StepFish: fischertechnik I2C stepper motor controller

prusaprinters

<p>StepFish is a stepper motor controller for the <a href="https://www.fischertechnik.de/en">fischertechnik construction toy system</a> based on an ATmega328 microprocessor. It can be used as a standalone controller (and I2C master) or as an I2C slave. Hardware features:</p><p><strong>*up to four steppers</strong> driven by <a href="https://reprap.org/wiki/StepStick">StepStick</a>/<a href="https://www.pololu.com/product/1182">Pololu</a> or compatible carrier boards (e.g. A4988), connected via pin headers. Make sure to limit the carrier boards' current (see below).</p><ul><li>fischertechnik compatible connectors for<strong>two active low endstops</strong> per stepper axis <strong>*three PWM pins</strong> for custom uses like servos, LEDs, or interrupt pins in I2C slave mode <strong>*I2C connector</strong> compatible with the <a href="http://ftduino.de/">ftDuino</a> and fischertechnik TX controllers. <strong>*serial connector</strong> for programming or monitoring the ATmega328 with <a href="https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=arduino+usb+serial+adapter">this kind of USB-serial/TTL/FTDI adapter</a></li><li>fischertechnik compatible connectors for<strong>5V in</strong> (chip logic) and<strong>stepper motor power</strong>. A DC-DC step-down 5V converter <a href="https://www.ebay.de/sch/i.html?_from=R40&amp;_sacat=0&amp;_nkw=3A+Mini+DC-DC+step+down+converter+volt+regulator+5V-23V+to+3.3V+6V+9V+12V&amp;rt=nc&amp;LH_PrefLoc=2">like this one</a> can be added to the enclosure internally if you want to power the controller from the motor pins only.</li><li>print-in-place<strong>reset button</strong></li><li>Two<strong>status LEDs</strong> for 5V (on) and stepper motor power. The ZIP-file contains fritzing, gerber and PDF files for producing the one-sided PCB, which uses my printed flush sleeve design ("<a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3375338">Printbuchse</a>") for the fischertechnik typical 2.6mm jacks. Soldering is a bit tricky, as the connector pins are placed at the bottom of the PCB. If you are interested in building one yourself, please message me, or leave a comment, and I will provide details.</li></ul><p><strong>Warning</strong>: Make sure to limit your carrier boards' current as described e.g. <a href="https://www.pololu.com/product/1182/faqs">here</a> or <a href="https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=415724.0">here</a> or <a href="https://lastminuteengineers.com/a4988-stepper-motor-driver-arduino-tutorial/#current-limiting">here</a>. My enclosure provides access to the carrier boards' potentiometers from the bottom, use an alligator clip attached to your screwdriver and one of the GND-pins for measurement.</p><p>You can use StepFish &nbsp;as a standalone controller, or control it remotely via I2C with my <a href="https://github.com/ftjuh/AccelStepperI2C">AccelStepperI2C firmware</a>.</p><p>Please consider leaving a "like" or posting your make as a token of appreciation for my work.</p><p>Find my other fischertechnik designs <a href="/juh/designs">here</a>.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><figure class="media"><oembed url="https://youtu.be/MyCck4btWzE"></oembed></figure><p>&nbsp;</p><p>keywords: fischertechnik I2C print-in-place Printbuchse printinplace Servo stepper_motor TWI</p><p>Category: Electronics</p>