I've gone through a bunch of tests and pretty much confirmed the reversal on the silkscreen. On the middle part of the video you can see the RX LED light up with no cables attached which can only be done transmitting from the pc side. Like you said though, not too big of an issue, just swap the cables. I would strongly suggest puting a ICSP header in the next version of the UCB also.by Dylan - Controllers
Asuming I could get my hands on one, how would I use it. Would I need my pc hooked up, or could I just keep it on the tx_baud test and use that without a computer to hookup to? Are there any tutuorials or anything? It would be easiest if I could just take my box with power and 2 boards to the college. I wouldn't have thought that all of the PICs are off, but if it's a factory setting it might makby Dylan - Controllers
I'm assuming you mean oscilloscope and not microscope or some other type. There are probably some at the local college, but I gon't know if I can get in there. My programming software give different options for osc (bold is what the tx_baud seems to set as the default): RC: CLKOUT on RA6.... RC: I/O on RA6... INTOSC: CLKOUT on RA6... INTOSC: I/O on RA6... EC HS XT LP any idea what it should be?by Dylan - Controllers
this is what my terminal program gives me at 19200 Quoteby Dylan - Controllers
I did a video to show what I've been up to, this should show the main things. It's hard to tell that I actually swapped the wires in the last test that actually works, but I did. I haven't tried the live cd poke test (if it has it).by Dylan - Controllers
That's a good idea, I crawled under my desk to unplug it and tested the relevant pins and pin 3 is the same on both ends (or at least that is what my multimeter says) I tested the other 2 on each side just to make sure, but it does look like it's a straight through cable. I was thinking this shouldn't be a problem, just change the cables, but the 232 chip might not like that (never used one befoby Dylan - Controllers
ok, I ran a few tests (a,b) wiring/soldering issue---- I tested with 3 other boards and 3 other chips with the older firmware and same problem. I found the firmware and I think it was in the link where you and nophead were trying to help Kia... the files were from emf by the way (http://forums.reprap.org/read.php?12,3874,4175,quote=1) the LED blinking test worked fine. the TX test sent backby Dylan - Controllers
I was following the tests on the wiki, the reason this one has the diodes on already is because I saw a post that someone only got past that problem after putting in the 4.7k resistors which is part of making it the stepper board, so I did all of that. I have 4 other UCBs that don't have any of that stuff and I have a few extra PICs so I'll try to mix and match all of them to see if I can get anyby Dylan - Controllers
cool, that'll probably help some newcomers. Just in case anyone else has this problem I thought I'd make the photo a little more clear. feel free to take it and use it if you want.by Dylan - Controllers
I had already made the live CD but hadn't used it yet. I just tried it and it didn't work either. The prefs had the /dev.... something as the default com port which didn't work, I tried com1 also just in case, but I'm pretty sure that's a windows only thing. I scanned in my board so you guys can see what I did and if you see anything wrong (I left the txrx lines off for easier scanning). I juby Dylan - Controllers
No, I was talking about the power comm board. It doesn't say when to insert the RS232 chip. You have to bridge different pins to get echo back depending on whether the chip is in or not. That page doesn't seem to say anyting about the chip, but it's nice and specific about everything else.by Dylan - Controllers
under prefs it says "COM1" under com port, it did have the "/dev" thing before but I changed that before I even tried the first time since that's supposed to be for linux or something. Actualy I just found out that the red section above happens when tx is connected to tx. So I guess I screwed up there since tx on pcomm is supposed to be connected to rx on UCB and visa versa. I tried the stepmotoby Dylan - Controllers
I've confirmed that everything is wired properly several ways. When I bridge pin 7&8 (tx rx) on the UCB PIC area I get echo back from my terminal. I physically rechecked the wires. The picture below shows the error. The top part in red only appears when I have the board wired properly. The bottom part in blue appears any time my any of my tx, rx, power lines are not connected.... basically anby Dylan - Controllers
