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Building a DIY public domain low cost stepper motor analyzer

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  • undefined
    zapta @A Former User
    last edited by 19 Jul 2020, 04:07

    @bearer said in Building a DIY public domain low cost stepper motor analyzer:

    it does. but packing several projects into a single repo doesn't lend itself well to sharing or collaboration

    Sorry about that. This is my catch all 'misc' repository. I plan to clean up the stepper analyzer in the next week or two so will also move to an independent repository.

    Meanwhile, if you encounter any problem, let me know here. I will monitor this thread more closely.

    Flushing the firmware has two parts, flashing the Nextion 3.5" using a micro SD card or the nextion designer with a serial port, and flashing the Teensy 4 which I currently do with the Arduino IDE (need to install the Teensy 4 extensions) but am looking for a simpler way (any suggestions?)

    ? 1 Reply Last reply 19 Jul 2020, 10:21 Reply Quote 1
    • ?
      A Former User @zapta
      last edited by A Former User 19 Jul 2020, 10:21

      @zapta said in Building a DIY public domain low cost stepper motor analyzer:

      but am looking for a simpler way

      platformio? (for the teensy at least)

      undefined 1 Reply Last reply 19 Jul 2020, 19:27 Reply Quote 0
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        zapta @A Former User
        last edited by 19 Jul 2020, 19:27

        I copied the stepper analyzer files to a dedicated repository https://github.com/zapta/stepper_analyzer (will delete files from the old repository later).

        It also includes a release directory with binaries for the teensy and the nextion 3.5". The teensy firmware can be flashed with a teensy loader (https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/loader.html) and the nextion using its sd card.

        It's still rough and I plan to clean it up in the next week or two. Please let me know how it works for you.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
        • ?
          A Former User
          last edited by 19 Jul 2020, 20:33

          Thats awesome, its on my list to try and build one! Thanks for putting this out there man!

          undefined 1 Reply Last reply 22 Jul 2020, 20:44 Reply Quote 0
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            zapta @A Former User
            last edited by 22 Jul 2020, 20:44

            The new PCBs arrive and I like how small and simple they are:

            597e97f4-1f2b-4126-9563-fd2f2cd58363-image.png

            I also added a retraction analysis screen. It is cumulative such that retract 10 steps extruder 3 steps, retract 5 steps will show retraction of 12 steps.

            The graph moves in real time so the camera didn't capture it well. The little noise at the bottom of the graph are tiny retractions due to pressure advance (0.08).

            667e56f2-cc09-4573-91c1-347186ffae94-image.png

            I plan to commit the changes to github later today.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
            • undefined
              fcwilt
              last edited by 22 Jul 2020, 20:50

              Hi,

              Have you considered building a small batch of complete units and selling them to us poor souls who would love to get our hands on one?

              Frederick

              Printers: a small Utilmaker style, a small CoreXY and a E3D MS/TC setup. Various hotends. Using Duet 3 hardware running 3.4.6

              undefined 1 Reply Last reply 23 Jul 2020, 23:25 Reply Quote 1
              • ?
                A Former User
                last edited by 22 Jul 2020, 21:16

                I'd could be down for crowd sourcing myself one if such a thing were to be a thing.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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                  zapta @fcwilt
                  last edited by 23 Jul 2020, 23:25

                  @fcwilt, I would love to do that because I think the makers' 3D printer market needs a tool like this but I can't do it myself. My hope is that someone can pick it up and provide to the community, this exact design or a lower cost version of it (with a stand alone MCU and a dumb LCD). The license is very liberal, non need to attribute, no need to share code changes, commercial OK, etc.

