieldElement_1 and S Field - bFieldElement_3 filled during line parse T0: Select Tool With No Fields T Field - bFieldElement_2 filled during line parse } OBJ SDCard: "SD-MMC_FATEngine.spin" Memory: "SPI Memory Driver" Terminal: "FullDuplexSerial" Expander: "SimpleMCP23008" X: "StepperDriver" Y: "StepperDriver" PUB Main 'Start FullDuplexSerial Terminal.Start(RX, TX, COMM_MODE, COMM_BAUD_RATE) WAITCNT(CNT + (1 * CLKFREQ)) 'Start FATEngine SDCard.fatEngineStart(DO, CLK, DI, SD_CS, NEG_ONE, NEG_ONE, NEG_ONE, NEG_ONE, NEG_ONE) 'Initialize the MCP23008 Expander.Initialize 'Initialize the stepper driver for the X axis X.Initialize(X_DIRECTION, X_STEP, X_DISABLE, X_INC_DIR, X_DEC_DIR, X_PULSE_WIDTH, X_MAX_SPEED, X_MIN_SPEED, X_RAMP_INC_DEC, X_STEPS_PER_REV) 'Initialize the stepper driver for the Y axis Y.Initialize(Y_DIRECTION, Y_STEP, Y_DISABLE, Y_INC_DIR, Y_DEC_DIR, Y_PULSE_WIDTH, Y_MAX_SPEED, Y_MIN_SPEED, Y_RAMP_INC_DEC, Y_STEPS_PER_REV) 'Parse the G-Code file MINIMUM.TXT located on SD card ' Parse 'Quick test for the MCP23008 ' Test_MCP23008 'Test X stage for smoothness of operation and speed REPEAT 10 Test_X_Stage 'Test Y stage for smoothness of operation and speed REPEAT 10 Test_Y_Stage PUB Test_X_Stage X.IncreaseStagePosition(X_MAX_STEPS) X.DecreaseStagePosition(X_MAX_STEPS) PUB Test_Y_Stage Y.IncreaseStagePosition(Y_MAX_STEPS) Y.DecreaseStagePosition(Y_MAX_STEPS) PUB Test_MCP23008 | Value 'GP0 Menu Button 'GP1 Select Button 'GP2 Scroll Button 'GP3 Pause Button 'GP4 Back Button 'GP5 Exit Button 'GP6 Yellow LED 'GP7 Red LED Expander.Configure_IODIR_Register(%00111111) 'Configure the IODIR register to 2 outputs and 6 inputs Expander.Configure_GPIO_Register(%10000000) '0 is low, GP7, OUTPUT - RED LED REPEAT Value := Expander.GetPinStates IF Value == %10010000 Expander.Configure_GPIO_Register(%11000000) ELSE Expander.Configure_GPIO_Register(%10000000) '0 is low, GP7, OUTPUT - RED LED PUB Parse 'Mount Partition SDCard.mountPartition(0) 'Open G-Code File "MINIMUM.TXT" for reading SDCard.openFile(STRING("MINIMUM.TXT"), "R") REPEAT 'Fill bChBuffer with 0s BYTEFILL(@bChBuffer, 0, 100) 'Fill bValidFields with 0s BYTEFILL(@bValidFields, 0, 9) 'Grab file lines that are not comments or blank GetNextValidFileLine IF(bChBuffer[0] == 0) QUIT 'Fill in the various field elements FillFieldElements Terminal.Str(@bChBuffer) 'Display the various field seperations Terminal.Str(STRING("G=")) IF(bFieldElement_0 == 0) Terminal.Str(STRING("NULL")) ELSE Terminal.Str(@bFieldElement_0) Terminal.Tx(32) {Space} Terminal.Str(STRING("M=")) IF(bFieldElement_1 == 0) Terminal.Str(STRING("NULL")) ELSE Terminal.Str(@bFieldElement_1) Terminal.Tx(32) {Space} Terminal.Str(STRING("T=")) IF(bFieldElement_2 == 0) Terminal.Str(STRING("NULL")) ELSE Terminal.Str(@bFieldElement_2) Terminal.Tx(32) {Space} Terminal.Str(STRING("S=")) IF(bFieldElement_3 == 0) Terminal.Str(STRING("NULL")) ELSE Terminal.Str(@bFieldElement_3) Terminal.Tx(32) {Space} Terminal.Str(STRING("X=")) IF(bFieldElement_4 == 0) Terminal.Str(STRING("NULL")) ELSE Terminal.Str(@bFieldElement_4) Terminal.Tx(32) {Space} Terminal.Str(STRING("Y=")) IF(bFieldElement_5 == 0) Terminal.Str(STRING("NULL")) ELSE Terminal.Str(@bFieldElement_5) Terminal.Tx(32) {Space} Terminal.Str(STRING("Z=")) IF(bFieldElement_6 == 0) Terminal.Str(STRING("NULL")) ELSE Terminal.Str(@bFieldElement_6) Terminal.Tx(32) {Space} Terminal.Str(STRING("F=")) IF(bFieldElement_7 == 0) Terminal.Str(STRING("NULL")) ELSE Terminal.Str(@bFieldElement_7) Terminal.Tx(32) {Space} Terminal.Str(STRING("E=")) IF(bFieldElement_8 == 0) Terminal.Str(STRING("NULL")) ELSE Terminal.Str(@bFieldElement_8) Terminal.Tx(32) {Space} 