I looked at as many of the UCB problem posts as I saw that might be related, but only got so far. I am using board 1.2.1 with the 16f648a with the premade hex files (firmware-0071219) on WinXp. 1. I know my connection is working with echo back by shorting it as far as the pic pins 7&8 on the UCB. 2. I changed the prefs in the software as needed for the right com channel. 3. All the java filesby Dylan - Controllers
I am at the point now where I need to test my UC board, but the BOM gave me 16f648a as the PIC but the hex firmware is for the 16f628. How do I compile the firmware for the new chips. I saw some stuff on here about using SDCC to compile the files in sourceforge, but do I download that whole folder and try to open in as a project? (I don't have any exp with C. I've been a picBasic user). Since theby Dylan - Controllers
I don't know why it wasn't working the first time. I was probably on the wrong port. I got it working though. I had the jumper from pin 2 and 3 touching the metal casing which was probably messing with it. Who would I have to message about updating the pages, that section needs more clarification. Such as: without the chip in the socket there needs to be a bridge shorting pin 13 and 14 to get echby Dylan - Controllers
I am trying to debug my power comm board, but can't get any echo back. I tried doing what it said on the com board page about just shorting pin 2 & 3 and seeing if it will echo back with just hardware, but that won't work either. I know my cable works and that it's connected to the pc properly because it's the cable I use to program my PICs. Any ideas? I am using the serial communicator fromby Dylan - Controllers
Editing the post would work well, but it might be better to highlight the new stuff like below with standard forum coding. Ijust got my motors from eBay. They look used, but in good condition. I'll test them a little later once I program the board. I might be able to help you with the software thing. I'm assuming you can program the PIC chips though? _____________________________________________by Dylan - Texas, Houston RepRap User Group
ok, thanks, I hope the colors will be the same.by Dylan - Mechanics
I left a link in the motor subsection. It's a store on ebay. 2 PHASE .9 DEGREES 5.4 VOLTS 1.5 AMPS 400 REVOLUTION steps 8 WIRE for $28 edit: here is another good link to a 200 step motor for the same price ______________________________________________________ Here is my done list: 1. software installed and running 2. working power unit from old pc 3. power comm board put together andby Dylan - Texas, Houston RepRap User Group
ok, if serial will work better, for the current board, how is that hooked up? Is the tutorial and board made for serial or parralell? So far I'm just following the steps on the "how to make a reprap" section. I know what you mean about the oven thing, but from the other systems too, it looks like most of the systems seem to do it this way. I plan on trying to convert this system into and SLS sby Dylan - Mechanics
I figured this would be a good way to show how each of us is progressing. I know I won't be able to make all the meetings, but I might have some things done that others would need help with or visa versa. Here is my done list: 1. software installed and running 2. working power unit from old pc 3. power comm board put together and working working on: 1. in the proccess of putting together the 5by Dylan - Texas, Houston RepRap User Group
That's interesting, I didn't know that kind of thing. So the motors I ordered have 5.4V and 1.5A as their specs. If I'm using the standard universal board at 12V would I need to add a resistor or anything for it to work efficiently? @NopHead I saw your blog, great job. Have you considered replacing a few parts, closing the the box off and actually putting a heating element in there to bring upby Dylan - Mechanics
I just ordered some NEMA 23 400step (0.9 degree) motors from It's under 2 amps, 2 phase, 8 wire, 5.4V, and from what I could find out the holding torque is about 118 oz-in which should be 0.8333nM (this is a little less than the one on farnell, but it might still work). Best of all, they are only $28 + a few bucks for shipping. This is in USD and I'm not sure if they ship international. I don'tby Dylan - Mechanics
Ok, I have ordered the PCB kit from the rrrf site which uses the UC board v1.3. So I guess that means version 1 electronics. size: NEMA 23 ok, this seems pretty standard as a sizing requirement between the different motors bipolar: Why is this needed on the Z axis. what good is it for? extra torque? amps: when you say 6ohms resistance, did you mean in the circuit control or the motor itself,by Dylan - Mechanics
I'm trying to find out exactly what specs are needed for the stepper motors. I'm trying to build this on a small budget and I'm not willing to pay $60+ (by Dylan - Mechanics