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

@mila
I really would like to know what caused your decision to post a question about pvc tubes in Thanos' controller thread.

Just in case you havent thought about it at all, and simply posted your question in the first best thread where you thougt that alot of forum members read would it, let me tell you something: We will read it as well if you post it:

1. in a matching thread, for example Thanos Joyrider simulator thread
2. in an own thread, which is called Which pvc profiles for a Joyrider for example, or even if you'd post a project thread for yout attempt to build your simulator.

You would get an answer for sure! No need to go Off-Topic in a 60 pages thread.

@all
It takes me alot of time, which I could use for more important things, to shift postings into the right thread or category. Alot more time that it takes you to post them. So please think about where you post your stuff next time please!

Thanks
Christian

Oh yeah iam so sorry i forgot it.. i know that the forum have any strucutre.. so i will make it better in fututre.. so again iam sorry... :tape:

My latest news is that I switched cables and was able to have a succesful probe! I was using the correct cable, but it was from work, so who knows where it's been.

Now I have followed Thanos' 4 part video guides and everything seems functioning until the end. When moving the target bars in profiler, only the second number responds on my LCD. I suspect I have an incorrect setting in output protocol and will scour the threads looking for info, but wanted to report another succesful Thanos motion controller!

-Dave

Well, I have not found a solution to why in Profiler software I can move one axis slider and 1 set of LCD numbers changes, but I move the other, and nothing happens. The pot changes the other numbers on LCD exactly like they should.

I replaced my atmega8535L, checked solders and everything else I can think of. I know the problem is staring me in the face... I have been trying for hours and I hope to wake up with the solution.

Hi adochoa,

You have to use the ATMEGA8535-16PU not the ATMEGA8535L-8PU !!!!! The ATMEGA8535L-8PU is a slower version of that chip that runs in half speed... What crystal you used? And how you managed to program the firmware???? The ponyprog should given you error detecting that chip in first place!

Anyway, can you write the string you are using on the USO profiler? It should be AB~255~~y~~x~ . Also check all the USO setting to mach those I gave, (115200, 8,N,1) and both axis should be declared as one byte character ...


Thanos

Thanks Thanos, I hope it's that easy of a fix. I was using the 14mhz crystal so I thought it would be OK, but also - the 8535L is called out in the parts list and on page 28 of this thread:

Mouser #: 556-ATMEGA8535L-8PU
Mfr. #: ATMEGA8535L-8PU
Desc.: Microcontrollers - RISC 8kB Flash, 0.5kB EEPROM,32 I/O Pins

Besides that, all my settings match what you've given here already, so I just need to order the new chip and hopefully am good to go!
Thanks again,
Dave

That list had this error that I didn't had noticed...

post7156.html#p7156

I can't edit out this error (in case someone fall in same pit again...). Only the author can fix that.

Sorry for the trouble...

Thanos

reichelt elektronik! i only buy parts for 30-40 euro´s.

Bitte beachten Sie den Mindestbestellwert von 150 Euro.

Its very hard to translate the artikelnr to the swedish www.elfa.se

Any idea?

Translated: Please note the minimum order of 150 euros

translation: artikelnr = item


Thanos

Hi Thanos,

I've left you a question yesterday on your Mjoy thread, just in case you haven't checked it.

Thanks
David

Hello Thanos i want ask you for the vellemans BOARD?exactly for this one http://www.pselectronic.cz/k5503-159-vm110-usb-interface.html
is this same like your electronic with ATMEL? or what have i to do else when i will buy this velleman´s board? i only connect it to the H-bridge and then to motors?Thank you very much Mila from Czech...

Re: Step by Step... approaching to Thanos work.

Hi!...

Very minor updates... but i would prefer to show it on next days.

