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

Hi Tony,

What schematics are you referring to? There are no 250Kohm resistors on the AMC1.5 ...!!

Perhaps you are talking about the potentiometers? Yes you can use any potentiometer in the range of 10Kohm to 250Kohm you want. Just be sure to use shielded audio cable for their connection to avoid EMF interferences from the motors.

Regards, Thanos

Dear Thanos,
So many thanks for your reply.
yah, I am talking about the potentiometers.
Pls see the schematic as follow.
Thanks again,
Best regards,
Tony

(from thread: post5657.html#p5657)

Thanos,
:hi: Where do I access this screen to set the fuses? I watched your guides several times and don't think I caught it.
thanks,
Dave

Hi,

Still having problems with the avr. Can't get into hyperterminal. I use the converter that
Thanos mentioned.

What should I test on the board? Something must be wrong there.

gr. Jeroen

How did you made the wiring for the RX and TX cables (3pin Molex)? Did you wire the connectors straight or crossed? If you would post a good res pic which would taken with some care (lighnting, cleaned up the cable mess) that everything is visable, I wouldnt have to ask you the same questions again...
Try to borrow a cam, and make some good pics of your interface...
Or scan the interface with a scanner...

regards

Hi,

The cables are connected correctly. I'm sure about that. I will make a clear
picture and post it.

Is it a problem that I am using a max232n instead of a max232cpe?

gr. Jeroen

Any problems replacing the http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=D2840-21virtualkey57420000virtualkey855-D2840-21 855-D2840-21 IC Socket (currently referenced in the mouser xls parts list file) with
http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?qs=2mZjssE3HVXl%2b6obSc3v%2bQ==
40-6518-10

The 855-D2840-21 IC Socket requires you to purchase 1K+ at a time. I am preparing an import list for the parts and need to find a suitable replacement for the 855-D2840-21 IC Socket.

thanks,
Devin

I took a quick look and it looks like frame style C should work.
-Dave

Re: 40pin IC sockets, I have no problem in using this inexpensive one from Mouser. It will not be used for highly repetitive insertions - hopefully.
571-1-390262-5

R-eng

Nope, They function the same. You could try using 1uF capacitors next the the MAX232 chip.

Except the problem with hyperterminal, are you able to sent values to the AMC from USO profiler??
As Egoexpress said Photos or video can help us understand better whats wrong with your board...


I trying to upload a video that shows the procedure of using the hyperterminal interface on the AMC1.5 , connected through a FTDI based USB-2-serial adapter (digitus). It works fine for me on my WindowsXP. I don't have Vista to also test this.

Best Regards, Thanos

Hi to all,

If you need to switch to a better Atmega644 chip (instead of the Atmega8535) you have to be careful with the fuses in Ponyprog.

Set them exactly like in the next photo otherwise you may not be able see any messages on the LCD or even result in inaccessible chip by the programmer.



These fuse settings are valid for use with crystals of 18.xxxMhz up to 24Mhz. The problem was that by factory the Atmega644 has enabled its JTAG and On-chip Debugger, that prevented the LCD data lines to work as supposed.


Firmware v1.0 for the Atmega644 exists here:
post8999.html#p8999


Best regards, Thanos

@Tronic - As part of the software that I am writing to make using X-Sim easier for beginners, I include some settings templates. For example, with SCN5's, I am able to run a setup program, and import a user chosen template as part of this. When the wizard is complete, users can begin driving.

The templates simply consist of registry entries for X-Sim and a few file placements/modifications. Would it be possible to create such a settings template for your hardware as well? I would be happy to work with you to get it implemented and tersted. This may save you many forum responses to software related settings. I'm afraid I cant help with the hardware related settings.

You can see an example of what I intend for the setup/configuration wizard here: http://www.simxperience.com/files/SimXCommanderVids/FirstRunWizard/FirstRunWizard.html

Hi!...

I didn't notice until now my last post was moved to here 8)

You know that situation when you just touch some wires (not soldering, just touch with your fingers) ,press some buttons (the only one on this board) and then everything that didn't work suddenly works like a charm????? And you can't explain what you have touched becouse everything is like it was before? that happened to me last day... and i don't like to know nothing about what i did to make it work. :? I'm a sound engineer and when it happen that in the rario i work, i get really angry.

Whatever... i programmed the avr with the 24 crystal on it without more Test Failed messages. The LCD i remove from a dead radio machine is not compatible to the hitachi, and now i'm in process to adding a new one (not free like the other, but truly compatible)

So... thank you thanos one more time. It seems i'm reaching the last steps of this wonderfull project. Some more news this week on my usual subject...

Regards
Oscar

I created a BOM import list for mouser.com:
http://www.devincox.com/AMCPartsList.TXT

Just cut and paste this list into the BOM import tool on the view cart page on mouser.com's site and it will place all the components into your cart. I did change the 40 pin IC socket to the cheaper one mentioned by R-eng and added the tact switch.

If someone could check the import list to make sure its accurate and complete, that would be a big help.

Once this list is considered accurate, I will add it to the Wiki.

Thanks,
Devin

Thanks for the offer for help. It would be really nice to have a software setup of my AMC controller. In fact I was thinking adding this feature since each HPMhb-150 will have on board an ATtiny45 for current and temperature limit that needs an interface to be configured. So, I plan to have these Attiny45 talk back to the main AMC board through TWI interface (similar to I2C). I was thinking to make a simple VB serial interface for this purpose. But if I could use your FirstRunWizard would be even better.

Anyway most of the current problems that AMC1.5 users facing, is how to load the firmware on the Atmega8535 chip and how to access the KP settings from the hyperterminal. And it doesn't work for them, in most of these cases, because of hardware problems, either with their boards, the USB adapters they use and the Windows system they use (Vista...).

Regards, Thanos

Hi,

I prepared a short tutorial video that shows how to setup the connection with hyperterminal and the procedure of configuring the KP setting for the motors. For this tutorial I used an FTDI based USB-2-Serial adapter (from Digitus) to show that it actually works!!

I have put the video unedited on Rapidshare link so it does not loose any image quality! Please be a little patience to download it and watch it.

http://rapidshare.com/files/207931453/AMC_KP_Setting_Hyperterminal_tutorial.AVI


Here is the USB-2-Serial adapter I used:



Regards, Thanos

Hi thano

I desire to know why you have change micro to ATMEGA644, which are the benefits respect ATMEGA8535 ?

Regards stefano

Hi Stefano,

There are a few features on the Atmega644 that justify its double price:

-20Mhz nominal speed (that means it can be over-clocked easier to 24Mhz)
-64Kb memory (while the Atmega8535 has only 8Kb)
-It has support for SIX 10bit PWM channels (Atmega8535 has TWO 10bit and TWO 8bit PWM channels)
-Bootloader option for self programming though the same RS-232 port it uses for USO communication.

And the best of all it PIN compatible to the Atmega8535 and can be placed on the AMC board without changes on the existing hardware. My next generation AMC2.0 is using ATmega644 chip for all the reasons I mentioned above.


Regards, Thanos

Hi Thano

I have a problem with effect hall sensors , the values on display are not fix and I dont be able calibrate the sensors.
I want to change and use simple pots, but how to fix the pots for make rotation ?

Regards Stefano

Hi Thano

I have calibrate the effect hall sensors around 511 value and the four led (red, green, red green) stay on. this fact is good because the motors don't move, but if I move the motors with x-sim2, perhaps vibrations or something else change the offdset of sensor and joyrider don't stop. Is possible ? How make to obtain a good stability.

Regards Stefano