Pic32 Basic , how big is yours program ?

[peter247]

Hi all, o.k. I’ll try and be the first to start off a new topic.

Just seeing how big other peoples programs have got using Pic32 basic?
I’ve got to a stage where I have to store most of the program in flash
for my alarm clock / home automation / whatever, is at around 16k now
with lots more to come.

Building a alarm clock / whatever, is getting to by more complex than
I thought, but I guess you don’t see many alarm clock using a LCD - 8
* 21 character display ( BV4219 ) with a 3 level menu display.

Just got to the write the function to change the time and alarm
setting using 5 buttons, in left , right , up , down and select button
arrangement, which I don’t is going to be as easy.

Peter

[Ian Macdonald]

>
> Just got to the write the function to change the time and alarm
> setting using 5 buttons, in left , right , up , down and select button
> arrangement, which I don’t is going to be as easy.
>
> Peter

Hi Peter,

Sounds good, the Arduino playground has an lcd which uses 5 buttons
if I remember correctly it uses a res-net to an adc to save ports, anyway
rather than totally reinvent the wheel this may help.

I am just playing at the moment, am really using my spare time on VoIP,
but when I do get the time I want to do a panorama head for my tripod.
This would use two steppers to pan & tilt the head and a solenoid to
take the photo, have stripped an old scanner and printer for the bits.

Cheers

Ian

[peter247]

Hi Ian, Yes there is no point reinvent the wheel, but this is a
different wheel, and it’s like trying to fit a horse drawn cart wheel
on a motor car.
I’ve already made a similar program on the Ardunio, but I’ve moved
from a Linear to event time based programming.
One big advantage with the Pic32 is the amount of I/O port, so it
simplifies programming to use each switch on a separate port.
I have an old scanner which been so old I have no chance of getting XP
driver, no mind vista or windows 7 drivers, I will have to see if I
can use that for anything ?

Peter

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[Ian Macdonald]

On Thu, 2009-09-03 at 04:42 -0700, peter247 wrote:
> Hi Ian, Yes there is no point reinvent the wheel, but this is a
> different wheel, and it’s like trying to fit a horse drawn cart wheel
> on a motor car.
> I’ve already made a similar program on the Ardunio, but I’ve moved
> from a Linear to event time based programming.
> One big advantage with the Pic32 is the amount of I/O port, so it
> simplifies programming to use each switch on a separate port.

It was just a thought

> I have an old scanner which been so old I have no chance of getting XP
> driver, no mind vista or windows 7 drivers, I will have to see if I
> can use that for anything ?
>

The older the better is my experience the components are easier to work
with, less surface mount.

The empty plastic box with lid and glass also has a use, you can fit a
diffuser under the glass with some low power energy saving lamps(or the
florescent one from the scanner, you need to salvage the inverter also
in this case) and you have a light box, or fit UV lamps for a photo etch
for PCB's

Cheers

Ian

[peter247]

Hi Ian, I really kick myself over the stuff I’ve dumped over just the
last couple of years, before I started with my micro controller
salvage.

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[Ian Macdonald]

On Thu, 2009-09-03 at 06:20 -0700, peter247 wrote:
> Hi Ian, I really kick myself over the stuff I’ve dumped over just the
> last couple of years, before I started with my micro controller
> salvage.
>

Your not the only one!

If you need any bits and bobs, let me know, I will see if its in my
'very useful stuff that must be kept' or it may be in the 'can we get
rid of some of this rubbish' emmm to be honest they are both the same,
but my better half has a different view:-)

But joking apart if I have it you are welcome, I do build up 'stuff' :-)

Cheers

Ian

[Malcolm]

Ian/Peter
I am currently trying to drive a small stepper motor using the BV405.
I have not found much info on the byvac site so any pointers
appreciated.
Currently trying to connect all the wires but I have run out of
connectors and suitable wire
so it looks like another trip to Maplins.

Malcolm

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[peter247]

Hi Malcolm, It’s a long time since I’ve played with stepper motors.
I think in the days of the BBC model B, which shows my age.

From what I can remember about stepper motors there are four coils,
and two modes to drive them.

A
B C
D

So to move them a step , A should be set to push and D pull , next
step , C push , B pull etc , have you tried my normal method ?
GOOGLE .

There are some stepper motor controllers which even do all the work
for you, all you need to do is give it a pulse and a direction.

peter

[peter247]

read this link :-

http://www.active-robots.com/products/motorcon/easy-step/easy-step-1000.pdf

that should give you a clue to have a stepper motor works

[Ian Macdonald]

Hi Malcolm

Is it a bipolar or unipolar stepper motor?

Have you got a copy of the l293 data sheet? if not I can email a copy

You also need to build up a box of interesting bits :-) buying wire and
connectors from Maplin gets expensive and wastes valuable project time.

Cheers

Ian

[Malcolm]

Hi Peter,
I have rebuilt a small CNC mill which I drive with Mach3 via a Xylotex
board so I have some idea about stepper operation.
What I am unsure about is which is the best way of generating the
pulse train from the bv513.
The motor I am experimenting with is a unipolar motor from a scanner.
I have driven this motor from the printer port of my BBC model B so I
know it 'goes'. It is really the translation to the bv513/405 which I
need to think about.
I have now downloaded the L293 datasheet which I can study; thanks Ian

Malcolm

[Ian Macdonald]

On Fri, 2009-09-04 at 12:13 -0700, Malcolm wrote:
> Hi Peter,
> I have rebuilt a small CNC mill which I drive with Mach3 via a Xylotex
> board so I have some idea about stepper operation.

Beat me to that one, I bought a cross table an have the steppers ready
to connect but time, its quite an involved project would love to see
some pics and get more.

> What I am unsure about is which is the best way of generating the
> pulse train from the bv513.
> The motor I am experimenting with is a unipolar motor from a scanner.
> I have driven this motor from the printer port of my BBC model B so I
> know it 'goes'. It is really the translation to the bv513/405 which I
> need to think about.
> I have now downloaded the L293 datasheet which I can study; thanks Ian
>

Have a look here

http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/StepperUnipolar

This will give you the step logic then with luck you can port it for the
bv513.

I will be having a go, would like to make it a library so others can
just download it and go

Cheers

Ian

[Malcolm]

Ian,
It was an interesting and fairly expensive exercise.
I was given th chassis of a Boxford VMC190 with 3 stepper motors and 3
ball screws, the balls of one of these were in a plastic bag! and the
spindle motor.
Apparently a previous owner decided the electronics were out of date
and disposed of them and the cabinet ,so it was quite a task.
However it now runs well.
Re pics. What is the procedure on this group?
thanks for the website, all useful info.

Malcolm

[Ian Macdonald]

On Sat, 2009-09-05 at 12:11 -0700, Malcolm wrote:
> Ian,
> It was an interesting and fairly expensive exercise.
> I was given th chassis of a Boxford VMC190 with 3 stepper motors and 3
> ball screws, the balls of one of these were in a plastic bag! and the
> spindle motor.
> Apparently a previous owner decided the electronics were out of date
> and disposed of them and the cabinet ,so it was quite a task.
> However it now runs well.
> Re pics. What is the procedure on this group?
> thanks for the website, all useful info.
>

I am not being so adventurous, just want to mill a few circuit boards,
though have spent a few hundred quid just on motors and drivers so I
know what you mean by expensive.

I am not sure on the procedure for sending pics to the group, James is
admin, perhaps he may comment? however I am happy for you to send them
direct to me.

Cheers

Ia

[Jim]

I can post any pictures or articles using the page facility, I think,
just send them to me.

Jim