Raspberry Pi question

Submitted by kena on Fri, 05/06/2016 - 17:52

Forums:

Just got a few of these. Do I need to be using Rasbian vs Noobs to install the PiBorg drivers and examples?
I have the latest Noobs and can't get anything to download. I am completely new to using the Raspberry... so please advise.

piborg's picture

piborg

Fri, 05/06/2016 - 19:25

All of our software has been tested with Raspbian, so that should work fine.
As far as I am aware Noobs should also be fine, but it has had much less testing.

The actual downloading of the installer should really work with any version of Linux as long as it is connected to the internet.

Can you tell us:

  1. What board(s) are you trying to install the examples for?
  2. What messages do you see when trying to do the download?

kena

Fri, 05/06/2016 - 19:31

A Pi 3

Not getting any message. Just goes to cursor. I'm connected to internet.

kena

Fri, 05/06/2016 - 19:36

If you point me to the exact install instructions... I'll try again. I'm using a Pi 3 with the PicoBorg Reverse. I hooked it all up like the instructions showed... there were lots of instructions. I may have been following the wrong one's for all I know. I just want to test one board (I got 3) with a stepper to check if it's something I want to buy more of.

piborg's picture

piborg

Fri, 05/06/2016 - 19:35

I meant which PiBorg board are you trying to install :)

kena

Fri, 05/06/2016 - 19:37

The PicoBorg Reverse

piborg's picture

piborg

Fri, 05/06/2016 - 19:46

All you should need to do to install the example scripts and library is run this command:
bash <(curl https://www.piborg.org/install-picoborgrev.txt)

You will probably need to enable the I2C using raspi-config as well.

The full instructions can be found here:
https://www.piborg.org/picoborgrev/install#software

kena

Fri, 05/06/2016 - 19:50

Thank you... will give it another try!!!

kena

Fri, 05/06/2016 - 22:00

I got it to install. The GUI is on the desktop. I want to run a stepper motor and try the cd ~/picoborgrev and I get a folder not found. I can't mkdir either. I ran the auto installer

kena

Fri, 05/06/2016 - 23:20

I got it to install. The GUI is on the desktop. I want to run a stepper motor and try the cd ~/picoborgrev and I get a folder not found. I can't mkdir either. I ran the auto installer.
Also... what is the max DC voltage I should put into the board?

I'm guessing the GUI will work for testing... I just need to put enough amps for my smallest stepper which is 2.8 amps, but still want to know why I can't use the libraries to run the stepper

piborg's picture

piborg

Sat, 05/07/2016 - 10:19

The installation should have created the folder for you, there is no need to use mkdir

Try going to the full path instead:
cd /home/pi/picoborgrev

The input voltage range for PicoBorg Reverse is 6-25V.

The GUI is intended for two DC motors and will be difficult to use with a stepper.
If the GUI will run then everything is installed and the libraries are available.

kena

Sat, 05/07/2016 - 12:28

I've been trying cd ~/picoborgrev which says directory not found.... I'll try this today

The PicoBorg Reverse is capable of running 1 stepper, correct? And that would be run out of the commands in the library? Which is what I was expecting. I was under the impression that GUI was for servo motors. The steppers are DC motors... just not servo's

piborg's picture

piborg

Sat, 05/07/2016 - 16:48

I think there is some confusion here about motor types.
To make things clearer I will explain what the three types of motor you have mentioned are.

DC motors

These are motors which rotate continuously when a constant voltage is applied.
They usually:

  1. Have two wires: +ve and -ve
  2. Can be driven both forwards and reverse
  3. Have no inbuilt feedback mechanism

These motors are what PicoBorg Reverse is primarily designed for.
The demo GUI allows for direct control of two DC motors attached to a PicoBorg Reverse.
Some examples include the motors we use on DiddyBorg, motors used to generate vibrations in a game controller, and the typical motor used for speed on an electric RC car.

Servo motors

These are motors which move to a certain position based on a command signal.
They usually:

  1. Have three wires: +ve, -ve, and signal
  2. Can be driven between two limits
  3. Have an internal feedback mechanism which allows them to hold a steady position

These motors are not well suited to PicoBorg Reverse, instead a board like UltraBorg would be better suited to them.
Some examples include the motor used for steering on an RC car, the flaps on an RC plane, and the rudder on an RC boat.

Stepper motors

These are motors which move when power to the coils is changed.
They also hold their current position with force when constant power is applied.
They usually:

  1. Have between four and six wires: A+, A-, B+, B- minimum and one or two common wires optionally
  2. Can be driven in fixed steps both forwards and backwards
  3. Do not require feedback as the distance rotated is based on the number of steps performed

These motors are also suitable for PicoBorg Reverse, but they require slightly different control.
Unlike simple DC motors the outputs must be changed regularly to rotate the motor.
The demo GUI could run a stepper motor, but it would require the sliders to be changed for each step.
Some examples include the motors used on a CNC machine, a computer printer, and a 3D printer.

kena

Sat, 05/07/2016 - 17:44

Ugh... yes, I know the different types of motors and how they work. Not sure why I replied with that.... maybe because I'm having fits with my power to this stepper... which is holding me back from testing the PicoBorg Reverse properly. I can get it to spin... but, it's only a 3.2 v dc motor. My NEW power supply which is rated for 3.3 v dc 3 amps isn't doing what it was meant to do. Another day.............

kena

Sat, 05/07/2016 - 16:25

Got it to work. Only issue is my power supply which is rated for 5v, 4.8 amps won't drive it. I jump it up to 24 v 4.8 amps and it will turn the stepper, but you can hear it moving more steps than the shaft is rotating. Ugh.

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