I can't imagine the need for these capacitors on the A B side of the encoders only power side for decoupling.
Don't you have the same EK box or you have something else?
Now it doesn't read nothing in Hyper Terminal, looks like something gave away
I am thinking to maybe order everything from USA, all the parts. So many parts were close by or a bit different no wonder something went wrong.
But even ordering the parts from USA I would have to get it from 2 or maybe 3 different places for this project. Can't really understand that at least Far Circuit doesn't sell all kit if David EK doesn't want to do it himself.
Well, to cut the long story short, send the whole thing to me and I will take care of it (I can even program the new processor at work if needed, I discovered we have programmer).
The values of parts are not critical, this is definitely not the cause of this drama.
In case you still want to do it yourself...
The 10uF caps are for voltage filtering (one for 5V) and the rest are in voltage converter (for RS232, it needs +10V and -10V).
Smoking-hot regulator means you have short somewhere.
Or one of those elcos was reversed during assembly...
First, remove the encoders, and measure the voltages. Check if something is hot... Maybe RS232 chip is damaged?
Then replace the regulator, if needed. Put some cooling fins on it.
But normally it will get hot, especially if your input voltage is higher and with encoders (they take significant portion of total current). I mounted mine on the bottom side of the board so it is in contact with metal housing, where I mounted the whole thing in.
Some time ago we discussed the availability of processor, they still have it in Jaycar...
Don't you have the same EK box or you have something else?
Now it doesn't read nothing in Hyper Terminal, looks like something gave away
Yes, I do it is currently working, I am taking a holiday at the moment, but is possible can help you out later possible next week or the week after, I expect major catch up on my business when go back to work so will be little time available for the first week.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bobson
I am thinking to maybe order everything from USA, all the parts. So many parts were close by or a bit different no wonder something went wrong.
I am working on a project at the moment to supply parts for the EK box, but am redeveloping it to make it more accessible to computers. I have currently made it USB direct campatible all-be-it virtual com port without the need for USB to Serial Adaptor.
The next step is Bluetooth, I already have the parts to start that but I am creating a standard board that can be upgradeable in the future. The main reason for both is the 16F84 chip is losing flavour and Serial connections on laptop are a bit rare now.
As with all my initial projects it is a mess so not something would be proud to show but functional.
Some time ago we discussed the availability of processor, they still have it in Jaycar...
PIC should be fine, It came from Jaycar(considering I work there ), It programmed fine and verified fine.
Methinks short somewhere.
Oh and please don't laugh at the quality of Bobs board .. it is an exact copy(photo-resist) of what my laser printer spat out... need a new (sharper, denser) printer.
Oh and Mr.EK's artwork leaves a LOT to be desired!
If I had the time(when I made the board) I would have re-done the artwork in Protel.
I think Bojan will be more impressed with my soldering. Cos I re-soldered everything to make sure there is good connection as Dave EK recommended in his troubleshooting. And the broken lines I had to put some solder on it, so its a bit of a mess
The strange thing is everything was working fine when I tested it first time and then just stopped responding and got worse.
Bojan,
Can you tell me which printers or scanners have those kind of timing pulleys/belts so I can search for them on auctions or for sale classifieds.
Thanks
Bob, Bojan,
I've often mentioned about printers/ industrial larger photocopiers,
3 and 5 inch disk drives, HDs (MFM and later), etc being a great source of this stuff
but here is a bit of a collection in pics to get you salivating
Well, at least us rogues Bojan
To summarise what you can cannibalise from them:
Motors, gears, pulleys, toothed belts, machined shafts, clutches,
photo interupter limits switches/PE devices, circlips, chains,bearings,
brass and nylon bushes, one way clutches, solenoids,grub screws,
sprockets...power supplies, Lenses(positive and negative), first surface mirrors,
prisms..................
the list is endless.....
A few pics explained:
Pic 4 is the guts of an old Epson printer-2 steppers, one with an actual
optic encoder directly on the stepper shaft (perfect for a scope drive). Pic 5 are the ideal steppers for Bartel stepper-type drives (Astrosyn and TEC types) Pic 6 is a DC servomotor with a gear reduction...ideal for Bartel servo
drives. Pic 7 is a two way clutch so two drives can be 'clutched in' to drive an
output.
Steve
Last edited by kinetic; 24-01-2010 at 12:52 PM.
Reason: addenda and clarity on sources
I also have envious (well, not everyone will agree with the use of this particular adjective here) collection.
Good source for me were old floppy and HD's, as well as various military communication and optical equipment... but those things are very rare these days,
My current problem is, I have no more space for any new stuff.. but whatever I managed to collect over the years, hopefully it will last me for the rest of my life.
Or I have to move into new house (with double garage ... and in the country with dark skies. Already looking in Northern VIC, Seymour, Heathcote, Castlemaine, Daylesford)
Oh and please don't laugh at the quality of Bobs board .. it is an exact copy(photo-resist) of what my laser printer spat out... need a new (sharper, denser) printer.
