Reprap Forums - Electronics

Basic Atmega 644 (no replies)

reprapuser — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:58:27 -0800

Does anyone have schematics for a basic duino/atmega644 with nothing fancy like jtag or icsp?

Usb to ttl cable for only US$ 3 (no replies)

Pablo2m — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:18:49 -0800

Hello:
This is a link of the project
[www.uchobby.com]
Bye

Alternative RepRap PCD sources (5 replies)

spacexula — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:44:28 -0800

I would like an alternative vender besides Makerbot to purchase all the PCD boards for the Reprap from. Does anyone know of any other sources?

Full Stepping/Half Stepping (11 replies)

Jeff B — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:06:58 -0800

I have been looking through the documentation of the stepper drivers and the mother board for gen 3 electronics, and I can not find any reference to the Gen 3 stepper drivers being full of half step.

I am using the firmware from: [reprap.svn.sourceforge.net] which seams to be the newest 5d firmware

Is there a way to switch between full and half step?

Extruder controller Stepper motor not working (4 replies)

Daniel123 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:43:53 -0800

Im using the Extrudercontroller v 2.2 firmware 1.6 and want to connect a bipolar stepper (M42STH47-1684SC) I have it connected properly but it does not work!
I changed the firmware to #define MOTOR_STYLE 2.When I start a Print it only hums.I also tried a different Stepper motor but its the same problem.

Axes revolution with Sarduino (3 replies)

Daniel123 — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:54:21 -0800

Can I change the revolution of the steppermotors in the Sarduino firmware like the _init.pde file in the Arduino firmware?

Motherboard v1.2: atmega644 vs atmega644P [solved] (6 replies)

volty — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:47:54 -0800

Hi folks,

i am having some challenges getting the firmware installed on my rmb-1.2.

After quite a while of troubleshooting on my own, I realized that when I assembled my rmb-1.2, I soldered in an atmega644 (device signature = 0x1e9609) instead of an atmega644p (device signature = 0x1e960a). Not on purpose of course - Digi-Key sent the wrong chip, the invoice did not match the package contents, and i didn't realize this until now.

Now given that these chips appear to be almost identical, i somewhat hope that i am not as screwed as i first thought (at least with some help) :-)

The challenge I believe I already solved:

However, I can't seem to be able to compile and upload the Sanguino Master Firmware because of the sanity check in SanguinoMaster.pde:

#ifndef __AVR_ATmega644P__
#error Oops!  Make sure you have 'Sanguino' selected from the 'Tools -> Boards' menu.
#endif

If I change this to __AVR_ATMega644__, verification starts but then fails with "error: 'Serial1' was not declared in this scope":

C:\Users\reprap\AppData\Local\Temp\build6219.tmp\/RS485.h: In function 'void rs485_tx(byte)':

C:\Users\reprap\AppData\Local\Temp\build6219.tmp\/RS485.h:16: error: 'Serial1' was not declared in this scope

 In function 'void init_serial()':
error: 'Serial1' was not declared in this scope In function 'bool read_tool_response(int)':

Does anyone have hints as to how I might get around hot air rework and putting the atmega644p onto my board instead?

TIA,
-volty

Sanguino v1.0 bootloader frustration (with much detail!) [SOLVED] (7 replies)

toomanyplugs — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:57:55 -0800

Ok, I've got a problem getting a bootloader on a Sanguino board (the long skinny one) that I've assembled. I've tried a bunch of different things and I think I may have a bad crystal oscillator. Here's essentially where I am now, with way more detail below.

---Question---
How critical is the timing for the compiled sanguino bootloader ATmega_644p.hex for 16Mhz vs 12Mhz crystals? I've ordered more crystals, but until they show up I tried using a 12Mhz crystal that I had, and avrdude still gave rc=-1 when trying to just read the chip. The fuse bits suggest that it just needs >8MHz, right? Is there something special about the way the bootloader works with the timing, or is there something worse wrong with my board?

