Camera Slider with stepper motor drive and analog stick control

• Using Bresenham multi-dimensional as illustrated at http://members.chello.at/easyfilter/bresenham.html
• Analog-Stick-Version - No auto-range at startup. No endstops. NO SAFETY. All positions and motions are user responsibility.
• Microcontrollers supported:
  • Arduino Nano or clone (standalone only)
  • ESP32 breakout board e.g. Doit Devkit (with enhanced bluetooth features)

ESP32 - optional Bluetooth command parser / remote

• Android: use e.g. Serial Bluetooth Terminal or RoboRemo / RoboRemoSPP to connect/communicate
  • Free version: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hardcodedjoy.roboremofree
  • Sufficient version: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hardcodedjoy.roboremospp
  • sample UI config file: see _docs/camslider.interface (import into App)

List of commands

• end all commands with newline
• one command per line
• report current position and volatile target: pos
• set current position as zero reference: zero
• nudge current position of axis N by relative VALUE: n<N>,<VALUE> e.g. n2,-123
  • nudge sets volatile target to current position, adjusts axis N then executes run with current delay value
  • nudge can also be called during motion, repeatedly
• set target of axis N to absolute position: a<N>,<VALUE> e.g. a0,-5131
• move target of axis N by relative VALUE: r<N>,<VALUE> e.g. r1,-318
• set step delay to VALUE loops per step: sd<VALUE> e.g. sd60
• drive to current target: g
• store target VALUE for axis N in memory SLOT: s<N>,<VALUE>,<SLOT> e.g. s2,13231,0
• store current position in memory SLOT: set<SLOT> e.g. set0
• drive to target SLOT: t<SLOT> e.g. t0 (overwrites the volatile target values defined by a or r!)

Hardware used:

Input:

• Analog 3-axis stick with button, e.g. “JH-D400X-R4 10kOhm 4D sealed rocker”
• digital rotating encoder
• 3 buttons:
  • start/stop the motors by button on top of analog stick,
  • config select by encoder button
  • skip to next target by simple momentary button

Output:

• 1602 display module with I2C connector
  • for Nano: 5 Volt version
  • for ESP32: either 5 Volt version and 2-channel bidir level shifter 3.3 <-> 5, or 3.3 V module
• Stepper drivers: TMC2208

Power supply:

• 10+ Volts DC of any kind (Lipo, AC adapter, Li-ion battery pack of power tools …)
• recommended: additional step-down regulator to deliver 5 volts for display, TMC driver logic side and controller module

Steppers:

• e.g. MINEBEA 17PM-K077BP01CN (cheap, rather low power consumption, 10.2 Volts nominal, max. 300 mA but works fine for this purpose)

wiring @todo

• see included PDF for schematics
• perfboard sample pictures (incomplete) see: https://www.instagram.com/p/CFacepfKM1g/

Menu structure (rotation/push encoder button)

• MODE SELECT
  • -> (Click) -> STICK DRIVE | STICK SLOW | PINGPONG | ONEWAY | ONEWAY_TRIG -> (click = select + return)
• SET START
  • -> (Click) -> set coordinate index 0, back to menu
• SET STOP
  • -> (Click) -> set coordinate index 1, back to menu
• SET STEP DELAY
  • -> (Click) -> Turn right: increase value (slow down) | Turn Left: decrease value (speed up) -> (Click = Return)
• OPTIONS
  • -> (Click) -> Recalibrate | Reboot/Reset? (TODO…)

Button B:

While driving in … mode:

• STICK DRIVE -> no action
• STICK SLOW -> no action
• PINGPONG -> always skip current target and start moving to next target
• ONEWAY -> always skip current target and start moving to next target
• ONEWAY_TRIG -> If running, skip to next target | if waiting, start the run