'Seperate G-Code field values line by line Terminal.Tx(13) {Carriage Return} IF STRCOMP(bChBuffer + 0, STRING("M107")) Terminal.Str(STRING("Fan Off")) Terminal.Tx(13) {Carriage Return} 'Unmount Partition SDCard.unmountPartition 'Stop FATEngine SDCard.fatEngineStop WAITCNT(CNT + (1 * CLKFREQ)) 'Stop FullDuplexSerial Terminal.Stop PUB GetNextValidFileLine REPEAT 'Grab a file line as a string SDCard.readString(@bChBuffer, 99) 'Keep repeating while the following conditions are met, 'because we don't want or need these lines beginning with 'these characters. IF(bChBuffer[0] <> 59 {; Character} AND bChBuffer[0] <> 13 {Carriage Return} AND bChBuffer[0] <> 10 {Line Feed}) QUIT PUB FillFieldElements | Char, Index, Field_Element, ValueIndex 'Empty the field elements of any possible data BYTEFILL(@bFieldElement_0, 0, 2) BYTEFILL(@bFieldElement_1, 0, 3) BYTEFILL(@bFieldElement_2, 0, 1) BYTEFILL(@bFieldElement_3, 0, 3) BYTEFILL(@bFieldElement_4, 0, 7) BYTEFILL(@bFieldElement_5, 0, 7) BYTEFILL(@bFieldElement_6, 0, 7) BYTEFILL(@bFieldElement_7, 0, 7) 'BYTEFILL(@bFieldElement_8, 0, 7) Temporary BYTEFILL(@bFieldElement_8, 0, 8) Index := 0 ValueIndex := 0 'Parse file line into seperate field values. Various fields will remain empty REPEAT Char := bChBuffer[Index] 'Exclude these characters from becoming part of are field entries IF(Char == 13 {Carriage Return} OR Char == 10 {Line Feed}) QUIT ELSEIF(Char == 32 {Space}) Index++ ValueIndex := 0 NEXT ELSEIF(Char == 71 {G Character}) 'Set current field element Field_Element := 0 bValidFields[0] := 1 Index++ NEXT ELSEIF(Char == 77 {M Character}) 'Set current field element Field_Element := 1 bValidFields[1] := 1 Index++ NEXT ELSEIF(Char == 84 {T Character}) 'Set current field element Field_Element := 2 bValidFields[2] := 1 Index++ NEXT ELSEIF(Char == 83 {S Character}) 'Set current field element Field_Element := 3 bValidFields[3] := 1 Index++ NEXT ELSEIF(Char == 88 {X Character}) 'Set current field element Field_Element := 4 bValidFields[4] := 1 Index++ NEXT ELSEIF(Char == 89 {Y Character}) 'Set current field element Field_Element := 5 bValidFields[5] := 1 Index++ NEXT ELSEIF(Char == 90 {Z Character}) 'Set current field element Field_Element := 6 bValidFields[6] := 1 Index++ NEXT ELSEIF(Char == 70 {F Character}) 'Set current field element Field_Element := 7 bValidFields[7] := 1 Index++ NEXT ELSEIF(Char == 69 {E Character}) 'Set current field element Field_Element := 8 bValidFields[8] := 1 Index++ NEXT ELSE IF(Field_Element == 0) 'G Field element character bFieldElement_0[ValueIndex] := Char ValueIndex++ Index++ NEXT ELSEIF(Field_Element == 1) 'M Field element character bFieldElement_1[ValueIndex] := Char ValueIndex++ Index++ NEXT ELSEIF(Field_Element == 2) 'T Field element character bFieldElement_2[ValueIndex] := Char ValueIndex++ Index++ NEXT ELSEIF(Field_Element == 3) 'S Field element character bFieldElement_3[ValueIndex] := Char ValueIndex++ Index++ NEXT ELSEIF(Field_Element == 4) 'X Field element character bFieldElement_4[ValueIndex] := Char ValueIndex++ Index++ NEXT ELSEIF(Field_Element == 5) 'Y Field element character bFieldElement_5[ValueIndex] := Char ValueIndex++ Index++ NEXT ELSEIF(Field_Element == 6) 'Z Field element character bFieldElement_6[ValueIndex] := Char ValueIndex++ Index++ NEXT ELSEIF(Field_Element == 7) 'F Field element character bFieldElement_7[ValueIndex] := Char ValueIndex++ Index++ NEXT ELSEIF(Field_Element == 8) 'E Field element character bFieldElement_8[ValueIndex] := Char ValueIndex++ Index++ NEXT PUB ElementConversion DAT Tag1 BYTE "M107",0did I read right? 40 foot of travel?
How big is this printer you want to build?