---More Detail---
Sanguino v1.0 PCB from makerbot, with my own components.

WinXP SP2 with Arduino 0017, WinAVR 20090313, Sanguino software 1.4r1, avrdude 5.6 (Mar 5 09)

16MHz crystal from the local electronics supply (that may be suspect), with two 22pF ceramic disc caps. 12 Mhz crystal from same supply (with the same suspicion)

*3 SEPARATE* ATmega644P chips have been tried

USBtinyISP from adafruit, built from their PCB and my own components. Verified to work with other tiny2313's as well as the extruder 2.2 board

Brian Dean's parallel ICSP programmer, verified to work with tiny2313's (used it to program the USBtiny chip)

Arduino "miniusb" USB to TTL converter, v3 from adafruit, tried to run it in bitbang mode based on this ExMrClean post, with the correct pinouts from the arduino page and the FTDI datasheet, including setting the CTS# and RTS# pins in avrdude.conf as negative pins (ie, SCK ~3). Inconclusive: I could never get avrdude to respond other than rc=-1

High Voltage parallel programmer made from a Basic Stamp board of education and the atmega644p datasheet

---Process---
*Chip #1*
Tried burning the Sanguino bootloader using Arduino 0017 and USBtiny: rc=-1

Tried burning the Sanguino bootloader using avrdude with USBtiny the same target chip: rc=-1. Flaky USB connection from USBtiny as a result of using 1W zeners and not 0.5W. Replaced zeners and USB connection issue went away, but still rc=-1.

Tried powering chip from usbtiny and externally for all usbtiny tests. rc=-1

Tried to read chip using avrdude/bsd programmer: rc=-1

Tried using -B <0-40> with avrdude and usbtiny: rc=-1

Tried to use avrdude and usbttl in bitbang mode, with and without -B 4800: rc=-1

Tried to read chip using high voltage basic stamp: sucessfully read and reset fuses, erased chip.

Tried to burn bootloader with USBtiny/avrdude. Tried burning hex, writing lock bits to 0x3F, writing lfuse 0xFF, writing hfuse 0xDC, writing efuse 0xFD in one go, with intent to set lock bits to 0x0F on next command: SUCCESS writing hex, fuses (no flashing debug light tho). Next command to write lock bits gets rc=-1. (note: fuse values from boards.txt for sanguino)

Tried to get HVBasicStamp to read fuses again: all fuses, signature bits set to alternately 0x99 or 0x0A, attempts to reset fuses do not stick.

Tried again to read using avrdude/bsd programmer: rc=-1

Gave up on chip #1

*Chip #2*
Tried to start over by burning bootloader using arduino/usbtiny: rc=-1

Gave up on chip #2

*Chip #3*
Tried to burn bootloader with avrdude/usbtiny by writing hex, lock bit 0x3F, lfuse 0xFF, hfuse 0xDC, efuse 0xFD, lock 0x0F: SUCCESS writing all bits. No blinking debug light. Next avrdude read command rc=-1

Powered Sanguino board via external supply plugged into the wall and scoped the crystal: all I got was a nice clean low amplitude 60Hz wave (from the wall socket, i'm assuming), both in powered and unpowered states. Crystal dead?

Replaced 22pF caps with other ones of same type. rc=-1

Replaced crystal with 12MHz while waiting for replacement 16MHz. rc=-1 (no access to scope while at home).

---AVRDUDE---
Here's the output from avrdude for the Chip #3 program that seemed to work. No change was made to the hardware between commands.

D:\WinAVR\bin>avrdude -c usbtiny -p atmega644p -P usb

avrdude: AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.03s

avrdude: Device signature = 0x1e960a

avrdude: safemode: Fuses OK

avrdude done. Thank you.

