Flashing the bootloader

[Michael Buffington]

So I just now read that a 2GB MicroSD card is needed (and not the 4GB MicroSD card I have sitting in front of me).

I'm curious - can I use the Sparkfun Pocket AVR Programmer to flash the bootloader? This one in particular.

Or, can I partition the 4GB MicroSD so that it's a single 2GB partition?

[DAniel Dumitru]

Hello Michael,

I have been looking at that programmer and I didn't seen that it's also USB-Serial converter.
You need a USB to Serial cable to program the bootloader. PAy attention that LPC it's working at 3.3V.
So cable should be for 3.3 V communication. Do not confuse with USB power supply that it's at 5V.
MAny Nokia cables may be found and used for this purpose.

Regarding partitioning SD card this may be a good ideea !

Also we must wait Arthur's response for SDHD library that will remove the 2Gb limitation

Kind Regards,
Daniel

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[Arthur Wolf]

Hey !

The pins are 5V tolerant, so you can use any serial cable for this ( if it does not give 5v for power, power the board using the usb cable ). Even an arduino would work.

Cheers !

2013/2/3 DAniel Dumitru <dand...@gmail.com>

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Courage et bonne humeur.

[Matthew Green]

The problem with SD cards above 2GB, is that they're SDHC (High Capacity) and not standard SD, so the specification is a bit different (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure_Digital).

Depending on how the bootloader code works, it may:

1. Just work

2. Not work

3. Work with a 2GB FAT16 primary partition 

Matt

[Michael Buffington]

Doesn't look like a card above 2GB, regardless of how it's partitioned or formatted, works.

Here's what I tried with a 4GB card:

- 1 2GB FAT16 partition, the rest of the space set as free space

- 2 2GB FAT16 partitions

- 1 1GB FAT16 partition, the rest as free space

- 4 1GB FAT16 paritions

- all of the above using FAT32

When the smoothieboard is plugged into USB with the card, it never appears as a mass storage device.

Looks like I'll be ordering a < 2GB SD card.

[Arthur Wolf]

I don't think doing partitioning will help here.
You want either to flash the newer bootloader, or buy a 2GB sd card ( they are very cheap ).

2013/2/3 Michael Buffington <michael.b...@gmail.com>

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[Michael Buffington]

I ordered a 2GB card for $6.99 US. It'll arrive Wednesday. Most likely I won't need it though since I'll probably use an Arduino as a FTDI programmer today. I've never done that before, but this tutorial seems pretty simple:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Examples-2-Use-an-Arduino-as-a-FTDI-Progr/

2013/2/3 Michael Buffington <michael.b...@gmail.com>

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[Michael Buffington]

Using the Arduino as a FTDI cable worked.

I was able to install the newer bootloader but only when using just the 3.3v Tx/Rx and the ground pins from the Smoothieboard to the Arduino. I powered the Smoothieboard via its USB port, and the Arduino through its USB port.

After installing the bootloader and disconnecting the Arduino, I reset, then saw my SD card mounted through the Smoothieboard. I dropped a config file onto the drive, reset the board, then tested my X and Y steppers. It took a bit of tuning in Pronterface, but I was able to eventually get them to run smoothly by adjusting the mm/min.

Now I'm curious - my stepper motor datasheet says they need 24v at 1.8A when driven as bipolar. Is 1.8A getting too close to the 2.0A max?

Also, I'm a bit new to working with steppers - should they get insanely hot? I have a Makerbot Replicator and have certainly never noticed the motors being as hot as the steppers I just tested on the Smoothieboard. I understand they use energy to maintain their position, but what I'm wondering is if someone can explain why they seem dangerously hot (too hot to touch within a minute or two of being idle).

[Arthur Wolf]

2013/2/4 Michael Buffington <michael.b...@gmail.com>

Using the Arduino as a FTDI cable worked.

I was able to install the newer bootloader but only when using just the 3.3v Tx/Rx and the ground pins from the Smoothieboard to the Arduino. I powered the Smoothieboard via its USB port, and the Arduino through its USB port.

After installing the bootloader and disconnecting the Arduino, I reset, then saw my SD card mounted through the Smoothieboard. I dropped a config file onto the drive, reset the board, then tested my X and Y steppers. It took a bit of tuning in Pronterface, but I was able to eventually get them to run smoothly by adjusting the mm/min.

Now I'm curious - my stepper motor datasheet says they need 24v at 1.8A when driven as bipolar. Is 1.8A getting too close to the 2.0A max?

You can probably go up to the full 2A, though I can't find any steppers rated exactly at 2A in my boxes to test that. 1.8A has been done and is fine.

Steppers getting very hot is normal at those currents, especially when holding ( steppers use *less* energy when moving ). You probably want to either lower your current setting, or aim a fan at your steppers.

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[DAniel Dumitru]

Michael, could you please tell what kind of stepper driver do you use ?
Usually stepper motors are getting warm , very warm but after many
minutes .
As you tell it seems that you are using a too big current.

[Michael Buffington]

I'm using the built in drivers on the Smoothieboard.

The stepper datasheet recommends a power supply of 24V with at least 1.8A for bipolar motors - I'm using 12V supply driving the motors at 1.5A (I assume - it's what it's the smoothieboard config). Reading the datasheet more closely, I think I should probably drop the current to 0.8A. Voltage-wise, I'm still not sure what's best.