DIY arduino circuit boards optimized for electronic indexing head

[TorontoBuilder]

The revised single stepper rotary control board in available for anyone who wants 3 from Oshpark.

This has been revised to correct the stepper driver carrier width. You may use any Pololu a4988 board. It makes use of external 5 button analog keypad via pin A0 and will accept 1C2 LCD or any sainsmart or freetronics compatible lcd

Main board:
https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/eqntBWjI

Keyboard:
https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/hcnykUxw

As soon as my revised boards arrive I'll start a build thread to put it all together...

 

[TorontoBuilder]

As per Rod's suggestion I've made a simple compact main board & plug in modules for the a4988 stepper drivers.

This will allow people to take advantage of Rod's multi-function software design to use a single control box for multiple uses.

The main board is available here:
https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/WQivbqSm


It also uses the same separate keypad which is here:
https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/hcnykUxw


Finally here is the link to the daughter boards:
https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/3KdDlilG

The daughter boards uses a 6 pin 3.5mm screw terminal block for all motor connections and the motor power & ground.

This board has a surface mount 100uF capacitor. iAlmost all 25v caps will fit under the stepper driver (ie less than 0.25" height), or a panasonic EEE-FT1V101AP 35V capacitor if you need higher capacity cap.

The daughter board plugs into main board using 4 male 90 deg header pins and is oriented vertically.

 

[rodw]

Looks great. What is the maximum stepper voltage for the driver?

I'll get around to ordering a set as I've got a mate very keen as well (and he's better at soldering than me).

 

[TorontoBuilder]

Looks great. What is the maximum stepper voltage for the driver?

I'll get around to ordering a set as I've got a mate very keen as well (and he's better at soldering than me).

a4988 driver max current is 35v

 

[Scott_M]

a4988 driver max current is 35v

Amps ?

Scott

 

[TorontoBuilder]

Amps ?

Scott

2A per phase although the pcb traces can handle higher the driver chip cant

 

[rodw]

John so if you wanted to run a bigger stepper and say a 3.5 amp or even 7 amp Gecko controller, you'd just get the 3 stepper board and wire everything up to the main board? Or would you add unpopulated daughter boards so you could use the terminal strips?

And also what is the purpose of the capacitor? Is that something the polou driver needs?

 

[TorontoBuilder]

John so if you wanted to run a bigger stepper and say a 3.5 amp or even 7 amp Gecko controller, you'd just get the 3 stepper board and wire everything up to the main board? Or would you add unpopulated daughter boards so you could use the terminal strips?

And also what is the purpose of the capacitor? Is that something the polou driver needs?

That board is designed specifically for the a4988 driver. If you want to use gecko you can connect the board via jumper wires to the DIR, STEP 5V and GND pins. The gecko has its own terminal strip for the motors connections if i recall correctly.

The 100uF capacitor acts as a start capacitor when motor first comes on and to minimize current ripple as motor operates. Its recommended by the chip manufacturer. Gecko likely has such capacitor built into their stepper drivers.

 

[AFCarbon15]

Subscribed ! Thanks for all the info.

 

[TorontoBuilder]

Subscribed ! Thanks for all the info.

Ah great your post reminds me I have been deficient in keeping this thread updated.

I've yet to order new boards from Oshpark since I got bus on another project. I'll be back on track soon.

 

[keithh]

Thanks for your work, looking forward to picking this up in the near future.

Thanks again

Keith

 

[rodw]

John, if you have not sent these out, there is a standard for stepper pinouts called PMinMO and you'll see it in the circuit diagram here .
http://www.piclist.com/techref/io/stepper/THB6064/index.htm

I nearly bought a DIY stepper kit like this one so it would be good to support this standard for those who wanted to use bigger external stepper drivers

 

[Carbuilder]

One more person is reading and learning from this thread (that would be me!).
I'm new to the forum but have used my 3-in-1 machine for years to make all sorts of parts for car modifications (real ones, not models). I recently added DRO's to it and it is fantastic to use.

I've just started playing with an arduino experimenters kit and am trying to learn all I can about it. I am really enjoying this thread; not understanding all of it the first time though, but that's OK. You are explaining things very well, so don't skimp on the details! I know it takes a lot more time to add posts, but they are being read.

thank you,

Rick
Bolton, Ontario
Just "above" Toronto as they say

 

[canadianhorsepower]

John, if you have not sent these out, there is a standard for stepper pinouts called PMinMO and you'll see it in the circuit diagram here .
http://www.piclist.com/techref/io/stepper/THB6064/index.htm

I nearly bought a DIY stepper kit like this one so it would be good to support this standard for those who wanted to use bigger external stepper drivers

This is what I'm using here are some the pics
they work great

Luc

 

[TorontoBuilder]

This is what I'm using here are some the pics
they work great

Luc

thx.. that will take up more real estate, but I'll mod the design when I get a minute.

So much going on right now since I'm learning to drive 1:1 scale electric streetcars

 

[fiddle561]

Hello i liked your build, i ordered your boards (4.1 version). i started to build and ran into interference between nano and other board. also what type of connector were u planning on using for motor connector. The pin spacing is too wide and too narrow for the different connectors. pictures attached. THANKS FOR ALL THE WORK U PUT IN TO THIS. I really appreciate the work