Tronic's AMC motor motion-controller with pwm/servo output

Hi Dave i dont know if this advice will be of any help but after the things i checked on my PCB it turned out to be a very very very small solder bridge on LCD interface ( Mine was made out of Veroboard not a PCB like thanos ) as with most faults on the AMC project it seems to was always be the case of check our Build Quality Because we know that this is a proven design ( weve been there made the same mistakes) . so not much help in pin pointing your problem but as i did on my project, i went over each joint with a 10X magnifying glass 8) and have to say though the satisfaction you get when it powers up correctly far overcomes the problems ;D so for me i would check the connections on your LCD interface against the LCD Pin out Diagram and mainly for shorts across pins/tracks ....By the way thats an excellent looking PCB you have made it looks like Through Plated holes .. where did you get that done ?

Those PCB's looks like they made by ExpressPCB etching service, from files that R-eng provided, if I'm not wrong... ;D

Here is the post: post9129.html#p9129


Thanos

Imho the best method to check the pcb is to hold it between your face and a strong light source (like doctors check a X-ray image), because that way you dont see the flux remains.

regards

Hi,


These problems with vista and ponyprog troubles me a little.

I don't have Vista and may probably never use on my computers. As computer technician, I've downgraded over a hundred of laptops and desktops computers back to Windows XP the last year, cause the owners could not bear their endless problems and inefficiencies. The only good thing about Vista is the DX10 support. Period!!! :mug1:

So I'm going to investigate a little the ponyprog issues using some vista computers from work so see under what circumstances they work (administrator rights?) or if its just matter of com drivers (home, business or ultima).

Anyway, for now I suggest to all Vista users to seek for an WinXP computer to load the AMC firmware atleast. After that the AMC will be usable with Vista an nornal, either thru normal onboard Com port, either from a FTDI USB serial adapter.

Regards, Thanos

Is there any programer like ponyprog for linux ? Because if you have liveCD with linux you can only boot and program it.

Hi,

Mine worked on vista 64 bit with the ponyprog that Thanos put on the forum. I was able to program
the atmega8535.

But I have trouble to get in the hyper terminal. So I tried to get into ponyprog to see if that was
still working ok. And now the same problems are occuring... device missing -24 again.

Does this mean that my 4th atmega8535 is broken again? I'm getting a little worried cause
yesterday I had the hole thing working incl. h-bridge (on 1 motor) and potmeter.

Everything worked fine. And now its not working at all

gr. Jeroen

If you dont isolate the motors GND, you are creating a shortcut between the motors, which will damage most likely your electronics. However the mosfets should be the most critical parts.

If you have a device missing notice again, you may have a cold solder spot somewhere, or you've changed exidentially a settiing in ponyprog.

Are you able to read out the Atmega with ponyprog yet?

regards

Hi,

Probe test ok on com1.

If I try to read... at first it says device missing and when I click ignore it does read. read succesfull.
I placed the cable in the programming port, removed the 3 jumpers and put the bridge back on.
Set all dipswitches off.

But when I try to program and the comp. tries to erase the atmega it constantly says device missing.

gr. Jeroen

Hello everybody i want ask you if in the plans for joyrider.? are some special changes in our joyrider with motors? yesterday i began built the cockpit but i saw the pipes on the tronics simulator. so i suggest to give the metal tubes into the plastic tubes.. to be more storng ..i want ask anybody if there are some big propblems on some par of this construction? can anybody help me with this?or say what is more important on the building?Thank you very much.. Mila from Czech.....

Hi,

Ok problem with programming solved. There was a pin-out of the program bridge that did not connect in the socket very well :?

My next problem are the mosfets on the h-bridge. Think I blew them all right now. Are they that fragile?

I am using a 2-15 volt 42a max. powersupply. Are the IRFZ44N and IRF4905 the best to use or are there any better ones in my case?

gr. Jeroen

Still no succesful probe, but I have plans to carefully examine everything w/ light and magnifying glass this week. I have also ordered a new serial cable, and will find a windows XP system to use.

Besides these steps, are there any measurements with a multimeter I can do to help troubleshoot?

thanks,
Dave

Thanos is correct, this is ordered from PCB express. also, the basic order comes with 2 PCB's, so I have 1 extra that I am willing to donate to someone (once I get mine running smoothly) :highfive:

Hi lotada

I used these metal pipes to reinforce the smaller PVC pipes of the inner cockpit, since their size was too small to hold all the extra weight of the bucket seat and the LCD without bending a lot. You will not need those if you use the larger size PVC pipes I mention on my site. If you still want to use such steel pipes inside the PVC pipes, keep in mind that it will be hard to drill them and bolt them in such manner.

Other than that, you can follow Oscar's excellent guide on building his modified joyrider here:
http://www.x-simulator.de/forum/step-by-step-approaching-to-thanos-work-t1218.html


Regards, Thanos

Be sure to use 1:1 serial cable also known as serial extension cable. Null modem serial cable wont do!!!

Who would be the lucky one?



Regards, Thanos

Hi Thanos,

I keep looking for the atmega8535 but i can't find it.
Is the atmega32-16PU compatible with your AMC?

Thanks in advance, Pablo.

I have a spare Atmega8535 left over. Send me your address via PM, and I'll send it to you for free.

Regards
Christian

Hi Cristian,

I really appreciate your help, but i'm in the middle of nowhere in Argentina. It will take weeks (or months) to arrive here.
I'm asking you that, because a find in avrfreaks.net that these models are pin and feature compatible.

Here
http://www.avrfreaks.net/index.php?modu ... bjectid=64

Regards, Pablo.

Hi Pablo,

I'll have to change the firmware to fit to the ATmega32 first. I guess it will work the same way. Let me take a close look on it first, tonight, to be sure about the compatibility of the PWM channels.


Regards, Thanos

ATMEGA8535-16AU uC TQFP44
ATMEGA8535-16PU uC DIL40
ATMEGA8535-16JI uC PLCC44
ATMEGA8535L-8AU uC TQFP44
ATMEGA8535L-8PU uC DIL40
ATMEGA8535L-8JI uC PLCC44

MAX232CPE RS232-transceiver DIL16
MAX232CSE RS232-transceiver SO16
MAX232ECPE RS232-transceiver ESD DIL16
MAX232ECWE RS232-transceiver ESD SO16W
MAX232CWE RS232-transceiver SO16W
MAX232ACPE RS232-transceiver DIL16

BC547C transistor NPN 45V 0.1A TO92
BC547B transistor NPN 45V 0.1A TO92
BC547C transistor NPN 45V 0.1A TO92

Which???

Hi jandersson,

Buy these:

ATMEGA8535-16PU uC DIL40
MAX232CPE RS232-transceiver DIL16
BC547B transistor NPN 45V 0.1A TO92

Thanos

Hello.. yesterday me and my father began to build joyrider.. but we have at begining few problems.. we made inside frame one and second.. but when we made the last biggest frame which is connected to the constructiion on the floor i was little bit rubbery.. cause when i take the frame from one side on other side it was so much deformating..so i want ask you which strength of pipes are u used for outside frame? i see on thabnos photos that also your outside frame is little bit deflected. i also debate about the changing the completely frames and construcitons i dont understand why is inside fram made by Two frames? itcouldnt be something like outside frame which is on bearings and inside frame which will be also on bearings ?? so why there is that croos between one and second inisides frame?if is anybody able to talk about that for example on skype? it will be so brilliant.. after this problem me and my father we bough the pipe 75 mm plastic.. and we will try make it froom this.. if it will be better.. bye Mila Czech...