                  I just created a documentation page in github. It explains the various functions, how to flash the firmware and a BOM.

                  https://github.com/zapta/stepper_analyzer

                  undefined 1 Reply Last reply 24 Jul 2020, 10:31 Reply Quote 1
                  • ?
                    A Former User
                    last edited by A Former User 24 Jul 2020, 04:55

                    I'd be happy to build and test (some) additional boards when I make mine, but despite the BOM being about $50-60 (10 seconds guesstimate) statistically it'd be close to double that after shipping, taxes and fees + another $7 to ship it out again. There is no real need for me to source the teensy and screen which brings the rest down to $10-20 (before shipping, taxes and fees). So my location is probably a bit cost prohibitive even when not making a profit.

                    @zapta is the SD card required for the nextion to run, or just the programming? I'm still waiting for that aliexpress order ... 176 days is the 2020 shipping highscore:/

                    undefined undefined 2 Replies Last reply 24 Jul 2020, 08:50 Reply Quote 0
                    • undefined
                      fcwilt @A Former User
                      last edited by 24 Jul 2020, 08:50

                      @bearer

                      If you've got a PayPal account I'd buy a unit from you.

                      Frederick

                      Printers: a small Utilmaker style, a small CoreXY and a E3D MS/TC setup. Various hotends. Using Duet 3 hardware running 3.4.6

                      ? undefined 3 Replies Last reply 24 Jul 2020, 09:57 Reply Quote 0
                      • ?
                        A Former User @fcwilt
                        last edited by 24 Jul 2020, 09:57

                        @fcwilt i do. i've posted an informal doodle https://doodle.com/poll/hhw2iyirf8fctmn4 where interest could be gauged, but admittedly very skeptical as global shipping is very unreliable these days.

                        undefined 1 Reply Last reply 24 Jul 2020, 12:39 Reply Quote 0
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                          arhi @zapta
                          last edited by 24 Jul 2020, 10:31

                          @zapta wanna pick your brain a bit .. why did you go with analog output current sensing and not with one with integrated ADC with spi output? Something like LMP92064 for e.g. comes to mind?

                          I am now deciding between LMP92064 and ACS70331 + AD7705 and it looks like ACS70331 + AD7705 will go in final product 'cause I need the resolution but since you are using the ADC on the teensy I guess LMP92064 would be easier solution ?! Or you went by the price (LMP92064 is ~3x more expensive locally, I guess it's same everywhere)

                          undefined 1 Reply Last reply 24 Jul 2020, 12:48 Reply Quote 0
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                            zapta @A Former User
                            last edited by 24 Jul 2020, 12:21

                            @bearer said in Building a DIY public domain low cost stepper motor analyzer:

                            @zapta is the SD card required for the nextion to run, or just the programming

                            Just for programming and should be removed for the Nextion to function. I just updated the documentation to clarify it.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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                              zapta @fcwilt
                              last edited by 24 Jul 2020, 12:25

                              @fcwilt said in Building a DIY public domain low cost stepper motor analyzer:

                              If you've got a PayPal account I'd buy a unit from you.

                              Just a suggestion. One payment method that worked for me in the past is amazon gift cards. Buying often on amazon, credit is almost like cash, and cards can purchased online at any amount and the gift card number can be sent by email.

                              undefined 1 Reply Last reply 24 Jul 2020, 15:31 Reply Quote 0
                              • undefined
                                zapta @A Former User
                                last edited by zapta 24 Jul 2020, 12:39

                                @bearer said in Building a DIY public domain low cost stepper motor analyzer:

                                @fcwilt i do. i've posted an informal doodle https://doodle.com/poll/hhw2iyirf8fctmn4 where interest could be gauged, but admittedly very skeptical as global shipping is very unreliable these days.

                                I believe that BOM could be reduced well below $20 with a dumb LCD (example below) and a stand alone MCU (vs the Teensy 4.0). All is required is somebody that is proficient with writing firmware and can re implement the UI for the dumb LCD.

