I'm working with the standard configuration DRV8825_HW203 and a Nema 17 PG27 stepper motor.
I've already adjusted the current as indicated in the manual (using a tester).
Regardless of Step Mode the motor produce a periodic noise (with approx a 1s period).
Is this something intrinsic to the motor design or could this be an indicator of a problem?
Thanks in advance...
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Hi
You will need to be a bit more specific
Does the noise happen when moving or not moving?
What sort of noise?
Is it loud?
High pitched?
Like an electrical buzzing one gets in one ear?
If you can do a video with sound would be very helpful
What is current current level set to with full steps coil power on?
Regards
Robert
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It is a low frequency noise that lasts about 1/10 sec and repeats once a second during fok move.
If I remember I measured about 1/4 A during tests (full step and coil power on)...
Tomorrow I will post a recording.
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Here is the recording. Unfortunately quality is awful. Probably the sound recorder has a noise reduction filter I was not able to deactivate... You have to turn up the volume at maximum to hear a little (from second 3:00)...
I do not think it is a driver issue or controllerissue
Remove motor from focuser.
Put controller and motor on a bench
Connect to controller with USB and do same moves.
If noise is still there then this is a motor issue.
If noise is gone when motor free from focuser, then it is about how motor is connected to focuser. Maybe not aligned right.
Last edit: brownrb 2018-11-21
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Not a problem with motor, or controller, or driver
This is normal
The sound blip is caused by the following
The computer chip - nano - is not very powerful
It cannot do a lot of things at once
When you tell motor to move, it moves motor
But then a request comes to get position or update display
So it has to stop moving
Update display
Then continue moving
The update display happens around 1s intervals
So it causes slight pause in motor moving every second
Which is this sound
If you turn off lcd update when moving - the slight pause will stop. and then motor will not pause during move and will sound ok
The small pause will not cause any problem with focuser. But you decide if you want lcd update or not.
Last edit: brownrb 2018-11-21
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You can please try this test.
Connect controller with USB cable
Open firmware file for controller in Arduino IDE
Open Serial Port Monitor in IDE (Ctrl+Shift+M)
Make sure baud rate is set to 9600
At the top, enter :62# and then click Send
I need to know what is returned in window - it should be something like L01#
Regards
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Yes, I have also a new ASCOM driver to test. I believe issue is in Software. The WIndows app and ASCOM driver share code base, so issue is common to both. I think you will find new win app 2419 is better.
Regards
Robert
Author myFocuserPro2
But please test with new windows app first. Please UNINSTALL old windows app using control panel first before installing new windows app.
Last edit: brownrb 2018-11-22
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Connect focuser to computer
Run windows app 2.1.4.9
Enable logging (menu)
Connect to focuser
Add 1000 to focuser position and enter the value as new position then click GOTO Position
Wait for move to finish
Take screenshot of windows app and save
Post the logfile and screenshot here
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You can try this sketch to move motor backwards and forwards. This will check if there is a fault with the motor
It should be smooth with no pauses. Waits 2s between reversing directions.
Full steps and speed=fast give the same result.
I uploaded the sketch. After upload the motor start to move forward and reverse continuosly.
The windows app cannot connect because the COM port seems to be busy (Serial Port is already connected. Please click Disconnect first, then click Refresh). I tried to disconnect the whole and to connect again with no result...
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Your sound file threw me off a bit because I was thinking it was something else for a while.
I have had both my focusers (and a number of older prototypes) on the bench since about 4am this morning. The little pauses (noise) are normal and date all the way back to the initial releases. I have them also.
Drivers are normally built using a command/response protocol. This keeps things simple, easy to change/add and has minimal overhead. ASCOM also works as command/response protocol.
As I explained before, the Arduino Nano is not a powerful chip.
So the nano controls the timing when moving.
During a move, it is necessary to poll the focuser to see if its stopped moving
Otherwise we would have no way of knowing when it stopped moving.
This is done periodically at 1s intervals.
What you are hearing is the Nano briefly stopping the move, and handling the ismoving request from the windows application (or the ascom driver) every second when moving. The nano cannot do two things at once, only one or the other - so when its controlling the moving and a request comes in, the nano has to temporary stop the move, handle the request then go back to continue the move. IF it did not handle the request then the application would time out during a move and the serial comms would drop connection to the focuser.
This does not affect the operation of the focuser other than causing that slight pause which you may find annoying. You will find its not noticed by any client program such as Nebulosity, APT, SGP, Maxim etc. It is normal behaviour for the focuser firmware.
In practice it will have zero effect on the focusers operation.
In short, try not to worry about the pause. Its normal, it will not harm your focuser or scope, its been like that since day 1. It is unavoidable and due to the limitation of the nano. We are asking a lot from the nano and its at its limit trying to keep up.
Regards
Robert
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I'm working with the standard configuration DRV8825_HW203 and a Nema 17 PG27 stepper motor.
I've already adjusted the current as indicated in the manual (using a tester).
Regardless of Step Mode the motor produce a periodic noise (with approx a 1s period).
Is this something intrinsic to the motor design or could this be an indicator of a problem?
Thanks in advance...
Hi
You will need to be a bit more specific
Does the noise happen when moving or not moving?
What sort of noise?
Is it loud?
High pitched?
Like an electrical buzzing one gets in one ear?
If you can do a video with sound would be very helpful
What is current current level set to with full steps coil power on?
Regards
Robert
It is a low frequency noise that lasts about 1/10 sec and repeats once a second during fok move.
If I remember I measured about 1/4 A during tests (full step and coil power on)...
Tomorrow I will post a recording.
Here is the recording. Unfortunately quality is awful. Probably the sound recorder has a noise reduction filter I was not able to deactivate... You have to turn up the volume at maximum to hear a little (from second 3:00)...