I'm dealing with the AMC, becouse after seeing the shortcut, and after letting some 9v running free across the circuit, i spent some time looking for failures and damaged components all around.
The bad news is that even with green lights on (both), and the red flashing on every data packet i send from the hyperterminal... the ponyprog keep saying Probe Fail. I had very little time to look for the trouble point, but just a question from a newby what data is supposed to expect the Interface Setup of the ponyprog when i press the probe button? I had a sniffer reading what is traveling along my serial port to and from the AMC and on probe mode there's nothing writting to the com port (neither reading)... just some control data. I think i don't get it... (and yes, i've change the serial cable and i tried on a second computer... ). Tomorrow i will change the crystal, and look around the Max chip, becouse the soldering part was already looked searching for the shortcut.

Anyway, the motors are very close to the final position, so i'm beggining to see some dim light at the end of this full of learning tunnel.

Good night
Oscar

@Oscar
your last post fits better in this thread, so I moved it

regards

Hi Oscar,

You should check the ISP circuit (ponyprog serial connector) for problems. Mostly check if you inserted in reverse the zener diodes or the transistor. If this circuit is ok you should receive Probe OK message in Ponyprog even without the 4 bridge prog cables to the Atmega8535. Disconnect the other serial port cable while doing this as I found on my computer that a third part software was polling the serial port every a few seconds making the red led blink without appearant reason... Close any active program that may poll the com ports, like mobile phone suites (nokia, sony etc...)

Post here a closeup photo of your board with all connections in place. Perhaps you have something connected wrong.


Regards, Thanos

Hi Thanos,
will the AMC 1.5 controller, control the HIP4081 H-Bridge driver chip in it's current configuration, or does the firmware need to be modified for it to work correctly.


Regards Senetor.

We work together with R-eng on this to make it as much compatible as we can. The signal connections will be the same except that there will be a IDC connector on the HPMhb-150A board that will be the standard on the future version of AMC boards as well. If you didn't notice this h-bridge will be a pure monster delivering 150A continuous!!!

No firmware change is needed as the signals are the same as I said above, but minor modification may needed to compensate the extreme small switching timings (around 10ns). I can only tell for sure after I build the prototype and watch the signals under oscilloscope (Yeah, I finally purchased a cheap USB scope myself!).

Regards, Thanos

:

All was going well. I replaced my Atmega8535L with the correct one and it fixed my problem. I probed OK, sent firmware, and made it all the way through Thanos video guides succesfully. The LCD display behaved exactly like it should have when I moved the pots, or moved the slider in profiler. All lights were on.

I decided to use Pololu board, while I am still working on the H-Bridge. I used a 300W computer power supply to see if everything was functioning. I plugged in my wiper motors, double checked all connections, and turned power on. The result was my motor did about a 1/4 revolution and then everything stopped working. My LCD went blank and lights turned off. I quickly unplugged my power supply and was suprised to see the power supply fan still on! when I unplug the 9V AMC the power supply fan stopped. Still, lights are off and LCD is blank. Not sure what to do now. Any ideas?

I took the best picture I could, but need more light in my office. If there's anything anyone would recomend I'm eagerly awaiting.

Very discouraged,
Dave

Hi Dave,

Check your potentiometer connections. If you had it connected wrong on the AMC, and connected it on motors rotation path for feedback, It would cause short circuit after rotating...

Also try to have separated the AMC and Pololu Motor ground's and check if your motor has its ground connected to its housing!

In your photo the pololu ground seems to be directly connected to the AMC through the mountings. Place them apart to see if this is happening again.

Can you power on the AMC with all cables unconnected? If not you should change the LM2940 Regulator.


BTW. where you made your board? ExpressPCB or other company?


Regards, Thanos

my board is from Express PCB.

The pololu ground is isolated from that of AMC and the potentiometers, I believe, are hooked up correctly.

I cannot power up my AMC any longer so will change the regulator.
thanks,
Dave

:hi:
so glad to meet u here.
I have only one question about the AVR1.5
Is it possible to change the resisitance of R8-R11(250k) into 100k or lower than 100k?
if not, is there any size we can use? you know in China, it is difficult to find 250k size.
Awaiting for your reply.
reg & Thanks.
Tony wu