MobiFlight Community Support

7.3.1 still sees my stepper sticking at the top of the acceleration curve. This is confirmed with more than one stepper.

I need that "Max stepper speed" value, either on the gui or in a config file (as discussed earlier)

Dear Smooth

I already thought this is the Point....

#179: Stepper max speed still too fast

that fix youre Problem in 7.3.1

As Sebastian said... https://www.mobiflight.com/forum/message/4029.html
He had reduced the speed already with Fix quoted above

Please understand that the UNO Support and the MEGA Fixes through the UNO Problems is still FIRST Priority.... THIS is needed by 90% Of Users at the moment.
A User-Adjustment for Stepper Speed is maby a "bigger" Fix that not can be done in one hour of programming.

So you have to wait simply until Sebastian find time to do this. Or you try out another Hardware....

This is confirmed with more than one stepper.

Do you try another kind/manufactor of stepper or just some Pieces of the same Type ??
Again i need to say my stepper workes fine in all former Mobiflight Versions !


***********


Maby Sebastian can reply this next days, to give you a update and if posible a expected Date of release......

Apollogy for youre trouble !

cpp-qt:

 
I already thought this is the Point....
 
    iconQuote:
 
    #179: Stepper max speed still too fast
 
that fix youre Problem in 7.3.1
 

No it didn't.

I tried 3 different steppers (I cannot determine where they were made) and 2 * 2560's with the same result. With and without external power supply.

They all work fine with the "non acceleration" sample code.

The workaround is to avoid situations where the stepper has to accelerate and rotate a large distance.

That's really weird.

If you like please try out the AccelStepper library. That's what I use as a library. http://www.airspayce.com/mikem/arduino/AccelStepper/
Let me know what max speed works for you.

Thanks DocMoebiuz

I use .......

STEPPER_SPEED 300
STEPPER_ACCEL 300

And it works now.

These speeds are suitable for me.

My hardware must have some gear problems which cannot cope with the higher speeds.

That in fact is really low. I use it with 650 right now.
It might be a wiring problem. Are you driving it with 5V or 3,3V - make sure you use the right pin.

I think already this is a wire problem maby.... But Smooth say multible times he have check this.

Just a sugesstion.....

If posible Sebastian can explane you how to manualy set this with edditing the code with a editor in MF File... or he send you a special personal version .....

A Speed reducing by 75% is maby much to low for all other users.... For a Jet Fighter we need a Altimeter that can turn maby 10-15 times per minute. I´m a little skeptical if this is not to slow at all.

Thanks Pizman and DocMoebiuz,

Driving with 5v

In my case, I'm using it for a flaps indicator so speed is not critical

I re-compiled the latest Mobiflight 7.3.1 firmware with ....

#define STEPPER_SPEED 300 // 300 already worked, 467, too?
#define STEPPER_ACCEL 300

A user setable value would be nice, but not essential now.

300/300 speed is more than adequate for my needs (test video at link below)

https://youtu.be/I78yBs5krVI

It used to do this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR3LyVHv0Nc with the older versions of the code

Thanks again.

Oh, in a future version would it be possible to zero the 4 pins after the destination is reached? The stepper gets warm for no reason because it appears that power is still applied to the pins after rotation has stopped.

Nice you still got skills to edit this youreself.....

Just bad you have to do this everytime a new firmwareupdate is comming. Don´t forget this to prevent new problems !

Hope it´s ok for you. Maby the User setable is planed in the future. But aslong no other people report this issue this i not top Priority now when it´s work privissionaly.

Thanks for youre patience an for youre help to fix this youreself !

EDIT:

Oh, in a future version would it be possible to zero the 4 pins after the destination is reached? The stepper gets warm for no reason because it appears that power is still applied to the pins after rotation has stopped.

Can Confirm this ! My Motor is not moved for 1 hour but arduino is still on.... the Motor is warm/hot !!
I get absolute no experience with the stepper libary and the basic function of the ULN 2003.... But if this is a problem for the Motor health a fix will be nice if possible.

Perhaps an option on the stepper screen to enable/disable stepper 'sleep" mode after a few seconds or minutes.

The user can choose whether or not to enable this feature as other lights driven by the arduino can go dim when the stepper is enabled / disabled.

Maby.... But always keep on mind .....

Every optional User Setting is a big part of code.... And its a new tool that a beginner must learn... Again a new section in the manuals !
I know advanced users like more and more tools to perfect the System.... But basic concept of Mobiflight is to be easy for beginners without programming skills.

In that case....How many User need a optional Seting if Stepper should disable or not....I think nobody ! So why should Sebastian enter this option. simply Hard coded is enough i think.

BUT..... If you bring a good argument why a Option is better and what benefit it bring.... Maby he think about a option, too.
.
Thanks for Brainstorming !

Thanks pizman82,

I understand what you are saying.

It could be user feature overkill.

It's probably only useful if you are driving a lot of LEDS and stepper(s) simultaneously.

When the stepper is active (enabled outputs) the LEDs have a tendency to dim slightly as the stepper draws power. Calling "disableOutputs()" causes the LEDS to become bright again.

Some people might just prefer to leave the stepper active so the lights don't change.

It's a visual thing that isn't THAT important but might bother someone if they are driving a whole illuminated panel off a single 2560.

I suspect a solution would be to provide external 5v power or use relays for some things. BTW, adding external power didn't solve my original stepper speed issue (in case you were wondering ;-)

As an exercise for my 60 year old brain, I tinkered with the code privately and now have the stepper switching off 5 seconds after it's last motion. Oh, there's another option to give the user ;-)

I wont fiddle any more, this is Sebastian's beautiful baby, and I shouldn't mess with it.

Oh... I don´t check this fact....
Thought you talk about theLED on the ULN2003 Board....

Youre LED in Cockpit on same board as the Stepper NOT should change brightness when stepper is working. ( I think)

Maby you got to much outputs there. We talk about a strict power Limit for Megas in the past.... A External Power can help to support more then 500ma like the USB
BUT....Limits for absolute maximim are still exist ( Whatever External power is use ore not) Not override the 800ma Hard Limit for the hole Board !!