Hi
That sounds mechanical, like a stripped gear.
I do not think it is a driver issue or controllerissue
Remove motor from focuser.
Put controller and motor on a bench
Connect to controller with USB and do same moves.
If noise is still there then this is a motor issue.
If noise is gone when motor free from focuser, then it is about how motor is connected to focuser. Maybe not aligned right.
Last edit: brownrb 2018-11-21
Here is a better recording with motor detached from the focuser...
Yes, this audio is much better
Not a problem with motor, or controller, or driver
This is normal
The sound blip is caused by the following
The computer chip - nano - is not very powerful
It cannot do a lot of things at once
When you tell motor to move, it moves motor
But then a request comes to get position or update display
So it has to stop moving
Update display
Then continue moving
The update display happens around 1s intervals
So it causes slight pause in motor moving every second
Which is this sound
If you turn off lcd update when moving - the slight pause will stop. and then motor will not pause during move and will sound ok
The small pause will not cause any problem with focuser. But you decide if you want lcd update or not.
Last edit: brownrb 2018-11-21
Dear Robert I'm not using the LCD neither the OLED at the moment.
Is there perhaps something I have to change in the .ino?
//#define BLUETOOTH 1
define TEMPERATUREPROBE 1
//#define HOMEPOSITIONSWITCH 1
define PUSHBUTTONS 1
//#define LCDDISPLAY 1
//#define ROTARYENCODER 1
//#define INFRARED 1
//#define BACKLASH 1
//#define BUZZER 1
define INOUTLEDS 1
//#define CONTROLLERISAMICRO 1
These are my extra settings. The "update position" check is already disabled but the noise still persist...
You can please try this test.
Connect controller with USB cable
Open firmware file for controller in Arduino IDE
Open Serial Port Monitor in IDE (Ctrl+Shift+M)
Make sure baud rate is set to 9600
At the top, enter :62# and then click Send
I need to know what is returned in window - it should be something like L01#
Regards
I can try later at home. In the meanwhile I attach my .ino file.
The Win App is the latest, i.e. 2.1.4.6.
In a couple of hours I will send you everything.
Thanks a lot again!
Please download this windows app and test with focuser.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/kyyz0zc0cwzp70q/myFocuserPro2_2_4_1_9.zip?dl=0
Let me know result.
Regards
Robert
Author myFocuserPro2
Just to add another element: the noise is present also when moving the focuser by ASCOM driver (through an external automation software).
Yes, I have also a new ASCOM driver to test. I believe issue is in Software. The WIndows app and ASCOM driver share code base, so issue is common to both. I think you will find new win app 2419 is better.
Regards
Robert
Author myFocuserPro2
But please test with new windows app first. Please UNINSTALL old windows app using control panel first before installing new windows app.
Last edit: brownrb 2018-11-22
No way: also 2.1.4.9 has the same issue...
The return of :62# command is L0#
You did uninstall 2.1.4.7 first?
Connect focuser to computer
Run windows app 2.1.4.9
Enable logging (menu)
Connect to focuser
Add 1000 to focuser position and enter the value as new position then click GOTO Position
Wait for move to finish
Take screenshot of windows app and save
Post the logfile and screenshot here
Yes I did uninstall everything related to myfocuserpro2 first.
Here is the screeshot and log file...
Interesting.
Please set motor speed to fast and stepmode to full steps
Repeat move 500 steps
Any difference in noise??
You can try this sketch to move motor backwards and forwards. This will check if there is a fault with the motor
It should be smooth with no pauses. Waits 2s between reversing directions.
Full steps and speed=fast give the same result.
I uploaded the sketch. After upload the motor start to move forward and reverse continuosly.
The windows app cannot connect because the COM port seems to be busy (Serial Port is already connected. Please click Disconnect first, then click Refresh). I tried to disconnect the whole and to connect again with no result...
I tried to modify the loop raising the number of iteration to 10000 and the motor does not make any noise regardless of direction of rotation ...
Hi again
Your sound file threw me off a bit because I was thinking it was something else for a while.
I have had both my focusers (and a number of older prototypes) on the bench since about 4am this morning. The little pauses (noise) are normal and date all the way back to the initial releases. I have them also.
Drivers are normally built using a command/response protocol. This keeps things simple, easy to change/add and has minimal overhead. ASCOM also works as command/response protocol.
As I explained before, the Arduino Nano is not a powerful chip.
So the nano controls the timing when moving.
During a move, it is necessary to poll the focuser to see if its stopped moving
Otherwise we would have no way of knowing when it stopped moving.
This is done periodically at 1s intervals.
What you are hearing is the Nano briefly stopping the move, and handling the ismoving request from the windows application (or the ascom driver) every second when moving. The nano cannot do two things at once, only one or the other - so when its controlling the moving and a request comes in, the nano has to temporary stop the move, handle the request then go back to continue the move. IF it did not handle the request then the application would time out during a move and the serial comms would drop connection to the focuser.
This does not affect the operation of the focuser other than causing that slight pause which you may find annoying. You will find its not noticed by any client program such as Nebulosity, APT, SGP, Maxim etc. It is normal behaviour for the focuser firmware.
In practice it will have zero effect on the focusers operation.
In short, try not to worry about the pause. Its normal, it will not harm your focuser or scope, its been like that since day 1. It is unavoidable and due to the limitation of the nano. We are asking a lot from the nano and its at its limit trying to keep up.
Regards
Robert
Hi
I have put together this file which has been modified from the interrupt driven code v275 and updated to 278
It is for minimal focuser only, no display, bluetooth etc, I do not support this but it works.
I wrote the interrupt code versions sometime ago and when I get a chance update them, but its a low priority for me. However, no pauses.
Regards
Robert
Thank you so much. Are you planning to publish a minimal ASCOM version for automated operations too?