D:\WinAVR\bin>avrdude -c usbtiny -p atmega644p -P usb -U flash:w:ATmegaBOOT_644p.hex:i -U lock:w:0x3F:m -U efuse:w:0xFD:
m -U hfuse:w:0xDC:m -U lfuse:w:0xFF:m -U lock:w:0x0F:m 0v

avrdude: AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s

avrdude: Device signature = 0x1e960a
avrdude: NOTE: FLASH memory has been specified, an erase cycle will be performed
To disable this feature, specify the -D option.
avrdude: erasing chip
avrdude: reading input file "ATmegaBOOT_644p.hex"
avrdude: writing flash (65382 bytes):

Writing | ################################################## | 100% 36.44s

avrdude: 65382 bytes of flash written
avrdude: verifying flash memory against ATmegaBOOT_644p.hex:
avrdude: load data flash data from input file ATmegaBOOT_644p.hex:
avrdude: input file ATmegaBOOT_644p.hex contains 65382 bytes
avrdude: reading on-chip flash data:

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 34.38s

avrdude: verifying ...
avrdude: 65382 bytes of flash verified
avrdude: reading input file "0x3F"
avrdude: writing lock (1 bytes):

Writing | ################################################## | 100% 0.00s

avrdude: 1 bytes of lock written
avrdude: verifying lock memory against 0x3F:
avrdude: load data lock data from input file 0x3F:
avrdude: input file 0x3F contains 1 bytes
avrdude: reading on-chip lock data:

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.00s

avrdude: verifying ...
avrdude: 1 bytes of lock verified
avrdude: reading input file "0xFD"
avrdude: writing efuse (1 bytes):

Writing | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s

avrdude: 1 bytes of efuse written
avrdude: verifying efuse memory against 0xFD:
avrdude: load data efuse data from input file 0xFD:
avrdude: input file 0xFD contains 1 bytes
avrdude: reading on-chip efuse data:

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.00s

avrdude: verifying ...
avrdude: 1 bytes of efuse verified
avrdude: reading input file "0xDC"
avrdude: writing hfuse (1 bytes):

Writing | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s

avrdude: 1 bytes of hfuse written
avrdude: verifying hfuse memory against 0xDC:
avrdude: load data hfuse data from input file 0xDC:
avrdude: input file 0xDC contains 1 bytes
avrdude: reading on-chip hfuse data:

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.00s

avrdude: verifying ...
avrdude: 1 bytes of hfuse verified
avrdude: reading input file "0xFF"
avrdude: writing lfuse (1 bytes):

Writing | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s

avrdude: 1 bytes of lfuse written
avrdude: verifying lfuse memory against 0xFF:
avrdude: load data lfuse data from input file 0xFF:
avrdude: input file 0xFF contains 1 bytes
avrdude: reading on-chip lfuse data:

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.00s

avrdude: verifying ...
avrdude: 1 bytes of lfuse verified
avrdude: reading input file "0x0F"
avrdude: writing lock (1 bytes):

Writing | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s

avrdude: 1 bytes of lock written
avrdude: verifying lock memory against 0x0F:
avrdude: load data lock data from input file 0x0F:
avrdude: input file 0x0F contains 1 bytes
avrdude: reading on-chip lock data:

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s

avrdude: verifying ...
avrdude: 1 bytes of lock verified

avrdude: safemode: Fuses OK

avrdude done. Thank you.

D:\WinAVR\bin>avrdude -c usbtiny -p atmega644p -P usb

avrdude: initialization failed, rc=-1
Double check connections and try again, or use -F to override
this check.

avrdude done. Thank you.

D:\WinAVR\bin>avrdude -c usbtiny -p atmega644p -P usb -B 12

avrdude: initialization failed, rc=-1
Double check connections and try again, or use -F to override
this check.

avrdude done. Thank you.

D:\WinAVR\bin>avrdude -c usbtiny -p atmega644p -P usb -B 12 -F

avrdude: initialization failed, rc=-1
avrdude: AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions
avrdude: Device signature = 0x000000
avrdude: Yikes! Invalid device signature.
avrdude: Expected signature for ATMEGA644P is 1E 96 0A

avrdude done. Thank you.

