LIFA 2.0 Bug Reports

[Kristoff2]

Lets use this discussion as a place to post any bugs we find in LIFA 2.0.

When posting a bug report please provide as much information as possible so we don't end up asking you a million questions.

Try to include:

• Operating System and Version (ex. Windows 7 SP1 32-bit)
• LabVIEW Version (ex 2011)
• Arduino Board and Version (ex. Arduino Uno R2)
• Any additional hardware you are using and a link to the spec sheet if possible (ex.  BlinkM http://thingm.com/fileadmin/thingm/downloads/BlinkM_datasheet.pdf)
• The Problem.  What doesn't work, what does work, what your expected results are. 
• Troubleshooting steps you've already tried and the results (ex tried another PC, another Ardunio Uno ...)

The more information you can provide the more quickly we can help you get up and running.  It will also help us make a better toolkit!

-Sam K

LIFA Developer

[krillin]

When uploading to my mega i noticed that pwm ports 11 and 12 became high and also digital port 4 became high

Thanks for the hard work btw

[Kevin_F]

Hey Krillin,

Does this happen just while uploading the firmware to the Mega or does it continue once the firmware has completed updating? Does it continue when you run an example - if you write to the digital port can you change it between a high and a low? Thanks for reporting this- We do most of our testing on the Uno so if something weird is happening on the Mega we definitely want to know about it.

[Mines_Physics]

When running the new stepper motor example the arduino will not step the stepper motor?

I have the arduino hooked up to the EasyDriver V4.4 as in the block diagram Gnd, pin 2-Dir, pin3-Step.

I have also loaded Bildir Tutorial and the arduino drives the EasyDriver flawlessly.

I have tried Stepper #0,1 though that should not matter and the TX&RX LEDs are flashing when I start the vi and it ends when I stop.

Any suggestions on where to trouble shoot?

Cheers,

Steve

[krillin]

Hi kevin

It does start after uploading the firmware. I checked it again and it's pwm pin 11 and 12 and digital pin 32. When i run an example (or my own program) everything just runs fine. But after i close the example the pins become high again

[designa]

Hi everyone

I have problems in the  Mega 2560 tablet , I  get the 5002 error;  I cheked the number of port (COM4),baund rate (9600)in labview and in windows, I put controls (VISA resource, Baund rate, Board type)in the inputs of the  INIT function,  I have no troubles when a upload the firmware to arduino and my arduino hardware is OK.

My settings

Windows 7- 64x

Labview 2011

Arduino 1.0

LIFA 2.0067

example: analog read
Can any help me please?

[Kevin_F]

Hey Krillin,

Thanks for the update. Ill take a look at it and see if I can replicate it with boards I have.

Designa,

Can you post a screenshot of the block diagram of the example you are trying to run so we can see how you have it set up?  I thing the issue is probably with the baud rate (unless you changed it in the LIFA firmware the default is 115200)

[designa]

Thanks Kevin_F

This is the analog read example which is part of LIFA 2.0 examples.

I tried with baund rate of 9600 and 115200 but always I get de 5002 error (when I change the baud rate, I change this value in windows,LIFA, and labview).

Like you I think that the problem is because the baund rate, but I can't find what is wrong.

[Kevin_F]

Hey designa,

That all looks set up correctly to me. Have you tried running one of the Arduino examples (like the LED blink one) to make sure that you can succesfully run code on the Arduino?

Steve,

In my experience with the easy stepper when nothing was working it was either the wrong wiring of the AB/CD wires of the stepper or not using external power (something other than USB) to power the Arduino. I also damaged the easy stepper I was using for testing by switching how the motor was plugged in while the board was powered.  Has anyone had success with the stepper example with the EasyStepper?

[TurboM]

To Sammy_K and Kevin_F

I have a problem and some questions regarding the stepper motor functionality of LIFA2.0

• Operating System: Windows XP SP3 32-bit)
• LabVIEW Version:  2011
• Arduino Board and Version: Arduino Uno R2)
• Additional Hardware: Big Easy Driver stepper motor driver (http://www.schmalzhaus.com/BigEasyDriver/ , http://www.allegromicro.com/Products/Motor-Driver-And-Interface-ICs/Bipolar-Stepper-Motor-Drivers/~/...
• The Problem:  Like Steve I have the same problem, the stepper motor doesn't step. The Big Easy Driver is basically the same as the Easy Stepper, it is just able to handle more current.
• Troubleshooting:I have set up everything as in the tutorial and tried the suggestions you gave Steve but without success.
• Questions:

1. I am  a bit unclear as to the different stepper connections i.e. 2-wire, 2-wire pulse & dir, 4-wire etc. The two wire is pretty straight forward, but what about the 4 wire. How are those connected between the Arduino and stepper driver? Or am I missing something completely?
2. To my knowIedge  the 4 most impotant control signals to a stepper motor controller are: Step, Direction, Enable, Step Mode. So what I would  like to know is if it is at all possible to control a stepper motor with any controller/driver having at least those three pins, in such a way where direction, speed and or acceleration is determined by events, for example; I would like my stepper motor to rotate continuously in a specified direction and speed until it receives a signal from say a limit switch which causes the motor to stop, brake or change direction.
3. I would also like to use the LIFA and stepper motor in conjunction with a cRIO-9073. Sammy_K, I think you suggested that I use a RS232 connection as the cRIO has such a port, but I am unclear on how all this could fit together.

Your help would greatly be appreciated

Regards

Turbo_M