                                https://www.buydisplay.com/serial-spi-3-5-inch-tft-lcd-module-in-320x480-optl-touchscreen-ili9488

                                https://www.buydisplay.com/lcd-3-5-inch-320x480-tft-display-module-optl-touch-screen-w-breakout-board

                                Edit: another option is to drop the display and use a USB or Bluetooth attached computer or phone/table for the UI. The voltaic isolation of the current sensors will make it safe for the USB connection. This opens new possibilities such as recording, correlating signals from multiple steppers (e.g. X/Y in core XY), and so on. With a stand alone, non Teensy standalone MCU, this will be a tiny and inexpensive device that can be plugged anywhere. BTW, the Teensy and Nextion consume ~250ma so a battery operation is also feasible. Many great possibilities that wait for the right entrepreneur. 😉

                                ? 1 Reply Last reply 24 Jul 2020, 21:16 Reply Quote 1
                                • undefined
                                  zapta @arhi
                                  last edited by zapta 24 Jul 2020, 12:48

                                  @arhi said in Building a DIY public domain low cost stepper motor analyzer:

                                  I am now deciding between LMP92064 and ACS70331 + AD7705

                                  The main advantage of the ACS70331 for this application is the voltaic isolation.

                                  The LMP92064 would kind of work for a single stepper coil if it's ok to have the circuit floating with the stepper signal but wouldn't work for two coils since they don't have a common ground.

                                  BTW, you can find it in different current ranges and polarity (directional vs bidirectional) https://www.digikey.com/products/en?FV=-5|62165

                                  undefined 1 Reply Last reply 24 Jul 2020, 16:14 Reply Quote 0
                                  • undefined
                                    fcwilt @zapta
                                    last edited by 24 Jul 2020, 15:31

                                    @zapta said in Building a DIY public domain low cost stepper motor analyzer:

                                    Just a suggestion. One payment method that worked for me in the past is amazon gift cards. Buying often on amazon, credit is almost like cash, and cards can purchased online at any amount and the gift card number can be sent by email.

                                    I never thought about that approach. I will remember it.

                                    Thanks.

                                    Frederick

                                    Printers: a small Utilmaker style, a small CoreXY and a E3D MS/TC setup. Various hotends. Using Duet 3 hardware running 3.4.6

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • undefined
                                      arhi @zapta
                                      last edited by 24 Jul 2020, 16:14

                                      @zapta said in Building a DIY public domain low cost stepper motor analyzer:

                                      @arhi said in Building a DIY public domain low cost stepper motor analyzer:

                                      I am now deciding between LMP92064 and ACS70331 + AD7705

                                      The main advantage of the ACS70331 for this application is the voltaic isolation.

                                      Yes, LMP is not isolated .. I believe there are some isolated ones but ACS70331 + AD7705 is probbly better option anyhow

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • ?
                                        A Former User @zapta
                                        last edited by A Former User 24 Jul 2020, 21:16

                                        @zapta said in Building a DIY public domain low cost stepper motor analyzer:

                                        I believe that BOM could be reduced well below $20 with a dumb LCD (example below) and a stand alone MCU

                                        Between just wanting the one and being the kind of guy that thinks a .csv file is a perfectly acceptable user interface buying the fancy screen makes the most sense to me. For the Teensy I'm thinking put headers on it so less hand assembly and it can be repurposed if needbe.

                                        Its also easier to offer to hand assemble 10 or simple parts than a MCU with supporting parts😇

                                        I'll help the community as best I can, but I don't I have the ambition or capability to be very entrepreneurial. Still, my hat off to you for your work on this!

                                        edit: Total Nextion noob wasn't sure which display to use but seems the Basic NX4832T035 that i accidentally had on order will do the trick (the Enhanced NX4832K035 will readily compile but the others will either crop or not scale well to/from 480x320)

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • ?
                                          A Former User @fcwilt
                                          last edited by 17 Sept 2020, 13:44

                                          @fcwilt I just placed another order for the bare pcb's as the first never arrived. Fingers crossed PCBway will deliver:)

                                          undefined 1 Reply Last reply 18 Sept 2020, 18:19 Reply Quote 0
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