Power Supply questions (2 replies)

Curlrup — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:04:41 -0800

Well I have all of my parts and and all of my electronics. I need to get soldering. I ordered all of my electronics from Makerbot. I am using their power supply, I am confused as heck as to what goes where and what needs to be added for power to all of the boards. All I see is a mess of wires. Thanks

Curly

DIY Surface mount soldering iron (no replies)

freds — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:47:57 -0800

Hi Everyone

I stumbled across this post that I found interesting.

[www.engadget.com]

interesting article on fast, real-time calculation of acceleration profiles for stepper motors (4 replies)

Triffid_Hunter — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:41:18 -0800

More as a note for myself than anything, but do comment here if you have thoughts :)

[www.embedded.com]

cat5 termination? (no replies)

Triffid_Hunter — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:52:44 -0800

why do the gen3 motherboard and the extruder terminate with 180r when cat5's characteristic impedance is 100r?

Extruder Controller 2.2 Bootloader problem (7 replies)

Jeff B — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:36:01 -0800

So I used a USB plug (the ones from inside the computer that hook up to the motherboard) as connectors to burn a boot loader.

I used: [exmrclean.blogspot.com] as my source

I changed everything from m644p to m168

But I think I messed up when I ran these commands:

avrdude -c ft232u -P ft0 -p m168 -U flash:w:ATmegaBOOT_644.hex:i

avrdude -c ft232u -P ft0 -p m168 -B 4800 -U lock:w:0x3F:m -U efuse:w:0xFD:m

avrdude -c ft232u -P ft0 -p m168 -B 4800 -U hfuse:w:0xDC:m

avrdude -c ft232u -P ft0 -p m68 -B 4800 -U lfuse:w:0xFF:m -U lock:w:0x0F:m

The bootloader loaded on fine everything worked without errors.

I then went to load blink onto the chip and it worked!
But when I would try to upload anything else it would not. So I tried reuploading the bootloader, and uploading a new sketch. This would work aswell.

This loading the bootloader then uploading the sketch combo worked 3 times now I cant upload a sketch no matter what, the Debug led just flashes really fast

I know nothing about chips, but i have a feeling that the fuse(s) or what ever they are have the wrong bits, But I cant even get the serjtag software to even connect.

When it is supposed to say "ft245r: bitclk 4800 -> ft baud 2400
avrdude: AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions" it says unable to connect check your connections.

Should I just go ahead and buy the bootloader? is that my problem?

Any advice is appreciated.

my DC motor not working with arduino. (4 replies)

Lukasz — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:29:05 -0800

Hi i am using the second generation electronics with arduino. I have tested my DC extruder motor with the test program and it works. When i upload the full firmware to my arduino and use the host program on my PC the extruder doesn't work. Everything else works. The the x-y-z no problem. The fan and the heater works. Will the extruder work even if the temperature is not high enough?
I heated the extruder up to 200 C and pressed the extrude button. I monitored the DC motor connections but there is no signal. I checked the arduino outputs 11 and 12 but there is no signal. Please help.

DC motor speed sensor, connection help. (no replies)

Lukasz — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:18:43 -0800

Hi. I am new in the reprap world. I can't wait to see my machine working.

I have problem with the DC extruder motor speed sensor. I am using the opto-sensor instead of the magnetic rotary encoder. The problem is I don't know where to plug it in. The electronics diagram doesn't include it.

I looked into the firmware pin assignment but none of the pins seems to be assigned to read the sensor.

Anyone using it? Is there extra software I have to type myself?

Will it work without it?

