Quad Axis S&S Controller

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mawyatt
Posts: 2497
Joined: Thu Aug 22, 2013 6:54 pm
Location: Clearwater, Florida

Quad Axis S&S Controller

Post by mawyatt »

As hinted and indicated in other threads a very compact and highly integrated Quad Axis Stack & Stitch Controller has been under development. This controller is based around the Trinamic devices on all 4 axis, and has all the motor algorithm and motor current waveform features on each of the 4 axis, all independent.

The design was completed and PCBs came in a few days ago, a 3 axis version was also designed and PCBs built (actual design was done before the 4 axis). The hardware came up and worked without a hitch once I got the Motor Enable and Chip Enable codes corrected. This uses the SPI bus for all communications to and from the controllers to the Raspberry Pi, no USB utilized. Ran a few test routines to check things out on all 4 motors and make sure all the hardware was working.

Once the hardware was verified as operating correctly, then began to write the code for a Fully Automated Quad Axis Stack & Stitch Controller based around the code that had been developed for the TMC5130 and Dual Tic-500 Controllers.

The 4th axis was used for the Subject Rotation Axis. Initially the subject can be precisely rotated before the XYZ S&S routine begins, the angle is stored and can be recalled. It's all working and I've run a number of routines to check things out, but need to do a much more involved and lengthy testing.

Like the other controllers developed around the Raspberry Pi, this can operate without a directly connected monitor, keyboard or mouse via. VNC. However, this does not have the builtin DC to DC Converter like the other controllers to power the Raspberry Pi from the Motor Supply, so requires both RPi 5V and Motor 12V supplies.

Other high speed, current, voltage controllers are also under development.

I'll keep you posted on all the progress at Mike's Labs.

Best,

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Research is like a treasure hunt, you don't know where to look or what you'll find!
~Mike

mawyatt
Posts: 2497
Joined: Thu Aug 22, 2013 6:54 pm
Location: Clearwater, Florida

Post by mawyatt »

Here's some of the other stepper motor controller/driver developments going on. These have different characteristics and include some with higher voltage and current capacity.

Assembly area with various flavors of Raspberry Pi based Motor Controller/Drivers in Adafruit colored cases. Note Quad Controller in upper center.

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Single Motor PCB, High Current (2.8A), High Voltage (12~24V) with discrete MOSFET switching devices controller.

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Single Motor PCB, High Current (3.5A), High Voltage (12~24V) with single chip controller/driver.

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Dual Motor PCB, Low Current (0.76A), High Voltage (12~24V) with single chip dual controller/driver. Shown with driver board removed.

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Triple Motor PCB, Medium/Low Current (2A/2-0.76A), Low Voltage (12~16V) with dual chips.

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Shown with Driver boards removed.

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Best,
Research is like a treasure hunt, you don't know where to look or what you'll find!
~Mike

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