Simon, there is nothing wrong with how your board turned out
However, you guys should have removed the residual photoresist (with acetone) and applied for example Electrolube Clear protective lacquer before soldering to make it easier (I think this stuff is still available at some DSE stores, but I bet no-one from staff knows what it is - it works as soldering flux as well, besides protecting copper from corrosion).
Otherwise, board is alive.. so the short must have been somewhere else, or the solder blob that caused it fell off before the board arrived at my work bench.
Or, there was a short with housing (because 5V track on Simon's board goes very close to the edge - the PCB was cut a bit too small).
I leave the resist on until I'm ready to start soldering, I then spray PCB laquer on after I'm finished soldering.
I thought I had told Bob to clean the board with acetone... my apologies Bob if I forgot to tell you.
From memory the artwork was the width of one of the blanks I had available... I eyed it and thought "it will juuuust squeeze on, will save me some cutting!" LOL
Actually, with that phenolic board it's easier to score and snap than it is to cut. Wish the FR4 stuff was as easy.
Steve, nice collection of good-junk!
I have a decent collection, like Bojan tho I have limited storage so have to draw the line somewhere.
I even have some nice zero-backlash linear rails with servo-motors(salvaged from a large A1 or A0 plotter), will be the xy axis for my CNC router or maybe a CO2 laser cutter..... one day
Guys,
There is one problem with testing Ek's box with hyperterminal and "Q" command.
I think David forgot to explicitly note, that first you have to set the encoder resolution..
In other words, if you type the following:
z1010
you will get response "r". This is described in protocol (at the bottom of this page: http://eksfiles.net/digital-setting-...t-description/)
From then on, the box works OK.
I had similar problem when initially testing mine but I did not pay too much attention to this because I then connect the whole thing to computer running Bartel's scope.exe and everything was fine...
Now I remembered the situation when Bob's box did not change the coordinates despite encoder being moved. After setting resolution to anything (in this case 1010), it started to respond as expected.
I have never seen that procedure before. The good news is everything works fine
Me neither.. but the controller refused to change coordinates on "Q" command (it was responding with zeroes all the time..) and I know Bartel's software initializes Ek's box.. so I tried to do something similar and it worked.
It may be there is a bug in Ek's code which does not show itself in normal operation.
David send me the code and when I have some time I will have a look if he is doing something with internal NVRAM (if it exists in this PIC).
Anyway... the thing works now
What would be the best way to find out the resolution with my gear ratio? I mean software if possible. I think Malcolm said something about ek.exe with "test" option can do it too? You said Bartels software can do it?
What would be the best way to find out the resolution with my gear ratio? I mean software if possible. I think Malcolm said something about ek.exe with "test" option can do it too? You said Bartels software can do it?
thanks
That depends on your gear ratio..
If you have gears, you simply count the teeth, take a ratio from this and multiply by 128 (encoder) and 4 (because EK's box counts edges of pulses from both channels).
If you have timing belt and pulleys, then count the number of teeth on pulleys..
If you have something else (like me, I have riding rollers), then with bartel's software you have the current encoder position in ticks displayed, so you simply mount the pointing laser on you mount and rotate one full circle for azimuth and write down the difference in encoder position (in ticks).
For elevation I used bubble level, and went from hor to vertical position of the tube.
I downloaded ek.exe but I did not tried it yet.. however it seems it is possible.. I will try tonight and let you know how it worked.
What would be the best way to find out the resolution with my gear ratio? I mean software if possible. I think Malcolm said something about ek.exe with "test" option can do it too? You said Bartels software can do it?
thanks
Hi Bojan,
The second photo is a level I purchace to measure angle and can be use to get exact or near enough vertical motion to get 90deg ALT x 4 for your resolution
The first photo is a simple marker for DEC.
I use scope.exe from EK although install ASCOM drivers first.
First initialise the scope (don't worry about setting resolution) then after that set the properties. In the properties you will see the test interface - click this then you can test and measure the encoders.
(error in red soz - Click "Scope" then "Test Interface") Aghh was on the wrong computer when writing the first message.
Spin the DEC around 360deg and note the amount, spin the alt 90deg and multiply by 4. use this measurement for setting the encoder resolution.
Finally go back to initialize (US) and enter the resolution. You will find the same box comes up everytime for all ASCOM driver applications (CDC, Worldwide) when initialise but the test interface only works with scope.exe.
That link for scope.exe opens Bartels website?
Did you mean ekbox.exe ?
BTW which software would be the best for EK box? I have Cartes du Ciel but never used it. I use Starry Night Pro 6 but not sure if that one would work with EK box?
cheers
BTW
I use timing belt inside out on both pulleys, it seems it will be OK, we'll see
, no way. 
but functional.
), It programmed fine and verified fine.
.. it is an exact copy(photo-resist) of what my laser printer spat out... need a new (sharper, denser) printer.
...
- it works as soldering flux as well, besides protecting copper from corrosion). 