I will appreciate any help. I looked everywhere for it but unfortunately there is no information.

cheap stepper motor controller (1 reply)

james glanville — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:00:16 -0800

Hi, I'm not affiliated with the guy in any way, but I thought I'd recommend the following stepper controller:

[www.diycnc.co.uk]

Its not much more than 20 quid shipped anywhere, and I've found it excellent. It manages 1/8th stepping well, which I hope will improve the accuracy of my axes/extruder, and only gets slightly warm to the touch at 2.5A. While it suggests a higher voltage, it works fine at 12V at 10cm/sec on my heavy-axis darwin. Hope this helps someone,

James

motherboard v1.2 - Capacitor call-out discrepancy (4 replies)

ebrooks — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:45:29 -0800

At [reprap.org] and on the BOM it calls out 2 x 15 pF caps but printed on the board it says 22 pF. Does anyone know why the discrepancy and which one is correct? I am referring to C1 and C2.

Thanks,

Evan

Extruder Controller 2.2 problem (4 replies)

Jeff B — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:28:21 -0800

As some of you may have seen in the software forum that I am having some trouble with my pre assembled extruder controller from makerbot.

Heres the problem: I can not upload firmware on it at all no matter what timing I try with the reset button nothing works I always get this error:

avrdude: stk500_getsync(): not in sync: resp=0x48
avrdude: stk500_disable(): protocol error, expect=0x14, resp=0x48

I know this error means that the board isnt syncing with the Arduino Software and that.

I can use the same computer to do the firmware on the motherboard
I have selected the correct settings port, board, ive checked the port settings.
The board has no wires connected to it but the ttl cable

On the board itself when I hit the reset button should the debug led flash as it does on the motherboard?

Also R1 is missing theres balls of solder on the points but no solder, I read in the documentation that one extruder should have that, I only have one extruder. should I add a resistor there?

btw I do not have a programmer for burning a bootloader, as the board was supposed to ship with one.

Makerbot firmware...will it work with RepRap Host? (2 replies)

Curlrup — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:59:38 -0800

Will the makerbot firmware work with the RepRap Host software? Or will I have to go to something else? Thanks

CUrly

What the heck does the TTL cable do? Forgive my not knowing (3 replies)

Curlrup — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:28:01 -0800

Sorry folks I am so new to electronics, specing and building them that I have to ask the dumb questions. What is the USB-TTL cable for on Gen 3 Electronics? Can't I just dump my G-code on an SD and walk away do I still need a direct link to a computer?

Why is the RepRap Powered Differently than the Cupcake? (12 replies)

swighton — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:16:13 -0800

I recently ordered the full generation 3 electronics from the makerbot store to use in building a mendel. Reading through the documentation for the motherboard I noticed that the RepRap doesn't use the RJ45 connectors to communicate with the extruder controller, nor does it use the ATX power supply header - instead it says to to desolder he RJ45s and replace them with 2 pin connectors and to remove the power supply header and put in a capacitor and transistor.

Is there an advantage to doing this? Can I just wire up my reprap the way the cupcake is? (powering the motherboard from the PS and using the RJ485 jacks)

It says that the motherboard is powered via the usb-ttl cable on the RepRap setup, if I was to use the atx power supply connection in the cupcake configuration does that change anything with the way I interface with the computer? Would I still just plug the TTL cable in like normal?

Thanks in advance!

Stepper Controller Board not working? (7 replies)

Josh — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:43:18 -0800

Hello all,

I have been trying to get a repstrap up and running for what seems life forever. It seems that the closer I get the more issues pop up.

I got 3 of the 2.3 stepper controllers from MakerBot and tried to hook them up. I will admit I am not the most careful with circuits (I am actually a mechanical engineer, dont know why I try to do electronics), but at the same time I do take precautions not to fry stuff.

Anyway, I have 3 boards and they are hooked up to my motors, and I am running them off of an old pc using a printer port. Now I hooked one up and everything worked perfectly, I am using only 3 of the pins on the ribbon cable that would normally go to the reprap mother board. these pins are ground, step, and direction. everything else is left unconnected. (I know, not the best practice)

Then I hooked up a second one, and it worked for one night. A few days later I attempted to hook up the third one. Things must have been moved or fiddled with, because I can only get the very first board to work.

Things i know:
*all the motors are fine, because I have interchanged them with the working board.
*the connections to my pc are fine, because I can interchange them with the board.

