you can't run the stepper from the PC i.e. ARC you need an arduino to run the code.

@ptp,

Looking at this thread : Easydriver-Code-Nema-17-Motor-Driver-With-Io-tiny-4177, it seems that the stepper is indeed controlled by ARC, through the EasyDriver

@Fredebec, Soon or later you will find out that is not efficient to run the stepper through the PC (ARC) versus running on the micro-controller. If you look to your code you are sending ON,OFFs to the controller in a short period, when you do that you are "flooding" the controller. The timing is another issue sleep(1) is not 1 ms, sleep(5) is not 5 ms and so on, sleep only works when you are in the context of Javascript, Python, when you get out that context e.g. sending a command through network, and then to EZB queue there is no guarantee of speed.

nevertheless that does not mean you can't run a slow stepper using all the Elephant power (ARC).

Looking to the documentation: https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/easy-driver-hook-up-guide

Did you match the motor coils wiring, and the motor amps (Potentiometer) ?

Please post a PIC of your setup and motor specs.

you missed a few things: Enable (Low = Activates) / (High= Deactivates). Don't forget to switch off otherwise the coils are active. Don't change the wiring while the coils are active.

Resolution:

@Fredbec: Sparkfun's documentation is pretty good, did you missed that ?

@ptp,

Thanks for the help. I used this (arduino) link : Easy Driver Example that showed the simple setup i used. It seems that I have been misled...:D

I am going to make the complete circuit and see how it goes. But first, I have some soldering ahead...

Please follow the wiring directions and don't forget the common ground.

Javascript code:

//Sparkfun's EasyDriver 
//
//Wiring:
//D2 = Step
//D3 = Dir
//D4 = MS1
//D5 = MS2
//D6 = Enable

//typical motor with 1.8 degrees per step = 200 full steps per revolution
var motor_steps_per_revolution = 200


var driver_resolution = 0;

function forward()
{
  print("set direction to forward");
  Digital.set(D3, 0);
}

function backward()
{
  print("set direction to backward");
  Digital.set(D3, 1);
}

function enable()
{
  print("enable motor");
  Digital.set(D2, 0);
  Digital.set(D6, 0);
}

function disable()
{
  print("disable motor");
  Digital.set(D6, 1);
}

function setResolution(value)
{
  switch(value)
  {
  default:
  case 1:
    Digital.set(D4, 0);
    Digital.set(D5, 0);
    driver_resolution=1;
    break;
  case 2:
    Digital.set(D4, 1);
    Digital.set(D5, 0);
    driver_resolution=2;
  case 4:
    Digital.set(D4, 0);
    Digital.set(D5, 1);
    driver_resolution=4;
  case 8:
    Digital.set(D4, 1);
    Digital.set(D5, 1);
    driver_resolution=8;
    break;
  }
  print("set resolution to 1/" + driver_resolution + " steps.");
}

function steps(steps, delayMs = 1)
{
  print("execute " + steps + " steps with delay:" + delayMs + " ms"); 
  for ( ; steps>0 ; steps--)
  {
     Digital.set(D2, 1);
     sleep(delayMs);
     Digital.set(D2, 0);
     sleep(delayMs);
  }
}

disable();
setResolution(1);

forward();
enable();
//run two turns (revolutions)
steps(2 * motor_steps_per_revolution * driver_resolution, 1);

backward();
//run three turns (revolutions)
steps(3 * motor_steps_per_revolution * driver_resolution);

//important
disable();

Let me know if it works for you.

So, I have made some testing, and some progresses.

First, I don't use the EasyDriver module anymore, because it stopped working at some stage, without any obvious reason. So, I changed for a DRV8825 (I have a lot of them). I use this kind of setup:

• the "Enable" pinout connected.

With @ptp's script (and my EZ-script) I am able to rotate the motor, with two main limitations:

• I am unable to obtain a continuous rotation. It rotates, but randomly...
• I am unable to change the direction. Putting DIR on or off don't change anything, it always moves in the same direction