Can I avoid soldering work using this board? (meant for 3d printers)

[Kedas]

This is cheap and seems to have everything it needs for the basic version, just connect motor.
(and maybe replace driver boards with 8825 version)
http://www.banggood.com/CNC-Shield-V4-Expansion-Board-With-Nano-A4988-For-Arduino-3D-Printer-p-970335.html

I'm thinking about using it for motorizing a manual filter wheel and maybe also focus on the same board, a much smaller motor will be ok for a filter wheel.

What are your first concerns, will the software work ok, minor software changes?

Thanks

[brownrb]

Hi Kedas

Not trying to say its a bad idea but it has major problems, Here is why

No schematic I could find so no idea on what pins are used for what function. Means Arduino firmware needs signaificant changes. Without the schematic its like a needle in a haystack.

You will in all probablitity run into memory space issues on that board, as trying to also control a filter system as well as a focuser is probably not going to work.

Think also of the application, only one driver/app can connect to a com port at once. You will need to write an ASCOM Local server implementation from scratch to use both the focuser/filter on one comport.

You will need to write a new windows app that will connect and control both the filter and focuser on the single comport.

The myFocuser software might be a start but expect major changes to the myfocuser software to get it to work on that board alongside a filter wheel.

I did find a library (on ebay) to use with the board, but it uses ramping within the steppercode and is not suitable for use with a focuser - you would need to rewrite the library completely or write a new one.

Cheers
Robert

[brownrb]

Using the Uno board with an L293D Shield has minimal soldering? And if u get a PG5 or PG27 stepper then you dont need microstepping.

[Kedas]

ok, seems it would be a big headache trying to control both on 1 board, so 1 board 1 motor.

In this case I would probably only need to assign the right pins in your software to the I/O used on this board.(When I have a schematic I let you know.)

The nano has been replaced by pro micro (ATmega32U4), better USB features.
Would these USB features have an advantage for this project, the ascom driver?

[brownrb]

pro micro - unknown, have not had time to look into this.

Not sure that you will be able to get that motor board working, seems like a lot of things on there and from the docs I found it appears to runs interrupts to control the motors.

Cheers
Robert

[brownrb]

I have had a chance to review the Pro Micro - there seems to be a reduction of pins available, so this would really limit the functionality,RAW replaces VIN and its not pin compatible drop-in for the nano, meaning pcb and stripboard changes.

Adv would be higher clock rate but thats not really a factor for each of the projects as its not currently a limiting factor. Memory is about same, The reduction of pins is the greatest challenge.