Curious!
Mike
Mike
They are 12 inch actuators. There are 2 - REPEAT 10 loops in the Main method which call upon forward and reverse travel of each actuator, for a total of 40 feet of linear travel. The bulid area of the printer will be 12" wide X 12" deep X 18" high
I got my 3D printer a couple of years ago. A Rapman 3.1 or something like that. UK company named BitsFromBytes now sold to some big player in the field.
I spend over one year with it, adjusting, printing, testing different materials, heating, cooling, superglue, rafts, no rafts.
Finally I gave up. As soon as your object gets bigger than a pack of cigarettes you are done. It's called warping. The layers are cooling down while being printed and change (slightly) size.
Nice tool for small prototypes. Small brackets. Ornaments to put on somewhere. But production work? I was (and am) quite disappointed. It is a slow process. But you need to stay there or have a superb feeding mechanism. The filament comes in rolls, usually, and is therefore bend. I does not straight out a easy as - say - wire. I ended up feeding from the top having the rolls mounted on the ceiling and pre feed the extruders with some second motors. Still no joy.
And when you need to watch them, all the time, you will be faster by bending and cutting some sheet metal with some pliers or even file that bracket or whatever out of a block of alu.
Overall I spend more than $3000 on that 3d print experiment. Should have saved the money for a laser or a small router.
My current plan is to replace the extruders (2) with some dremel or drill and a flexible drive to use it as a simple CNC. The Rapman came as a kit of rods and acryl pieces. I build it by myself and can reuse a lot of the existing stuff.
And for sure the new contraception will use a propeller to drive it.
So I am following your threads with a lot of attention.
Enjoy!
Mike
Although I have not yet experienced them, there are a lot of problems associated with 3D printing. I do believe that proper filament feeding will be one of the toughest problems to conquer, because wire feeding was one of the biggest problems to resolve on the wire bending CNC, and so far, I do not have what I consider to be a good plan for routing and feeding the filament. Besides that problem, I do believe that warping will be another major source of headaches. Either way, I will cross those bridges when I get to them.
Occassionally I lose sight of my ultimate goals, because I get wrapped up in some process or another, and I am at the point where it could easily happen. The goal of the 3D printer project has always been to build and test my linear actuators, and perhaps build a usable prototype in the process. As it stands now, I am currently pretty darn happy with the actuators that I have constructed, but I am not yet 100% satisfied with their construction and operation. Even though my heart wants to go forward with the 3D printer project, my brain is telling me to take the time out to perfect the belt actuators, because I am currently at a point where it would be a very wise decision to do so, especially since they are on a workbench, all wired up, with the software ready to run and test them. I do not believe there are any major issues, just some small things that I would like to resolve or change. And before I start the real construction of the printer, I should probably finish building the screw driven actuator for the Z axis, so that I may test and perfect that as well. When I am 100% satisfied with the construction and operation of all the actuators, I will then build the printer to test their durability.