I don't see how i could have misconnected power, because the molex connector is keyed.

When I connect the power, the power led lights up, but I do not get any other leds light up for the motor coils like my working board does. the motor does not jump to life. I get no response from sending step signals, nor direction changes. Also the power led get dimmer as time goes on. if i disconnect the interface pins (step, direction, ground) the led get brighter again. Also the ic might be getting a little hotter then the other one, but it doesn't seem to be getting overly hot. nothing else seems hot.

Worst of all makerbot is out of assembled boards. This leaves me with a few options

1. wait for new boards,
2. get an older controller board kit, version 1.2
3. try to figure out what is wrong, and possibly swap out the ic or other fired part on the boards.

Any advice? Anyone have some 2.3 assembled boards I can buy?

thank you in advance,
Josh

a3982 availability - Allegro DMOS Stepper Motor Driver (4 replies)

ebrooks — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:46:41 -0700

I have been able to purchase every single necessary component for the gen 3 electronics EXCEPT this ONE part. The parts lister provides a Digi-Key part number 620-1082-ND but Digi-Key requires a minimum order qty of 837 for this part.

Any idea how I can get this part? Any thoughts very much appreciated . . .

Thanks,

Evan

Printing circuits (1 reply)

annodomini2 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:18:27 -0800

Something to look at for the future of printing circuits

Xerox silver printing

Arduino Firmware Problem (14 replies)

drummerboyx — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:51:01 -0800

Hello,
I have an Arduino, PWM driver, motor driver and power supply. I individually tested each driver board with the Arduino and they all work fine. I downloaded the experimental GCode interpreter firmware for the Arduino, and then uploaded it on to it without any errors. When I opened the RepRap Host Sofware, it indicated the temperature correctly, but when I tried to extrude or turn on the heater, nothing happened. I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

I NEED HELP!!!

Thanks
Drummerboyx

Arduino Firmware Problem (no replies)

drummerboyx — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:41:38 -0700

Mendel Power (1 reply)

ziplock — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:54:31 -0700

On this page in the wiki: [http://objects.reprap.org/wiki/] it describes how to make a power connector for Mendel, but it doesn't tell how to connect it so that it provides power. For instance, how would you hook it up to the stepper motor drivers? Or the motherboard? Seems like a few important things have been left out.

-Adam

Sanguino Parallel ICSP Programmer (4 replies)

annodomini2 — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:18:21 -0700

I saw a link somewhere think for a simple ICSP programmer using the parallel port and a few resistors, maybe a couple of caps, but can't seem to find the link.

You could then use AVR Dude to program it, anyone got a link.

Have a makerbot sitting right here infront of me (3 replies)

RyanHendrickson — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:54:37 -0700

all the lights are glowing and all the cables are plugged in right and I can't seem to get it talking to my computer or my computer to talk to it.I feel like I am making a huge mistake. Anyone have any idea?

(RJ11 vs RJ45) or Telephone cables verses Ethernet 100 base T (9 replies)

stephen george — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:05:12 -0700

Sorry to ask a newbie question

Why are the new gen 3 boards using 4 pair ethernet (8 cables).
rather than 2 pair telephone cable (4 cables).

I would have thought good old telephone cable would be the way to go.

1) They are designed to carry power. I.E. your phone hand set
2) It's really old technology
3) It's very wide spread so everyone can get the connectors
4) It's cheaper than ethernet
5) Each Gen 2 board uses 4 cables -

Stepper - Ground,Step,dir,min
Opto 3 - Ground,signal, +5
PMW driver - Ground,pmw1,pmw2,pmw3
DC motor drv - Ground,Dira,PWMa,Dirb,PWMb, (okay you got me there)

And while we are at it why do we have a Ground anyway?
The PSU will have a proper ground. Use that.
If anything we should be connecting the Arduino/microcontroler
to that ground. Not all the sub boards.

Or am I missing something?

Grin

Stephen