SimVimX Stepper Motors Controller
To control stepper motors in the SimVimX system, an additional slave controller board is used. This is an Arduino Uno or Nano board with special "SimVimX Stepper" firmware that must be loaded onto the board once from the SimVimX plugin menu.
The slave board is connected with the master board, getting data intendent for the steppers. The internal code of the slave board is fully dedicated to generate correct positioning, speed/acceleration move for multiple stepper motors. SimVimX plugin monitors simulator parameters and translates them into signal sequences for every connected stepper motor. Firmware receives that data and converts them into specific stepping pattern for every motor, keeping track of amplitude and speed of change, simulator FPS rate and code loop timing, to eliminate jumps and ensure smooth movement.
- Every stepper motors in is connected to one of the output pin available on the slave board starting from #2.
- Namely, the "STEP" input of each stepper controller is connected to any pin you have assigned in the configurator.
- (!) If some your stepper gauge has a zero-pozitioning sensor its output should be always connected to the pin following the pin assigned for STEP signal.
- The "DIR" inputs of each stepper driver are all joined together and always should be connected to pin #13.
- Thus, you can connect up to 17-19 or (8-9 with zero sensors) stepper motors.
The "slave" controller board (Uno, Nano) is linked with the Master controller board using serial interface, when Tx output signal of one board is connected to the Rx iput of another board.
For the stepper control the Tx1,Rx1 ports are used in SimVimX . So, you should always connect the Tx pin (#1) of the slave board with Rx1 pin (#19) of the master board, and "slave" Rx (pin 0) - with the "master" Tx1 (pin #18).
Note 1. Never forget to connect the GNDs of each board ( and other devices as well) to the common GND wire.
Note 2: When you need to upload stepper control firmware to the slave board you need to disconnect the Rx,Tx wires before uploading! To simplify this you simply can add a "shut-off" switch breaking this two wires.
Another option - you can leave the Rx/Tx connected, but press the Reset button on the master board and hold it while uploading stepper firmware to the slave board.
The slave board receives all data from the master controller board only. So, you don't need to keep it connected to USB port after the SimVimX Stepper firmware upload. You can use any +5V source connected to the slave board using USB connector, or +5V pin. It can be the same source that is used for feeding the stepper motor controllers (AX1201728SG or VID6606, STI6608).
Stepper motor driven instruments, demo
